Suspender of Rules

2 Kings 20:8-11

Message No. 0724 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

Many people suffer because of manmade rules. For example, in the caste systems of the world, marriage between castes was forbidden. It probably still is, even in the modern world. With rules, people are limited by design. There are heights that remain just dreams to people; they know that they could never attain those heights. In life, people are condemned to living below certain desired thresholds.

When God told Samuel to anoint a king that would replace Saul, Samuel had his own rules in mind, and he was looking for the candidates that met those rules. Saul was tall and hefty, so the next king must also be tall and hefty. When Samuel saw Eliab, he immediately concluded in his mind, thank you Lord for making this assignment easy for me; surely this is the guy you want me to anoint as king. He had the surprise of his life when God said no. Then, one after the other, the sons of Jesse were presented, and the Lord said no. Even Jesse, their father, had similar rules in mind. He decided to not invite David because he had zero king qualities. He was too young, and probably smallish. Yet, he was the Lord’s choice.

Opportunities are limited for people based on race, gender, family status, education, and other parameters. Thankfully, God has different parameters He uses to promote people. If you are a dual-national, there are political offices you cannot hold. Even in your country of birth, you would be told to renounce your citizenship of the other country before you can seek the office of president or prime minister. Not so with God. He brought Joseph to Egypt and even passed him through the prison to make sure he was completely unqualified in the eyes of the world. Yet, He promoted Joseph to prime minister position in Egypt. One could only imagine the anger of some people in that society.

If you are being hindered or your ambitions are being quashed based on earthly written or unwritten rules, please know that our God is a suspender of rules. He even occasionally suspends His own rules, to prove to us that He could never be limited by anything. When God told Isaiah the prophet to turn back and announce to king Hezekiah that He had heard his prayers and would heal him, the king did not immediately believe the message. He wanted a sign to confirm it, and he did not want just any easy sign. In 2 Kings 20:9-11, the Bible says:

Then Isaiah said, "This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing which He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?" And Hezekiah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees." So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.

The Word of God is filled with many passages where God suspended rules. He listened to the voice of Joshua and stopped the sun and the moon from rolling forward for a whole day (Joshua 10:12-14). God basically suspended His covenant with day and night (Jeremiah 33:20), in order to deliver victory to Israel over the Amorites. This was such an impossible thing to do that even the Bible says there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man.

Esther became queen under impossible conditions. Mary became pregnant without ever meeting a man; science has never been so confused. Impossible is nothing with God. I’ve seen people rise from grass to grace, from ridicule to relevance, and from sawdust to stardom. You could be the next, if you believe that your challenges are nothing before the God whose pronouncement is final. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, Jabez cried to God in very few but impactful words, and his disastrous situation was reversed. God can remove the obstacles against you if you cry to Him. Wouldn’t you rather?

PLEASE ACT NOW:

If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:

Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!

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