Hindrances to Doing God's Will - I Kings 19-20 and Luke 23:1-25
It is almost unbelievable that Elijah could go from the great spiritual victory on Mount Carmel to the depths of wanting to die in such a short time. How could this happen to a man of God or anyone for that matter? I think we can see the answer if we look closely. He ran from Carmel to Samaria which was about 17 miles, and he ran ahead of Ahab's chariot. After all he had been through, this caused physical fatigue to set in, which led to depression. When Jezebel threatened him in his weakened condition, he ran away, because of this depression, and he wanted to die. This is the result of depression. We want to be alone, and we think we have no hope. The cure for fatigue and depression is rest, food, and getting back around people. Therefore, God sent an angel to feed Elijah, and then, after some rest He sent him right back to his ministry. I don't know if you have ever been fatigued or depressed, but both are serious conditions that can hinder us from doing God's will. Satan uses them to lead us away from God.
In the case of Ahab God delivered him from the Syrians twice to show him and everyone that He was God. It is ironic that God was helping the evil king, but God was again trying to get him and the people to turn back to Him. Ahab listened until the end when he spared Ben-Hadad, which was against God's will. Then, God had to judge him. Why did Ahab miss God's will? I think he felt like it would be better to be merciful. However, if God does not tell us to be merciful, it is the wrong thing to do. In some cases it can be harmful instead of helpful. Therefore, we must not stop from doing God's will even to be merciful, unless God tells us to do so.
In Luke 23 Pilate has to decide what to do with Jesus. He questions Him and so does Herod. They can't find anything to cause Jesus to be put to death. Pilate wants to let Jesus go, but he ends up sentencing Jesus to be scourged and crucified. How could this happen? Some would say that it was done, because it was God's will. I do not think it was God's will for Pilate to condemn an innocent man to death. He gave in to the will of the crowd. God used that to have His will done, so Jesus could die on the Cross. However, Pilate showed a great weakness in that he bowed to the pressure of the crowd. That is how many people miss God's will. They do what everyone else wants, instead of what is right. We must be focused on God's will and not the will of others.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 21-22 and Luke 23:26-56.
In the case of Ahab God delivered him from the Syrians twice to show him and everyone that He was God. It is ironic that God was helping the evil king, but God was again trying to get him and the people to turn back to Him. Ahab listened until the end when he spared Ben-Hadad, which was against God's will. Then, God had to judge him. Why did Ahab miss God's will? I think he felt like it would be better to be merciful. However, if God does not tell us to be merciful, it is the wrong thing to do. In some cases it can be harmful instead of helpful. Therefore, we must not stop from doing God's will even to be merciful, unless God tells us to do so.
In Luke 23 Pilate has to decide what to do with Jesus. He questions Him and so does Herod. They can't find anything to cause Jesus to be put to death. Pilate wants to let Jesus go, but he ends up sentencing Jesus to be scourged and crucified. How could this happen? Some would say that it was done, because it was God's will. I do not think it was God's will for Pilate to condemn an innocent man to death. He gave in to the will of the crowd. God used that to have His will done, so Jesus could die on the Cross. However, Pilate showed a great weakness in that he bowed to the pressure of the crowd. That is how many people miss God's will. They do what everyone else wants, instead of what is right. We must be focused on God's will and not the will of others.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 21-22 and Luke 23:26-56.