Approval Rather Than Direction

JEREMIAH 43 v 1-13

Why do we look for God's approval rather than his direction?

Johanan and his group of men came to God looking for approval for their plan, not for God's direction. This is a recurring theme in the bible and in the world; we put our desires before God's guidance. Johanan and his men were taking God for granted, like a friend of mine who would ask many different people for permission to do something until he got a yes to do it. God isn't meant to be the guy who rubber stamps our plans like someone in the council, he should be the spark, the dream, the vision that starts us pioneering something for his Kingdom. Jeremiah brings the words of God and they reject it. The next major step for most people is disobedience to what God has said when he has tried to help them from heading down the wrong road. Or as we sometimes find in the bible people knowing God's will and yet disobeying it anyway.

"It's not good to make plans unless we are willing for God to change them. It's not good to pray if we are willing to accept the answer."

Do we always realise the problems that come from the disobedience of God?

Johanan and his men were afraid to obey the Lord. Jonah 1 v 1-17, "¹ The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." ³ But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD..." Jonah didn't obey God's specific command and hit many troubles: a storm, big fish and nearly dying in the heat. But i think the key comparison to Jeremiah's situation is that Johanan and his men wouldn't just be affected by the repercussions of disobeying God but the whole nation of Egypt would be. God's speaks through Jeremiah again and says, "¹⁰ Then say to them, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones I have buried here; he will spread his royal canopy above them. ¹¹ He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword.” The Babylonians would come and destroy Egypt. This would cause problems for Johanan because why would the Pharaoh want people in Egypt who bring destruction to his nation. We see a very similar thing happen with Abraham, Genesis 12 v 10-20, "...¹⁷ But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. ¹⁸ So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? ¹⁹ Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” ²⁰ Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had." Abraham brought problems to Egypt because he lied. If we are disobedient to God it will bring destruction to where we go.

If I look for God's approval and he says no then how will react? But is it not easier to consult God, let him show me more of his plan and purpose for my life and then follow that? Matthew 6 v 33-34, " ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." I believe if i seek first the Kingdom of God then he will reveal his plans and purpose for my life so that I can live for him true Kavanah (Presence and Purpose of God) in my life!