Last night, I was reflecting about the preaching given by Sister Shanthi, which was about the sermon given by Pastor Bennett to the Tamil Congregation. It was about how we should be tactful and patient to things or people around us before doing anything.
Being human beings, we definitely are imperfect creatures. We do things in a rush, especially in school work, preparing for major examinations like GCE 'N', 'O' and 'A' Level Examinations, and of course in everyday office work. We labour, looking for speed and accuracy. More often than not, we tend to go a bit to the extreme, going too fast and losing accuracy, and vice versa. In the end we don't get what we want.
In I Samuel 13:9-14, we see Saul going ahead with the sacrifice when Samuel the Prophet wasn't around, because of the enemies of Israel coming closer and closer to his army to do battle. In Old Testament times, the Israelites sacrificed burnt offerings before battle, and are to be offered to the Lord only by prophets, and since King Saul, the first king of Israel, proceeded without Samuel, and he wasn't a prophet, his position and power was stripped of him by God, and he ended up losing the battle.
This tells us something:
Saul did so in haste because he didn't have enough faith in the Lord to protect his army from the enemies until the sacrifice was offered. Trying to proceed ahead, get done with it quickly, he relied on his own human effort, which we know, always avails next to nothing, wastes time and effort, and ultimately leads to ruin. Even as a king, he is still not spared from human temptations to use our own effort and knowledge, which is of course, very limited when compared to His wisdom and knowledge.
Even prophets are not spared from acting in lack of knowledge and wisdom from God. In I Kings 13, there were two prophets, one younger than the other. God told the younger not to eat or drink, or even go back to where he came from, after prophesying against King Jeroboam because of his practice of idolatry in the previous chapter (I Kings 12). During his journey away from the king, the older prophet asked him to eat and drink in his house. After he refused, the old prophet lied to him that he saw an angel telling him to eat and drink in his house.
Being a prophet too, the younger should have asked the Lord if this were true, but he did not, and was deceived, and ate and drank at the old prophet's house. He ended up being killed and torn apart by a lion.
Even kings and prophets can be deceived or act in haste, what more us normal and common people of today's society? Therefore, the need of wisdom and knowledge to tackle problems is there, but human wisdom and knowledge is always limited. But thank God He's there for us whenever we need help with these! We of course are weak in these areas, more often than not, but Jesus is strong in our weaknesses, so let's ask for Him to grant us His wisdom and knowledge to solve our everyday problems.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
- I Corinthians 1:25
Beyond this line are contributions by Chee Yiliang, a bosom friend of mine, added with my permission on May 11, 10.24pm:
Cited here are two examples of how situations can be completely turned upside down when man gives in to the temptation of making haste. The severity of God is revealed against those who fail to trust Him and trust in their flesh instead.
However, we must note that these two examples are of men under law. Today in Christ Jesus, we are no longer under law, but under grace. Under law, the severity of God is revealed. We, under grace, will not be able to appreciate the grace of God without first knowing the severity of God. Now that we understand the severity of God under law as revealed by Aaron's post, let us no contrast this with the life we live under the grace of God.
Abraham was a man who lived before the law. Now, God had promised Abraham a son through Sarah. To Abraham, this was a total impossibility as Sarah was unable to bear any children. So Sarah decided that Abraham should have a son through Hagar, Sarah's maidservant. Abraham, in his haste to fulfil the promise of God, agreed to the proposal. Hence, Ishmael was born (after Abraham's self-effort). Now, here we can see that Abraham has both given in to temptation of haste and trusted in his own flesh; according to Aaron, he has utterly sinned against God! But you know what? Despite Abraham's sin, God still gave them the son He had promised them. Ishmael, although he was a mistake, God still blessed him and his children with the riches and fatness of the Earth. That is why the Middle-East is SOOO RICH with oil!
If Abraham, who wasn't even in Christ, could receive such benefits, so much more will we, who are in Christ Jesus receive them! For those of you who have fallen to the temptation, today God says to you: "You may have failed me, but I will not fail you!" You see, your unfaithfulness cannot cause God to become unfaithful to His covenant. Despite our unfaithfulness, He remains faithful. Even when you fail Him, there is a superabounding supply of favour (which you do not deserve, but He gives anyway) to prevent the severe consequences mentioned by Aaron from occuring, and even more favour to turn the situation around for your good!
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