God is not reasonable. Has He asked something unreasonable of you lately? Have you been obedient? Or (as I often do) have you argued or reasoned that HIS request is “unreasonable,” so you just don’t obey? I need to think about this, because either I want to follow Him or I don’t.
Let’s see—let me know if any of this sounds reasonable to you:
A woman talks to and cooperates with a serpent just because God’s request to stay away from just one thing seemed “unreasonable.” “Did God really say . . . ?” Genesis 3:1
“Build an Ark Noah” “Umm. Okay Lord, but what exactly is this ‘rain’ thing again?” Sound reasonable to you? Genesis 6:1-22
“Abram, Sarai, just follow me. Oh, and by the way, I’m not telling you why, or where we are going and don’t get too used to those names.” Reasonable? Genesis 12:1-9, Genesis 17:1-15
“Just stretch out your staff and watch the Red Sea part.” How about that one, Moses? Reasonable? Exodus 14:16
“Hey Josh, just follow my marching orders and the city will fall—literally.” Reasonable, right? Joshua 6:1-27
“Israel, trust Me and obey me and I will bless you. Israel, forsake Me and go your own way and I will curse you.” Leviticus 26:1-14 And thousands of years later, they’re still trying to reason with Him.
“Yes Mary, I said ‘baby!’” “Joseph, yes, I said ‘virgin!’” Reasonable? Matthew 1:18-21
Place your hope in Jesus Christ and He will take your place on the cross for every sin in thought, word, or deed that you have or ever will commit. He will rise again after dying on that cross. Your belief in Him and that faith alone will save you. Reasonable? Acts 16:31
Well, after so much reasoning with God, I don’t want to try to make God make sense anymore. I simply want to obey Him, for that’s what He asks of me. How about you?
Has He asked you to forgive someone? Has He asked you to love the unlovely person in your life? Has He asked you (like Abe and Sarah) to move away from what is comfy and certain; a job, a relationship, or a home? Has He asked you to stop something? Has He asked you to start something? Has He asked you to give something? Has He asked you to deal with your pride, anger, fear, jealousy, addictions? Or, what may seem the most unreasonable, Has He been silent?
I know His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts, for Isaiah 55:8 promised me that. I also know He is God and I am not. I believe He is sovereign, and I believe He loves me and you.
I’m going to keep working on this—how about you? I’m currently facing several opportunities to trust God even though the circumstances don’t seem reasonable. Will you pray for me? I would like the chance to pray for you as well. Post your prayer request below and I will pray for you! Sound reasonable?
—submitted by Kathy Lonsinger, US, Speaker and Founder A Gentle Answer Ministries
tom felten on May 5, 2011 at 8:35 am
Kathy, praying for you! Thank you for providing so many examples from Scripture where we can see clearly the truth that “humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26). My family and I would appreciate your prayers for us as we face a new opportunity to trust God—next Tuesday I’ll have my first consultation with a specialist regarding a stem cell transplant (something my oncologist would like me to pursue in light of my ongoing battle with an aggressive form of lymphoma cancer). May God be glorified through this journey with Him!
agentleanswer on May 5, 2011 at 10:46 am
Richard and I will be honor to keep you in prayer.
You are very inspirational and use your gift of writing to serve Him. I now carry you and your family to Jesus in prayer. With permission I would like to put this request on our A G A M prayer partners wall as well.
Jeremiah 32:27 English Standard Version
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?
I stand amazed at the way God is able to use science and new technology to help us.
Blessings,
Kathy
agentleanswer on May 5, 2011 at 10:48 am
or even “honored” 🙂 God is bigger than my ability to spell too!!!
tom felten on May 5, 2011 at 10:55 am
Yes, He is! 🙂 It’s a blessing to know that you and Richard will be praying for us. My wife Lynn truly carries the burden, for she so wants me well, but must simply wait and follow God’s lead. Thanks for especially remembering her and my boys in prayer. Also, yes, thanks so much for placing the request on the A G A M prayer partners wall. Finally, thanks for continuing to make your posts available to the whole odj community. You have a gift!
GChoo on May 5, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Kathy, thank you for your sharing. Keeping you in prayer. Also, keeping Tom and family in prayer too.