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26 May 98
God’s Guidance (Adapted from Knowing God by J.I. Packer)
Part 4: Guidance and Suffering
- Can you think of a time when you thought you were following God’s will on a
particular decision, and all kinds of trials and tribulation came into your life as a
result of your decision? Did this make you wonder whether your decision was really
God’s will?
- Why is it a mistake to assume that if I follow God’s will, I will not have
difficulties?
Read Rom 5:3-4, Jas 1:2-4, 2 Th 1:4-5.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Rom 5:3-4)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you
know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its
work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (Jas 1:2-4)
Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the
persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God's judgment is
right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are
suffering. (2 Th 1:4-5)
Short Answer: Because God’s will for your life includes difficulties.
Long Answer: Man has a tendency to follow the path of least resistance, but God’s
ways are not our ways, and many times, the Lord is refining us and building us up through
trials and tribulations to develop our characters.
- Can you think of examples in the Bible where people followed God’s revealed will,
and as a direct result of following it, they experienced tremendous difficulties?
All the following examples show people who found trouble on a grand scale through
following divine guidance.
- "God guided Israel by means of a fiery and cloudy pillar that went before them (Ex
13:21-22); yet the way by which he led them involved … long days without water and
meat in ‘that vast and dreadful desert’ (Deut 1:19)" [Packer, 239].
By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and
by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or
night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place
in front of the people. (Ex 13:21-22)
Then, as the LORD our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill
country of the Amorites through all that vast and dreadful desert that you have seen, and
so we reached Kadesh Barnea. (Deut 1:19)
- "Jesus’ disciples were twice caught by night in bad weather on the Sea of
Galilee (Mk 4:37, 6:48), and both times the reason why they were there was the command of
Jesus himself (Mk 4:35, 6:45)" [Packer, 239].
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly
swamped . . . . He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against
them . . . . (Mk 4:37, 6:48)
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other
side . . . ." Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead
of him to Bethsaida . . . . (Mt 4:35, 6:45)
- Paul constantly experienced hardships as a result of the Spirit’s guidance.
Read Ac 20:22-23.
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will
happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison
and hardships are facing me. (Ac 20:22-23)
- "For a final proof of the truth that following God’s guidance brings trouble,
look at the life of the Lord Jesus himself. No human life has ever been so completely
guided by God, and no human being has ever qualified so comprehensively for the
description ‘a man of sorrows.’ Divine guidance set Jesus at a distance from his
family and fellow townsmen, brought him into conflict with all the nation’s leaders,
religious and civil, and led finally to betrayal, arrest and the cross. What more can
Christians expect, while they abide in the will of God?" [Packer, 240]. If Jesus, my
master suffered, how can I, His student, expect not to suffer?
Read Mt 10:23-24.
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will
not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A student
is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master." (Mt 10:23-24)
- When we encounter trouble after we think we are following God’s will, what should
we do?
- Question. The encountering of trials should give us occasion to question our
original decision, but:
- No Surprises. We shouldn’t be surprised when we encounter trials of many
kinds.
- Character. Our characters are usually the "construction zone" where God
is "working all things together."
- Remember Jesus. We should remember the trials that Jesus endured, and take
comfort in that fact (see 1 Pet 4:13).
Part 5: When We Mess Up
- Suppose we do make a decision contrary to God’s will and calamity results.
- Why are we prone to think that because of the resulting calamity, we must not have
chosen God’s will?
Because we have wrong expectations about the way God guides us. We expect that God only
guides us into comfort, assurance, and general well being according to our
standards.
- What attitude should we have when we realize that we’ve "messed up"?
- Repent. Repent and seek forgiveness.
- God’s Sovereignty. Accept the fact that all is not lost. God brings our
mistakes into His sovereign plan.
- Move Forward. Move forward with the confidence of God’s forgiveness and His
power to restore.
- Can you think of any Biblical examples of people who "messed up" by choosing
contrary to God’s revealed will?
David’s choice to sin did not frustrate God’s sovereign purposes. God used the
sin to fulfill His divine purposes.
David covet’s Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and slept with her (2 Sam 11:2-5).
David had Uriah killed in battle, in order to cover up his sin and guilt (11:14-17).
David claimed Bathsheba as his wife, and the Lord was not pleased with his sins (11:27).
David repents of his sin (12:13), but his new son dies because of his sin (12:19).
David has another son through Bathsheba named Solomon (12:24-25).
Solomon was blessed by the Lord (1 Ki 4:29).
- Closing Quotes
- "When a Christian wakes up to the fact that he has missed God’s guidance and
taken the wrong way, . . . is the damage irrevocable? Must he now be put off course for
life? Thank God, no. Our God is a God who not merely restores, but takes up our mistakes
and follies into his plan for us and brings good out of them" [Packer, 241].
- "Not merely does God will to guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we
may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that,
whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slippings and
strayings there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be
caught, rescued, restored. This is God’s promise; this is how good he is"
[Packer, 242].
Summary (Parts 4 and 5)
- Guidance and Suffering
- Question if our original decision was God’s guidance, but:
- Don’t be surprised when we suffer after following God’s guidance.
- Remember Jesus, take comfort, and renew your hope.
- When We Mess Up
- Repent and seek forgiveness.
- All is not lost. God is sovereign, even over our mistakes.
- Move forward. Don’t wallow in self-pity!
- Sense of Perspective
- "It appears that the right context for discussing guidance is one of confidence in
the God who will not let us ruin our souls. Our concern, therefore, in this discussion
should be more for his glory than for our security—for that is already taken care
of" [Packer, 242].
- And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen
to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and
hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may
finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying
to the gospel of God's grace. (Ac 20:22-24)
Credits
Most of this material has been adapted from J.I. Packer’s Knowing God,
InterVarsity Press, Downer’s Grove, IL, 1973, ISBN 0-8308-1651-8, Chapter 20.
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