2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
This passage of scripture is literally an invitation from God to us to pray, not only in the good times, but also when faced with insurmountable and unexplainable difficulties. With the disappearance of the Malaysian jet, the entire world is at a loss to explain just where the airplane with its passengers went. Isn't it amazing that right here in America, a country where millions of Christians reside, that not one prominent preacher, televangelist or minister has suggested to CNN or Fox news, that we should pray. How is it that as a nation we are delving into so many conflicting, conspiracy theories? How is it that we are now considering the use of psychics instead of turning to The Living God who already knows all the answers?
It's worthy of note that the very same mistake was made and repeated over and over again when the Israelites found themselves facing what seemed like inexplicable, and daunting situations. In their hour of need and desperation, they continually made the mistake of not praying to God for deliverance, but instead resorted to murmuring and "conspiracy" theories about the motives of Moses and Aaron. Let's read:
Exodus 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? 3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? 4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. 5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Here we see that the children of Israel, instead of praying to God in their extremity, resorted to wild, unfounded conjecturing about the motives and plans of Moses and Aaron. These assertions and accusations then led them into a form of superstition that resulted in idolatry at Mount Sinai with the golden calf.
In our day where modern science has all but eliminated God from the equation, we need to be very careful that we do not repeat the history of unbelief and self-dependence that so often characterized the experiences of the Jews in ages past. When facing baffling circumstances beyond our knowledge and understanding, when assaulted by enemies within and without, let's remember that there is a God in Heaven who is always ready and able to deliver answers to our most perplexing situations, and if we pray in humility, He will hear and answer according to the promises He has made. We therefore end with a passage of scripture encouraging us to do just that, on an individual and a national level, and we hope and pray for closure to the unfathomable mystery we're facing. Let's read:
Psalms 5:1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
May this be our experience and our song, both now and forever. God Bless!