Limiting The Holy One

God demonstrated his unlimited power when He created the earth, the solar system, the vast heaven, and heavenly bodies.

He exhibited unlimited power when He delivered the Israelites from Egypt, when they crossed the Red Sea, when God fed the Israelites manna in the wilderness and gave them water out of the rock. He enabled them to pass through the Jordan River in flood time. They won battles with thirty-one kings in Canaan. In numerous battles recorded in the book of Judges, God empowered them to win spectacular victories over their enemies who greatly outnumbered them.

Jesus fed the 5,000, healed the blind, the deaf, the lame, the leper, and raised the dead. He walked on stormy waters and then stilled the waves of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus endured the pain, agony, and guilt of man’s sins on the cross. And He arose from the dead.   Through the centuries, the Savior has redeemed men, women, boys, and girls from sin, guilt, and the horrors of hell. He has proved His power countless times on earth and worked through His servants throughout the ages.

Yet, we can limit and prevent His power from working in our lives.

Psalms 78 relates many miracles and supernatural ways God delivered the Israelites. Yet, “they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” (Psalm 78:41). Verse 42 says they remembered not his hand.

How quickly we forget!

Asa was a godly king of Judah. When attacked by Zerah of Ethiopia with a million soldiers, “Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name, we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.” (2 Chronicles 14:11) The Lord delivered them with a mighty destruction of the enemy.

Later, Baasha, king of Israel, rebuilt Ramah, north of Jerusalem, as a fortress to prevent people in his kingdom from going south to Jerusalem to worship and perhaps defect to Judah. In fear of a much smaller army than Ethiopia, Asa hired Syria, under King Ben-Hadad, to turn against Baasha and Israel. (2 Chronicles 16:1-6). Ben-Hadad attacked other cities in Israel, and Baasha abandoned his project to rebuild Ramah. Later, the prophet Hanani rebuked Asa and reminded him of God’s deliverance from Ethiopia. He assured Asa that God wanted to help those whose hearts were perfect toward Him.  “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore, from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

God is the same God today. Isaiah reminds us, “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:” (Isaiah 48:17-18). God is eager to bless those who trust and obey.

Before commanding us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, Jesus reminds us, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:19-20). Acts 4:33 announces: “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

In Hebrews 4:2, the writer reminds us of the failure of the Israelites. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them (the Israelites in the wilderness): but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Hebrews 4:2). Despite all the miracles they had seen under the leadership of Moses, they did not trust God, and they limited the Holy One.

Today, you can limit the Holy One, or you can trust Him.  When God calls you to do something, and you don’t think you can, remember: God knows you better than you know yourself. He also knows what He can do through you. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 gives this promise, “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” If He calls you, He will enable you. Will you accept His call today?