Gospel Reflections #1022: When it is according to God's will

1 Samuel 30:8 ‘David sought an oracle from the Lord: “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” The answer was, “Pursue them; you will certainly overtake them and rescue them.”’

This is a crucial scene illustrating a ‘return to the fundamentals of faith’, where David, faced with a desperate situation, did not act on his own emotions or impatience, but first came before God to seek His will. 

An ordinary person would, out of anger or impatience, either immediately give chase to the enemy or end up in conflict with his subordinates, who were on the verge of rebellion.

However, David had the priest Abiathar bring the ephod (the garment used to seek God’s oracle) and first knelt before God. It was the moment he ceased acting on his own wisdom or emotions and placed his trust once more in God’s sovereignty. 

David asked God specifically, ‘Should I pursue them (is this Your will?)’ and ‘Can I catch up with them (can I be victorious?)’.

This demonstrates a humble attitude, not imposing David’s own desires on God, but entrusting everything—including the outcome—into God’s hands. 

God’s answer was a 100% guarantee: ‘Pursue him. You will certainly catch up with him, and you will certainly rescue him.’

As verse 6 immediately preceding this states, ‘David was strengthened by God’, receiving God’s word breathed new life into David and his men, who had been at the very depths of despair.

When trouble or unjust problems arise, we tend to panic and try to resolve them by our own strength.

Just as David did, ‘stopping first and coming before God’ is the first step towards the best solution.

It shows us the hope that when we move forward in accordance with God’s will, even what seems lost will be restored by God in a far more wonderful way.

God’s plan for us is not something that changes according to our actions; it is a plan for our complete salvation.

And it will certainly be fulfilled.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.