“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”(Eph.5:15-17).
By C.C. Emeka
A young man came to my office looking so dejected, he exclaimed in somber tone of voice, “Daddy, life is really full of challenges “But, I did not respond with the gesture he expected from me. Rather, with such a cheerful countenance exuding confidence and assurance as a father I drew closer to him to have him sit by my side.
Looking at him with empathy, I laid my right hand on his shoulder. Perceiving that this young man was really going through, tough time, I calmly spoke to him in a tone that could arouse hope and confidence in a man that has been badly battered by the storm of life.
I said to him, “My son, life truly can be so challenging. It will toss you up and down, it will shift on you, and it will reel in and reel out on you: pressures, problems pushing you from every side. It does not care who you are! Even the son of the Most High was not exempted. When he came to that point during his life time on earth, he cried out with a loud voice saying: “…My EL, My EL, why has thou forsaken me?” If the son of the Almighty, in whom he is well pleased came to that point, who are you then, not to experience yours?” Boy, I said; in the midst of challenges, tests and trials, if you stand your ground and pass your test and trials which all are partakers of; if you do not give in or give up, life will reward you: offering you the best of its gifts and place a mark of superiority on you above others.” After those few words, his face started radiating, beaming with positivity and optimism. I then took off from my shelf an article I wrote more than 10years ago and handed over to him to study. Excepts:
UNDERSTANDING THE WILL OF YAHWEH
One of the greatest problems in this world is how to be sure of the will of Yahweh at any given time and in any particular condition we find ourselves, especially in times of difficulty and trials.
But, the Scriptures have already provided us directions and guidelines on how to know the will of Yahweh regarding any given situation.
In the Book of Ephesians the Bible says; “see them that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of Yahweh is “(Eph.5:15-17.
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary: defines the word circumspect as follows; “paying careful attention to everything before taking action” cautions. We need this extra carefulness to enable us ascertain the will of Yahweh concerning whatever condition we find ourselves and not to rush over matters by our own canal desires and selfish interest.
Remember, the Scripture says in Isa. 28:16 “therefore thus saith Yahweh, behold , I lay in Zion a foundation, stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
LEANING ON YAHWEH
Proverbs 3:6-7 says; “Trust in Yahweh with all thy heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.”
The American nature to be in hurry has gotten hold on our society- and equally gotten many into troubles. We live in a “Now” society a “now” generation. We want everything “now.” We want to flip a switch on our condition and turn it on and off at our own will, but that is not what our heavenly Father wants. Our mad rush over things is unnatural. Being in haste to have our difficult condition changed get us into more trouble and increases the burden of our difficult condition or problems than alleviating them. To know the will of Yahweh, to ascertain His will at any time and at any given condition, we should not be in haste; we should not be like the horse Ps. 32:8. The fact that impatience puts us into more troubles and makes us deviate from the will of Yahweh is so clear from the case of Sarah and the bond-woman, Hagar.
The inability to wait for the will of Yahweh in times of need and difficult (seeming hopeless) condition, resulted in the age long conflict at the Middle-East – the Ishmael and Isaac saga! The Scripture says, “… lean not on your own understanding”.
Your difficult condition is not the problem. Your attitude towards your difficult condition is the real problem. Your inability to know the will of Yahweh concerning your condition; that is the problem!
Leaning on your own understanding is your problem. Your real problem is impatience and inability to deal with your problem calmly and without haste. Leaning on your own understanding; inability to look forward and wait for the good that will come out of your difficult condition will make you deviate from the will of Yahweh. Just like Sarah, you will find out that your selfish will would rather bring you disappointments and more problems than lasting solutions.
In marriage, many people have found themselves in difficult conditions and disappointments because of the above reasons. Because of impatience, they have deviated from the will of Yahweh driven by their Canal desires and selfish interests. Also in choosing a career and on vital life decisions, people have, through their predisposition to have their personal decisions or canal desires and intrest established, hardened their hearts and closed their ears to the voice of the Spirit of Yahweh resulting in the rejection of the will of Yahweh.
What has always been the result? We can see a number of examples in the Scriptures.
Sarah and Hagar (Gen. 16:1-end).
Jacob’s desire to marry Rachel and his love for Rachel more than Leah (Gen.29:16-31).
Korah’s quest for leadership (Num. 16.).
Balaam’s prophetic ministry – motivated by materialistic ambition (Num. 22:1-end). Achan, the covetous soldier (Joshua 7:1-end).
Samson’s marriage to Delilah the Philistine woman (Judges’ 16:4-31.).
David taking Uriah’s wife –(2 Sam. 11:1-end).
David conducting census over Israel (1 Chron. 21:1-end).
Judas Iscariot selling his master (MK. 14:10-11.).
These examples are enough for us to learn from. Rom. 15:4, says, “For whatsoever was written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope”
We are admonished by the word of Yahweh to learn from the above examples, to be circumspect, to be wise enough as to understand the will of Yahweh at any given time; in any given condition we find ourselves. Pay careful attention to everything before taking action.
LEARN TO THANK YAHWEH IN ALL CONDITIONS
Learn to thank Yahweh in every condition you find yourself no matter how difficult it may be. Yahweh wants us to know this ultimate truth, that there is no condition no matter how bad, how difficult and prolonged the problem might be that does not have some good and some blessings awaiting you at the end of it (Rom.8:28).
There is a seed of equivalent benefit which is carried in every circumstance of adversity, every frustration, every failure and every disappointment. Every bud is always bitter, but the flower eventually must be sweet.
LIGHT COMES OUT OF DARKNESS,
GOOD COMES OUT OF BAD
After all, light came out of darkness – that was the order of the creation. How can there be light without firstly the existence of darkness. Darkness represents hardship, difficulties, unfavorable condition; and light represents good, happiness and blessing. Therefore, as darkness comes before light, so do difficulties and unfavorable conditions come before blessings and elevation.
One thing is true about human nature (and human nature opposes the will of Yahweh); that is, instead of endeavoring to find out the will of Yahweh and giving the will of Yahweh a chance to be established in our life, we try to maneuver the Spirit of Yahweh. Consequently, the will of Yahweh gives way to our selfish interest. Therefore, by our predisposition to have our personal decisions, canal desires and interests established, we harden our hearts, and close our ears to the voice of the Spirit of Yahweh resulting in the rejection of the will of Yahweh.
THE DANGERS OF SELFISH INTEREST
Sometimes, we still claim we want to do the will of Yahweh while the inclination of our heart is already made up towards having our own way.
There was this Mesopotamia prophet, Balaam, who, after an unsuccessful attempt to curse Israel, suggested to Balaki using woman to draw the male Israelites into lewd (immoral) worship of false gods. The consequence of the resulting immorality and idolatry was the death of 24,000 Israelites (Num. 25:1-end, 1 Con. 10:8, Rev. 2:14.)
Balaam already had the disposition to go after the unjust reward from Balak, while still enquiring for the will of Yahweh.
From the start to finish, Almighty Yahweh disapproved of cursing Israel, insisting that if Balaam went, he would have to bless, not curse. And on this, He permitted him to go.
But Balaam still entertained the hope of having rich reward for which he had come so far and worked so hard for (Num 23, 24). If he could not curse Israel, he reasoned, perhaps, Yahweh himself would curse his own people, if only they could be seduced to engage in sex worship of Baal of Peor. (Num. 25, 31:1-8, Rev 2:14) He eventually perished because of his evil inclination and selfish interest.
Saul, the first King of Israel had ulterior motive while pretending to hearken to, and do the will of Yahweh but his inclination like Balaam made him headstrong in disregarding the will of Yahweh (1 Sam. 15). He was rather determined to gain his own objective.
So do many people who claim they want to do the will of Yahweh.
When you find yourself in a certain condition or difficult circumstance you don’t like and don’t want.
You need to be sure what the will of Yahweh is concerning you and concerning the situation. One very important question you ought to ask yourself is this, “…the cup which my father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11). That cup represents a condition or circumstance.
In times of difficulty, trial and disappointment, learn to resign yourself to the will of Yahweh. Submit yourself to the purpose of Yahweh for your life. Before you blaspheme…, Before you become enraged…, Before you complain in your difficult times; before you take any decision that affects your future ( marriage, business, choice of career etc. ), repeat this to yourself a thousand times, “…I come to this world, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).
NOTHING HAPPENS, BY CHANCE
One truth you have to remember about this life is that nothing happens by chance, but by divine approval, Isa. 45:6-7, Eccl. 11:4-5.
Therefore any time you find yourself in a very unfavorable condition, do not let your selfish will cause you to deviate from the will of Yahweh through impatience; rather submit yourself to the will of He who has control of your life. Do not forget that Yahweh is truly the one in command, in control and in charge of all happenings in this life, Job 1:21.
Jonah would not have learnt his lesson, if he had no spent three days in the belly of the fish. Job wouldn’t have had extra wealth, double of what he had before; he wouldn’t have had ten children and the most beautiful girls in the land (instead of the seven children he had before) if he did not go through the painful, terrible and unprecedented trials he went through. Joseph wouldn’t have met his chance of being a prime minister in Egypt, if he was not envied , hated and sold by his brethren; and if he was not pushed away from the comfortable home of Potipher and sent to prison. If he did not go to prison, he wouldn’t have ascended to that position of prime minister.
Why expect to ascend to that prime position you so much desire without going through your own prison (Kind of difficult condition). No gold Is gold without passing through the furnace.
Shall gold ever want to be gold without ever wanting to go through the fire?
In Psalm 66:10-12 the Scripture said;
“For thou, oh Yahweh, has proved us: thou has tried us, as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidest affliction upon our loins.
Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through the fire and
through water; but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.”
It is “He that descends that ascends”! (Ephesians 4:10) the principle is always the same. “From trauma to triumph, from problems to power and prominence, from prison to prime minister”.
How would you want the latter without going through the former? Naturally, you go through the door to the house (home). In the same way, the former is the door (entrance) to the latter.
In the above quotation, the Psalmist said that Yahweh proved us as he tried us the way silver or gold is tried, only when he brought us into the net (difficulty), laid affliction upon us (unfavorable condition), caused men to ride over us (humiliated state), made us go through fire and through water (conditions that seem sometimes hot and painful, and sometimes mild and solace) but at the end, his plan was to eventually bring us to a “Wealthy place”.
The truth of this was evident in the life of the personalities cited above.
That is why Yahweh said in Jerem. 29:11,”For I know the thought I think towards you , saith Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”. And in Rom. 8:28, He said “… We know that all things work together for good to them that love Yahweh, to them who are called according to His purpose”. Read also Eccl. 7:10-14.
SUBMIT TO YAHWEH’S-SOVEREIGNTY IN YOUR LIFE
Therefore, submit yourself to the will of Yahweh for your life. Let his will prevail in every circumstance of your life; because He wills the best for you.
THE WILL OF YAHWEH
Why are we supposed to submit ourselves to the will of Yahweh and not to complain, become enraged, or blaspheme when in trials or in difficulty.
In Job 9:19, he said, “He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength; who hath hardened himself against him; and hath prospered?”
Also Rom. 9:19, “… who had resisted his will…?” If we desire to please Yahweh in this life, in times of painful trial, difficulty or disappointments and unfavorable condition, we should learn always to say; “… Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will but thine will be done”.
“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of Yahweh is ‘ Eph. 5:17. (MZ)
