As he walks about the pulpit, wiping his favorite brow with his padded handkerchief, a motivational preacher would typically whip his audience into a frenzy with the following words:
“And I shouted, ‘God!’ and instantly He replied to me, ‘Yes, my son!’. Then I told Him, ‘Move this mountain, Lord!’ and He said, ‘Yes, my son! Would that be all?’”
When I encounter these kinds of sermons, I cannot help but wonder about the image of God these preachers have about the Ancient of Days.
From my admittedly limited understanding of God, I know He is not….
…a talkative God;
…a God you can wrap around your little finger;
…a God that is waiting on you just to serve all your whims;
…an inferior God.
Without mincing words, it appears to me that a lot of the earlier referenced preachers have taken a lot of liberties with Isaiah 45:11, which says,
“Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and His Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hand, command ye me”
So, they see the phrase, “Command ye me” and then proceed to exercise their “authority” over the LORD Almighty.
Funny, isn’t it?
To understand the meaning of a Bible verse in its context, it pays to read the preceding and succeeding verses.
Verse 10 of Isaiah 45 says, ”Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? Or to his mother, What hast thou brought forth?”
Now, this is getting interesting!
From Isaiah 45:10, it is apparent that verse 11 is a question!!!
In essence, God is saying: Inasmuch as you can’t question your parents about why they gave birth to you or why you have certain features in your physique, you also can’t question His purpose regarding you!
He’s not asking you to command Him.
Instead, God is saying, “You shouldn’t dare to command Me!”
Well, that should settle this issue.
If you still have doubts, let’s check verses 12 and 13:
“I have made the earth and created man upon it. I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city and shall ket go my captives, not for price or reward, saith the LORD of hosts”
Regardless of what we declare, decree or command, it is His Will and Purpose for our lives that would stand in the end.
Don’t waste your time commanding Jehovah to do your own selfish, lustful desires. We are not meant to command God. We are meant to do His own will and bidding.
Do yourself a favour: Whenever you pray, instead of commanding God, find His perfect will by His Spirit; and pray in that line.
Remember, swimming upstream causes you to expend a lot of energy while you cover very little ground. On the other hand, flowing with the tide is both easier and rewarding.
May the Lord grant you understanding in these things.