He Wants your Attention

 

Growing up, as some teens, I often liked to dispute my father’s disciplinary rulings.  I did this by responding with the silent treatment, a way of presenting my objections.  

 

Well, all was well until I was in need for something.  Money to go to the mall with my friends for instance, or a ride to an after school social event.  

Because I wasn’t speaking to him, I resorted to sending my sister or mother to ask on my behalf.  To which he always required that I come and ask for it myself.  It wasn’t that he didn’t want to give me what I needed. He was after restoring my loyalty and submission.  

 

I find that God frequently operates in the same exact way.

 

When we find ourselves in need, we automatically resort to others to pray for our need.

Who is the godliest person that can stand before God for me?  How many people can I get to join me in prayer?

 

Please understand, to an extent that’s all good.

 

But when God is intentionally dealing with me, he is in pursuit of my heart.  Specifically in reassuring loyalty and restoring dependence from me. He is after my attention. 

 

Hagar and her son Ismael are one example.

 

Hagar and her son find themselves in the wilderness with no water.  Ismael’s life becomes in serious danger.  Hagar gets aside and begins to bitterly weep.  An angel of God appears to her with…

 

 “… Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad…”. 

 

And God was with the boy, and he grew up… (Gen 21:17-20 NKJV)

 

God was doing a work in Ismael’s heart.  It wasn’t Hagar’s weeping that got his attention, but the cry of Ismael.

 

On other occasion, we may feel that only a special godly person can get to God on our behalf, a prophet for instance.  

 

 

Hezekiah was an Israeli king of the Old Testament.  

 

He finds himself in trouble when a neighboring adversary threatens to invade his kingdom.

 

He begins to grieve by attending the temple, and then sends his servants and priests to the prophet Isaiah for prayer.   

 

…Oh, pray for those of us who are left!” (2 Ki. 19:4 NLT)

 

But the prophet later responds with a word from God, …

 

Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘I have heard your prayer to Me…(2 Ki. 19:20 Am)

 

In other words, it was your prayer that I heard, Hezekiah. 

 

God was after establishing Hezekiah’s sincere loyalty and dependence.