Sometimes The Answer Is 'No'

As Christians we need to realize that sometimes God's answer to our prayers is "no."  We have an example of this in Genesis 17.  In Genesis 17 God is speaking to Abraham about His covenant with him and with his children and generations to come.  When we come to verses 18 through 22 we read Abraham's prayer and God's answer.

"And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”  Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.  And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham." (Genesis 17:18-22)

Notice Abraham's prayer.  He prayed, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!"  Ishmael was Abraham's son, but he was not the son that God had promised to give Abraham.  Abraham wanted Ishmael to become his legal heir and to be part of God's covenant.

God's response to Abraham was immediate.  God told him, "No."  In God's purpose and plan for Abraham, He would bless him with a child who would be called Isaac and God would establish His covenant with Isaac and not Ishmael.  But also notice that God tells Abraham that He did hear Abraham's prayer and that He would bless Ishmael.

What can we learn from this?  Here are a few take-aways:

• God sometimes answers our prayers with a "No."
• God does hear our prayers and responds to them!
• When God says no, it is because in His sovereign plan and will for our life He knows that what we are requesting would not be for our good.  I think of it this way.  Many times my kids have asked me for something and I've said no not to be mean or cruel, but because I know it would not be good for them!  If my child asked to watch a movie or television show that was not age-appropriate for them, I would say no so that I could protect them.  When God says no, He isn't being cruel or unkind, He is being a wise and protecting Heavenly Father.