Father knows best

If you really want to know how to talk to God, study Jesus’ prayers. As he prepared to take the world’s sin and face the horror of his crucifixion, Jesus pleaded with God to “let this cup pass from me” in Matthew 26:39. His prayer, however, concluded with, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Was it wrong for Jesus to pray for his Father to stop the event which had brought him to earth? No, Jesus was committed to God’s plan, but he dreaded the hours of excruciating pain on a cross and the weight he would endure when everyone’s sin was placed on his shoulders, and he felt guilt for the first time.

As I reflected on this, I wondered whether God ever grants a request and gives us something which he knows is not good for us. Put another way, can God be moved by our prayers and grant us something not in our best interest? Though I do not think God regularly grants requests that will harm us, 2 Kings 20 tells a story which seems to suggest he did at least once.

One of Judah’s most godly kings, Hezekiah, instituted numerous spiritual reforms and called his nation to return to God. He had been on the throne for 14 years when the prophet Isaiah told him to put his house in order and prepare to die. Hezekiah told God he had faithfully served him and begged for his life to be extended. God granted his request and sent Isaiah back to him with the promise of 15 additional years.

Instead of being grateful for God’s blessing of more time, the king rejected God during those 15 years. When the prophet confronted him, Hezekiah refused to return to God. Isaiah told him the nation would be judged, and the king said he did not care as long as it did not happen in his lifetime. Tragically, the king who had begun so well ended up ungodly and selfish!

The next king, Manasseh, was born during those extra years. He ruled for 55 years and undid all of his father’s early spiritual reforms. Manasseh went further; he introduced immoral temple prostitution and human sacrifice. Sadly, Judah eagerly followed the ungodly king.

Philosopher Simone Weil was correct when she asked, “Isn’t it the greatest possible disaster when you are wrestling with God not to be beaten?” Theologians have long debated why God granted Hezekiah’s request when what he begged for turned out so badly. I am drawn to how Jesus concluded his prayer by asking for God’s will to be done, regardless of how vulnerable he felt in the hours before his crucifixion. Each of us would do well to adopt his attitude when we talk to God. Our prayers should all be said with this attitude: God, here is what I want, but I acknowledge that you, as my Father, ultimately know best.