09/17/2015
A friend asks, "Question: when God does not grant what we feel is a reasonable request for intervention in a difficult situation, is this an example of the "adversity" referenced in Job 2:10? If so, does this contradict John 14:14?"
Job 2:10 says, "But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips."
John 14:14 states, ""If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."
Let's look at the context of John 14:14. It seems as though Jesus is talking about the works in His ministry and what the Father is doing, and then He continues after this and shares about the Spirit being given to those who have faith in Him. When Jesus says "anything" does He truly mean anything or does He mean something in relation to this context? Surely, people use this particular verse to justify their own ideology that this is God's free ticket to whatever it is they ask for, and this couldn't be further from the truth.
Now the question was, "When God doesn't grant what we feel is a reasonable request for intervention in a difficult situation..." Obviously, I don't need to know the situation in order to address this question. I think that the Bible infers that our requests being made to the Lord need to be in accordance with His will and purposes, so we need to ask, "Is this God's Will?" Not only that, but also, will this bring glory to God?
What is a considered a reasonable request to God? I am certain most people probably believe that their requests are reasonable and in accordance with God's will for their lives. I can't speak upon everyone's behalf, and I can only speak upon my own experiences, experiences I have heard of, and what I think the Bible says about it. I recall that George Mueller was a man of prayer as he cared for orphans, and I have heard of God's miracle provisions in his life, but I have heard of his story of years of praying for salvation of some friends with some of those prayers going "unanswered" for many years... The Stories are as follows:
"The children are dressed and ready for school. But there is no food for them to eat," the housemother of the orphanage informed George Mueller. George asked her to take the 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. He thanked God for the food and waited. George knew God would provide food for the children as he always did. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. "Mr. Mueller," he said, "last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in."
Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. He asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children."
http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/church-history-for-kids/george-mueller-orphanages-built-by-prayer-11634869.html
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George Muller a man of prayer and man of faith. A definite prayer of importunity follows:
In November, 1844, I began to pray for the conversion of five individuals. I prayed every day without a single intermission, whether sick or in health, on the land or on the sea, and whatever the pressure of my engagements might be.
Eighteen months elapsed before the first five was converted. I thanked God and prayed on for the others.
Five years elapsed, and then the second was converted. I thanked God for the second, and prayed on for the other three.
Day by day I continued to pray for them, and six years passed before the third was converted. I thanked God for the three and went on praying for the other two.
These two remained unconverted.
"The man to whom God in the riches of his grace has given tens of thousands of answers to prayer in the self-same hour or day in which they were offered has been praying day by day for nearly 36 years for the conversion of these individuals, and yet they remain unconverted. But I hope in God, I pray on, and look yet for the answer. They are not converted yet, but they will be."
This was the faith that carried him through every straitened place. He met emergencies by asking and in due time God supplied whatever the need might be.
Those prayers? You ask. In 1897, those two men, sons of a friend of Mr. Muller’s youth, were not converted, after he had entreated God in their behalf for 52 years daily. But after his death God brought them in the fold.
http://www.wgbd.org/george-muller.html
I have prayed what I believed were reasonable requests, and it took a long time for an answer to those prayers, but they were answered. I have been praying a long time for a situation, and I still don't see the light ahead, so does it mean that God is not answering those requests, or does it mean I am experiencing some adversity? I have prayed at times, and seen God work the very same day in answering that prayer. I can honestly say that it has been surprising at times! I have prayed that God would give me the opportunity to share the Gospel with someone in the course of the week, and He has certainly opened those doors.
Now the second part of this question states, "s this an example of the "adversity" referenced in Job 2:10?" Job 2:9-10 states, "9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said."
Does adversity exist in the life of those that trust God? Absolutely! But God has a purpose in all circumstances. I am reminded of the Apostle's inquiry regarding the blind man.
John 9 says, "1As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.2And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" 3Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.…"
The blind man's "adversity" wasn't due to God's action against him, but the adversity existed throughout this man's entire life, so that God may be eventually glorified in the world through his adversity. He was blind his entire life until Jesus came onto the scene.
I am also reminded of Paul's "thorn" that God never removed as far as the scriptures indicate. Does the greatest of Apostle's experience adversity due to his lack of faith? I know the question is not regarding the amount of faith a person has in relation to God's action, but it would seem that if God not acting upon our behalf or acting "negatively" is Him bringing upon His people some sort of plight or tribulation. Does God allow tribulations? Absolutely, but they never exist without a purpose in glorifying Him and without an eventual purpose. A purpose which we may never understand or may never even come to know in our human lifetime.
Are we experiencing adversity from the Lord when it seems He does not respond immediately or obviously to our requests from Him? I think, IMO, not necessarily. I think the adversity and tribulation we receive is for another purpose entirely, but I also don't think that our inquiries to Christ are a "free ticket" to having our requests to be fulfilled. I believe Christ will give us anything we ask in His name according to His will and the Father's will, so this is what it all comes down to... is it God's will and if not, maybe we should try to discover God's will in the situation.
Another thought is that Job was a very unique story in the Bible. Certainly, many believers suffered under great trials, tribulations and even death, but Job's story is so complex and shows great detail in how all the events came about and then the revelation of his faith, and God's faithfulness. It shows Satan seeking permission to afflict him, it shows God granting that permission, it shows Job's faith despite his wife's frustration, and then it shows how friends should minister and how friends should NOT minister, and it shows God's sovereignty.
I don't know if I have really answered your question. But I think adversity exist to draw us to God, not in response to our prayers and requests. So, maybe tribulations exist to make us pray. It would seem some of the most memorable prayer moments in the Bible come from times of tribulation.
Where prayers were made to petition God, we can see God answering those prayers in time. Some immediately, but some not so quickly or how we might expect.
I don't think there is any contradiction, because I don't think these are directly related. Job prayed for his kids and on behalf of his kids, but God still allowed them to be taken. And, asking Jesus for anything in His name must relate to the full context of what He was sharing with the Apostles, and I think that was mainly seeking God's will and glory in His work in their lives and not a particular situation.
I hope this helps, and as I think of more, I'll try to add to this. Furthermore, I don't know if anyone else has ever commented about these two verses being related in any way.
Blessings Brother.
