Wisdom and Strength
If God appeared to you in a dream and asked what He should give you, what would you say?
David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established. Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.” - 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Imagine you have an opportunity to take on a very big task. Imagine it is so important and so difficult that you are sure you will fail. What would you ask for then?
Solomon sought the tools that would give him confidence that he could do the job and do it well.
He put the task God had given him above his own desires.
What is God putting in our paths? What is He hoping we will have the confidence to take up?
If we only accept the challenges we know we will be successful at, where is the challenge in that?
We will feel like Solomon, that we are not up to the task, that we are ill equipped to lead the charge, but God can be our strength and wisdom.
He can and will help us succeed if we ask Him.
So, why fear what may come our way? Why should we believe we will fail?
With God, all things are possible.
More to come...