How to tackle perplexing problems – Part 2

Submission to God is a sterling quality among all the virtues of true believers. A truly saved person knows God is mighty and powerful, irresistible and unconquerable, immutable and immovable, most high and most holy, absolute and almighty, omnipotent and omniscient, incorruptible and incomparable, wise and watchful over all His declarations. Therefore, submitting to Him is the only wise thing to do.

Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod and many others personalities in the Bible learnt their lessons too late that, no human being can fight the Almighty God. Many people will suffer eternally for not learning this lesson. The Lord wants us to learn and be saved, learn and submit, learn and surrender, learn and obey, learn and be sanctified, learn and worship and adore Him.

We must not fight with in-laws, bosses, neighbours or the members of our family. Jeroboam thought Judah’s submission to God’s instruction was cowardice. Therefore, he attempted to fight them for this, considering their small number. But “God smote Jeroboam and all Israel… And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.” Those who lose their lives at the point of fighting with man or against God, His will, plan and overruling purpose will not make it to heaven.

When good people, like King Josiah, take up a fight that does not belong to them, against God’s purpose, the end is always disastrous. He did not listen to God’s warning and he died. When God is responsible for a situation, we must not fight it. “For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

When God told Abraham of His plan to destroy Sodom, Abraham interceded on their behalf. Sadly, the people of Judah could not supplicate for their situation. Moses did not let God alone when He determined to consume the Israelites. He made supplication before the Lord and He spared them. Although, we are expected to submit to God, supplication for a better state is also important. We should not fail to seek God for mercy, grace, forgiveness and pardon, in spite of our past errors.

God could have brought the 12 tribes back together if the people of Judah had made supplication for it. Hezekiah got a death sentence from the Lord. But he “prayed unto the Lord … And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.”

Although, God may speak against us, He will still remember us if we repent of the evil we have done. “I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.” Nineveh was to be overthrown because of their sin, but they cried: “mightily unto God … and turn every one from his evil ways… and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” The will of God is not for anyone to die in sin, but for all to come to repentance. Those who submit to the will of God and add supplication for better things will enjoy the promise of forgiveness for those who repent, salvation for penitent sinners, healing for the sick, deliverance for the oppressed, change of circumstances, assurance of answer to prayers, broken yokes and removal of curses for the righteous, satisfaction for the sanctified, heaven and eternal rewards for the holy and obedient saints of God.

• Further Reading (King James Version): 1 Kings 12:21-24; 2 Chronicles 11:4; 1 Kings 12:24; 2 Chronicles 11:4; 13:12-16,18,20; 35:20-24; Psalm 33:9; Proverbs 19:21; 21:30; Isaiah 14:27; 46:9,10; Lamentation 3:37-41; 1 Kings 12:24; Genesis 18:23-26; Exodus 32:7,9,10; Psalm 125:3; 2 Kings 20:1-6; Jeremiah 18:1-10; 31:20; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Jonah 3:4-10; 2 Peter 3:9.