It Works!
Ponder: Success
Scripture: “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:12 NKJV).
God views success far differently than we do. We set a goal, plan a strategy, carry out the plan, and claim success if it works. What is the matter with this? Simply put, God’s will is left out of the process.
During King Asa’s reign over Judah, Israel’s army under King Baasha invaded Judah and captured some territory. Asa hired the king of Syria to attack Israel, forcing Baasha and his army to leave Judah to defend their own territory. Asa then re-captured the territory he had lost (1 Kings 15:16-21). Great strategy, wouldn’t you say? And it definitely worked! God, however, sent a prophet to rebuke Asa (2 Chronicles 16:7-9). The king had put his trust in his pagan neighbors rather than in the Lord. Yes, it “worked,” but it dishonored God.
Moses also “succeeded” in obtaining water for Israel, but sinned in the process. God told him to speak to a rock (Numbers 20:8). Instead Moses, being angry with Israel, struck the rock twice with his rod (vv. 9-11). It worked! Water poured forth in abundance. But Moses and Aaron forfeited the blessing of going across Jordan into the promised land (v. 12).
Asa gained relief from his enemies. Moses obtained water for Israel. Worldly philosophy says the end justifies the means; since Asa and Moses attained the desired ends, their methods must not be criticized. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that people offend God by using the wrong means to noble ends.
Church growth, for example, is an eminently Biblical goal. God wants His church to grow! Some, however, in misguided zeal, seek church growth through methods that are outside the revealed will of God. Watering down the gospel, exchanging worship for entertainment, and otherwise appealing to people’s carnal side, might attract large crowds. But such efforts to not glorify God. Let us trust the Lord by following His word in all we do. His way is always the right way!