"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25 Article 273
Knock, Knock, Knock on Heaven's Door
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer! (Methodist Hymn Book no. 538)
Persistent knocking brings results that sometimes will stun us. It demands a lot of courage such that even when the signs are not evident or there are 'no clouds in the sky' we should keep carrying on. Prayer changes things, not God. God intervenes and the situation changes on behalf of the petitioner. God makes it happen for us. How long are you prepared to knock? Ask father Abraham.
Father Abraham prayed to God in these terms; "O Sovereign God what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" (Genesis 15:2)
Father Abraham did not stop there, he continued in a plaintive tone; "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir." (Genesis 15:3) Father Abraham did not mince his words; he laid it all on the table. He knocked so hard at heaven's door when he opened his heart to the Lord. God couldn't turn a deaf ear.
The response came when God said to him. "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." (Genesis 15:4) Just in case Abraham would not believe Him, God resorted to a practical demonstration. He took Abraham outside, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them! Then He said to him; "So shall your offspring be." (Genesis 15:5) Your offspring will be so numerous, there is no way you would be able to count them. Don't we all spring from father Abraham?
The Bible account concludes that because Abraham believed the Lord, it was credited to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) For knocking on heaven's door, Abraham obtained multiple sons and daughters.
He knocked expecting one offspring - a son; God, the Giver of all good things, filled his basket. One condition for the fulfilment of his prayer was faith. It will be the same when we take it all to Jesus in prayer.
The realisation of father Abraham's dream came twenty-five years afterwards. At the time he knocked on heaven's door with his request, Abraham was seventy-five years old. I don't suppose Abraham made just one single wish and stopped at that.
If this thought had been on his mind to the extent that he complained bitterly to God, he must have knocked continuously until God delivered the goods in the form of Isaac.
Father Abraham did not feel complete without an offspring. The absence of an heir bothered him. Yet before he knocked, God had an answer for him. He had fathomed the depth of his needs, weighed them on the palm of His hand and brought relief to His faithful servant.
Father Abraham was certain he would get attention from God otherwise he would not have knocked on heaven's door, in desperation. Sometimes you may have to knock twice to have an answer. That was the case with Hannah.
Hannah one of the wives of Elkanan, could no longer bear the tantrums of her mate Peninah and though her husband was supportive of her childless status, his offer of gifts as palliative did not seem to work.
Hannah, like Abraham who wanted an offspring, needed to prove she was not barren. She wanted a child so badly to show something for her years of marriage. She therefore launched her appeal to God every year.
Every year at the appointed time - accompanied by her husband - Hannah undertook the tedious and arduous journey to
Her husband’s comforting words and gifts did not do the trick; that only soothed her for a while. She wanted her respect; she wanted to cease being her mate’s doormat.
“Her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.” (1 Samuel 1:6) “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8) Her husband would say.
Hannah continued to knock persistently and did not give up until God blessed her with a son she named Samuel. That year she prayed her heart out until the priest thought she must have had some alcohol early that morning. "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget me your servant but give her a son …" (verse 11).
It pained her that the priest should have thought this way. In response she defended herself; "Not so my Lord! I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord." (verse 15)
What is wrong that you cannot come to His throne of grace with your appeal? Knock! Knock! He is not deaf to hear, nor dumb to speak to your circumstance. "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: here am I?" (Isaiah 58:9)
