God, why don't you respond when I call?
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· 12 viewsSometimes we hit a period in life where we feel distant from God. We call out for relief, but do not get a response. Why? Is it because God does not hear or see what I am going through? Or, could it be an issue with me and my relationship to and with God?
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Introduction
Introduction
Sometimes we hit a period in life where we feel distant from God. We call out for relief, but do not get a response. Why? Is it because God does not hear or see what I am going through? Or, could it be an issue with me and my relationship to or with God? Today, I want to explore this questions in light of God’s response to Hagar, Israel, and Nineveh, in order to help both Christians and unbelievers come to an understanding why God may not respond when you call on His name.
Why did God respond to these people?
Why did God respond to these people?
Hagar: Egyptian woman; slave of Sarah; concubine of Abraham; mother of Ishmael (Gen 16:1-16; 21:9-21)
Israel: children of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob; delivered out of slavery; led into the Promised Land; God tabernacled amongst them; received God’s holy, righteous, and good law but complained and rebelled against God continuously.
Nineveh: wicked nation whose wickedness reached the presence of God (Jonah 1:2; 3:8)
God’s response to Hagar and Israel was to keep his covenant. His response to Nineveh was due to their belief, repentance, and calling out for forgiveness.
What do those passages reveal about God?
What do those passages reveal about God?
He hears and sees everything
Merciful, gracious, slow to anger, steadfast in love, faithful, forgiving, and just
establishes mediation between Himself and humanity (MEDIATOR, one who stands in a middle office or capacity between two differing parties, and has a power of transacting every thing between them, and of reconciling them to each other.). Kings, prophets, and priest, in the Old Testament, were mediators of God. The mediators often interceded on behalf of God’s people. The following were mediators of God covenants in the examples given. . .
Abraham (Hagar)
Moses and angels (Gal 3:19), kings, priest/judges, and prophets (Israel)
The prophet Jonah (Nineveh)
What could possibly be the issues?
What could possibly be the issues?
Lack of devotion
Spiritual ignorance
Asking for the wrong thing (James 4:2-3)
Spiritual adultery (James 4:4-10)
Not in covenant with God (no mediator, no intercession, and no hope)
What do I need to know?
What do I need to know?
Christians, we have a Mediator! (Heb 6:13-17; 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; 1 Tim 2:5). Jesus fulfills the roles of the mediators of the OT (king, priest, and prophet).
We have an Intercessor (Ro 8:26-28)
We have His words (2 Tim 3:16)
Unbeliever, you have an opportunity (Ro 10:5-13)