I love my dog, but he isn’t that bright and he is very easily manipulated. I can literally make him run to the back door by saying “go outside!?” I can make him jump up, sit down and roll over (usually). He isn’t quite like a puppet on a string, but it is close. If Oliver were a puppet then I could literally make him do anything, anytime I wanted. I would be the puppet master and he would be my puppet.
If we aren’t careful, that can be our attitude with God. Don’t think so? Well, after the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines in 1 Samuel chapter 4, they got a great idea for guaranteeing their victory:
After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it [or he] will save us from our enemies.” - 1 Samuel 4:3 (NLT)
Seriously? Did the Israelites really think they could compel God (or the Ark for that matter) to act on their behalf? Was enlisting God’s help as simple as hauling the Ark along with them? Could they really just pull a string and have God respond? Well, when the Ark came into camp, the people were very excited and the Philistines were pretty freaked out. Here’s what happened:
So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. – 1 Samuel 4:10-11 (NIV)
Israel lost big time. They lost 30,000 men. They lost the Ark. And I’m sure they lost their confidence and wondered why God didn’t come through for them.
What did they do wrong? Well, the text doesn’t indicate that the Israelite people sought the Lord at all. They reasoned among themselves that bringing the Ark along would make God save them. They reasoned that they could make God act (or react) in a way that would benefit them. They reasoned that they could pull the right string and turn God into a puppet.
I do it too. When I’m moving through my day, I often do one of two things:
- I fail to seek God at all or even give Him the courtesy of informing Him of my plans; or
- I tell God what I’m going to do, then I go do it. Sometimes I’ll ask Him to bless it, sometimes I won’t even bother to do that.
Scripture (including 1 Samuel 4) has been reminding me lately that I’ve got to seek His direction before I determine mine. I’ve got to look to see where He is working and ask Him to reveal His will for my work. I’ve got to give Him the rightful place as Lord of my life…all of it!
Today, let’s ask God how we can help him instead of assuming He is just waiting to help us in whatever way we ask. Let’s not assume our plans are His plans. Let’s not play the role of puppet master today!
