In Luke 15, we find one of Jesus’s most famous parables. The Prodigal Son tells the story of a young man who asked for his share of the family inheritance from his father before his father died. Even though it was against custom and that he was rejecting his place in the family, the father gave him what he wanted. The son went away and squandered the money and was broke when a famine came. The son came to his senses and returned home seeking forgiveness and a place as a servant. However, the father, who gave him what he wanted even though it was in conflict with his desires, saw him a long way off, ran to him and restored his place in the family.
In 1 Samuel 8, the nation of Israel asked the prophet Samuel for a king rejecting God’s plan for them and their place in His family. In verse 7, God told Samuel, “Do everything they say to you, for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer” (NLT). God then warned them what would happen if they had a human king instead of God as their leader. They said they would live with the consequences and God granted their request even though it was in conflict with His design. It wasn’t long before everything God said would happen came true. They learned the hard way that wanting God’s blessings without His leadership leads to problems. For generations they followed the pattern of falling away, repenting and returning.
Each one of find times in our life where we are like the prodigal or Israel. We want to choose our way instead of God’s because our desires are in conflict with His design. Like He did in the Bible, He will give it to us so we can learn the hard way that His way is better. When it happens in my life, I think of Acts 3:19-20. “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord.” When we repent of choosing our way over His, He is faithful to forgive us, bring us back into relationship and give us times of refreshing. If you’ve squandered what He’s given you and you’re ready to return, He’s looking forward to your return and to restore you.
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