Father Knows Best

Father Knows Best

The newspaper recently carried the story of a retired school teacher who lost her life savings when she was taken in by an investment scheme sold to her by a swindler. When everything she owned was gone, and she couldn't find the man who sold her the plan, she went to the Better Business Bureau for help. After she shared her heartbreaking story, the director of the Better Business Bureau said 'Why on earth didn't you come to us first? We could have helped you. Didn't you know about us?" Her reply is the source of our lesson for today. "Oh, yes," she replied, "I've always known about you. But I didn't come to you first because I was afraid you'd tell me not to do it."

Many Christians don't go to the Lord with their problems and with their questions for the same reason. They're afraid, afraid of what God might say, afraid he might say no, and even worse, afraid He might tell them to do something that is not what's best for their lives. We need to get it settled in our minds that God is out for our good, that He wants us to have a blessed and a prosperous future that is filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11). When He tells us something we don't understand or don't want to hear, it's often because the Lord sees things we aren't able to see.

It's like the story of Balaam and his donkey in Numbers 22. The donkey ran into wall because the angel of the Lord was standing in front of him. Unfortunately for the donkey, Balaam couldn't see the angel and in anger beat the donkey. When the Lord opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel, he realized how wrong his attitude had been. In the same way, the Lord sees things we can't see and knows things we don't know. And He speaks to us and directs our lives, if we'll let Him, accordingly.

This reminds me of the title from an old television series in the 50's and 60's, Father Knows Best. It is something we should say about our heavenly Father as we face situations we don't understand and when we receive answers we don't want to hear, "Father knows best".

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church