The Greek word for “temple” is, in this case, the same word used for the “Most Holy Place,” which was the inner sanctuary of the ancient Israelites’ tabernacle, and later the temple. It was the place where God was said to dwell. The high priest could only enter once a year to sprinkle the sacrificed animals’ blood on the mercy seat in order to make atonement for the sin of God’s people. The Book of Hebrews teaches us that today “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body” (Heb. 10:19-20, NIV). In other words, through the death and broken body of Jesus Christ on the Cross, you and I have been given access to the presence of God when we approach Him by faith in prayer.
In our heavenly home, we will not just have occasional access to the presence of God; we will live in His presence! For all eternity!
During the days of Ezekiel, God poured out His heart and shared what He wanted to do for His beloved people. Then He revealed an astonishing fact: “I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them” (Eze. 36:37, KJV). God was waiting to be asked!
My mother said that if there are any tears shed in heaven, they are going to be shed over all the answers to prayer for which no one ever bothered to ask! What blessing is God waiting to give you, but you haven’t asked Him for it?
Why does He wait for us to ask? Maybe He wants us to acknowledge our need of Him. Maybe it’s one way of getting our attention. Maybe it’s the only way we will know when the answer comes that it comes from Him, and we don’t credit ourselves or someone else for it.
Have you based your faith . . . on what someone else has told you God wants to do for you? on what you have seen Him do for another person? on what you think is fair or loving? on what you think would be in the best interest of those involved? on a doctor’s recommendation for treatment? You and I must pray in faith, or our prayer will not be pleasing to God. If your faith as you pray is based on anything other than faith in God’s specific promise given to you in His Word, then your prayer is on a shaky foundation. So ask God to give you a promise from His Word on which you can pray in faith.
Joshua had to wait seven days as he obediently marched around Jericho before God rewarded his patience and brought the walls down.
Israel waited for the Messiah to come. Mary waited nine months for Jesus’ birth. Jesus waited for the woman of Samaria to come to the well, Mary and Martha waited for Jesus to come to Bethany, and Jesus Himself waited three days in the tomb for the resurrection. A person who lives in submissive obedience to Christ is a person who is often called to wait.
Are you waiting on God for something? What plans have you made in the meantime? Who else have you involved in those plans? Is there someone else, a mother-in-law or pastor or best friend, who is leading you to join him or her in decisive action? Instead of blindly saying, “I’ll go with you,” take a moment to pray and ask God for His direction. Then wait until He answers you.
God surely gave Joshua the strangest strategy for overcoming Jericho that any general has ever been given! God told him to lead his armed men in a silent march around the outside walls of the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. On the last lap, the priests in the army were to blow trumpets loudly and the people were to shout. Then the wall would collapse, and Joshua’s army could successfully capture the city!
God answers prayer, but sometimes the way He goes about it can be incredibly confusing and unconventional, which is one reason He goes about it in that way — so that our faith rests totally in Him. Then, when the answer comes, we know without a shred of doubt that it comes from Him alone and that He knows best. And we give Him all the glory.
