Be Careful What We Ask For

“So all the elders came together and met Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, ‘You’re old, and your sons don’t live as you do. Give us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.’

When the elders said that Samuel was not pleased. He prayed to the LORD, and the LORD told Samuel, ‘Listen to whatever the people say to you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me from being their king. They are doing as they have always done. When I took them out of Egypt, they left me and served other gods. They are doing the same to you. Now listen to the people but warn them what the king who rules over them will do.’”- 1 Samuel 8:4-9

We do not always know what is best for us. As a result, we pray and ask God for something knowing it can harm us but still want it. For the Israelites, it was a king. They asked for a king even after being warned by Samuel what the new king will do. He warned that the king they wanted will enrich himself by making the people poor, he would draft their young men and women for military, for domestic duties and would make them slaves (1 Samuel 8:11-17).

We can learn a lot from the Israelites when asking God for something. If He says no or warns us that nothing good will come out of what we ask for, then we should listen to Him. Samuel gives us an important reminder that God’s ways are always the best ways and not ours. This includes things like keeping marriage the way He designed it, loving people who hate you, not stealing or wanting your neighbor's things, and treating them like you would treat yourself.

When we do not listen to God’s warnings, then He might do what He did to the Israelites by giving them what they wanted. If He does, there will be consequences because we are really rejecting God (Psalm 106:13-15).

Prayer of the day:

Dear heavenly Father,

You have warned us to be careful what we ask for. It can be dangerous because what we want is not good for us like in the case of the Israelites. You are very kind and merciful to warn us that not all that we desire is good. Help us to trust You when we pray and open our minds to distinguish what You want because You care and what we do will also bring You glory. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!