“O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the Spirit of the Lord straightened (shortened)?” Micah 2:7
Dear Ones:
How far is the “reach” of God? How much does He desire to do? Can we limit God by what do or do not do? And lastly, can we “quench” the moving of God, as a fire is doused with water?
In the book of Isaiah, we find written that which corresponds to the writing of Micah, with regard to the limits that we impose upon God. Isaiah writes: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear?” (59:1) Earlier in his writings, Isaiah declares the very words of God on this subject: “Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? Or, have I no power to deliver?” (50:2) Why does the Lord ask these questions? It is so that we will see that there is something very wrong when man, specifically believers, are in a position where they cannot receive the full blessing of God in the will of God. They limit God.
The Lord then goes on to reveal that He is fully able to redeem and deliver: “Behold, at My rebuke, I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness. I clothe the heavens with blackness.” (Is. 50:2) From a human, sinful standpoint, the unbeliever does not believe that God can and will intervene to save, deliver, and work wondrously. From God’s standpoint, the opposite is true. The Lord says in Isaiah 65:2, “…I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walked in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.” Here God is declaring that He waits to give that which is GOOD, even His Life and power, to those who are truly willing to receive Him, and to align themselves with HIS WAYS, forsaking their own.
One of the great illustrations of limiting the blessing of God is found in 2 KIngs 13:14-19. Elisha the prophet was about to die. Before he did so, King Joash came to seek the Lord’s blessing, specifically His victory over the Syrians, Israel’s enemies. Elisha gave to Joash a promise, speaking of the Lord’s deliverance: “…for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek till thou have consumed them.” (v.17) This declaration of victory was clearly declaring a total victory. When King Joash was put to the test whether he would believe God for a complete victory, he failed. Elisha knew it, and was angry at the king’s unbelief. The result was that instead of a full victory, Israel would win only a certain number of battles.
A second illustration of limiting the blessing of God is found in Mark’s gospel. A blind man was brought to Jesus. Jesus led him outside of the town, spit on his eyes, and put His hands on him, and then asked him what he saw. The man replied, “I see men as trees walking.” (8:24) Jesus would then put His hands on the blind man’s eyes a second time, and made him look up. The result was that, “…the man was restored, and saw every man clearly.” Why was the man not able to be healed entirely the first time that Jesus put His hands on him? We do not know the heart of this man, but that which we do know is that the Lord Jesus worked His marvelous, and wondrous works, in answer to faith. The blind man’s faith was initially large enough to be healed partially. However, after seeing “men as trees walking,” and knowing again the touch of Christ, faith became resolutely fixed on Christ. The limitation of the blind man, that he placed on God, was his faithlessness.
The Eternal God is the God of the “much more.” He desires and wills to move, and work, in response to faith. His motive is unquestionable, in that He stretches out His arms all day long to save. His capacity to save is demonstrated by creation, but mostly by Christ’s work of redemption. The question then becomes, “How much are we willing to trust Him?”
Dear Father, Strengthen us to believe Thee fully according to Thy word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad