The Word - May 2, 2012 - CHANGING GOD'S MIND

"In the wilderness the Israelites desires ran wild, testing God's patience in that dry wasteland. So He gave them what they asked for, but also sent leanness into their soul" (Psalm 106:14-15).

Is it possible for we human beings, even Christians, to "twist God's arm?" Oh Yes! We can do that in a multitude of different ways. Certainly we can't change the Lord's mind in the sense of infringing on the sovereign will of God which has been decreed from all eternity. But it is possible to selfishly force God's hand into allowing us to do or have what He knows is not the best for us.

Christians have been known to whine and pout and even beg the Lord like spoiled children for experiences and relationships which He does not desire them to have. Isn't it amazing that God sometimes grants us our wish, even though He already knows the outcome?

This does not mean that God is pleased with us getting our own way. He knows that these experiences or relationships are not in our best interest, and He knows the undesirable consequences that will follow. But God allows His arm to be twisted when we insist we know better than even Him and insist that " not THY will, but MINE be done."

A great many of us have learned the hard way what the unthankful people of Israel learned so long ago: "He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul (Psalm 106:15).

The end result is always the same for us as well.