Not Another Word! Learning to Accept God’s Final Answer
Today’s Passage – Deuteronomy 3 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – 1 Corinthians 13 – 16; Proverbs 2; Psalms 6 – 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – SSPsalm 92:1 – 4
Read the “0302 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
When we were kids, we used to drive our parents crazy asking for things. We would keep asking over and over again until they finally acquiesced to our request, or until they got angry and said, “enough is enough – not another word!”
Moses’ Plea and God’s Final “No”
“23 And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, 24 O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? 25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.“ (Deut 3:23–26)
In our passage today we have Moses asking the Lord to change His mind about letting him enter into the land. Moses had been leading the nation for over 40 years, delivering them up to the border of the Promised Land. He had put up with all of their problems and complaints. You would think that God would have cut Moses some slack, and let him see what he had been working toward for a good portion of his life. But God had already told Moses “no”. God is not like us, either: when He says “no” He means no. God told Moses, “Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.” He basically told Moses to quit asking. He wanted Moses to be content with God’s will, whether or not it seemed fair.
Paul’s Thorn and God’s Sufficient Grace
“7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor 12:7–9)
Paul had a similar situation in the New Testament. He had a thorn in the flesh that He wanted God to take away from him. He asked God three times to remove it. God finally told Paul to stop asking. He wanted Paul to be content with the thorn, which for some reason was the will of God. He told Him that He would give him grace to go with the thorn, and that He should be content with that because it is sufficient.
When to Stop Asking – Biblical Balance
I think it is just human nature for us to keep asking for things. By the way, there is nothing wrong with asking, and God even wants us to keep asking over and over again for the same thing. Persistent prayer honors God (Luke 18:1–8), yet submission to His revealed will is equally vital (James 4:15). But eventually there will come a point when He will answer. He will either grant you the desire, or He will tell you “no.”
Another biblical example that comes to mind is when David begged God with prayer and fasting not to let his child die. God said “no” to that request as well. David’s response was worship:
“16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. … 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.” (2 Sam 12:16, 19–20)
Application: Embracing Contentment Today
When He tells you “no,” quit asking, and then be content with His will coupled with His grace. If you really needed what you were asking for, He would have given it to you (Phil 4:19). Be satisfied with what you do get, and know that God knows what is best. Perhaps someday we will understand a little better why God answered the way He did, but for now, just trust Him.
In my years at Jersey Shore Baptist Church, I’ve counseled many who struggled with unanswered prayers, and I’ve had many of my own. Every once in a while I dream about doing something else besides pastoring. Or, I think about moving to a new area, maybe out west in the mountains (I love the mountains). However, God always reminds me that He called my wife and I to Jersey Shore Baptist to pastor this church and He will let me know when He wants me to do something else.
Have you experienced God’s “no” that later proved His grace was sufficient? Share in the comments below—your story may encourage someone else!
“Lord, help me accept Your answers—even the ‘no’s’—with trust in Your perfect plan. What request have I been clinging to that I need to surrender today? Amen.”
Posted in Devotions, Thoughts from Deuteronomy and tagged 2 Corinthians 12, 2 Samuel 12, Accepting God's No, Biblical Submission, contentment, Contentment in Christ, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 3, God's will, Moses' Death, Paul's Thorn in the Flesh, prayer, Submission to God, Sufficient Grace, trusting God, Unanswered Prayer by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.