Who Knows???

Back to Jonah.  Back to the Ninevites' response to God's call to repentance.  The King's response was interesting...

"Who knows?  God may relent and witrhdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish." (Jonah 3:9)

God may relent and God may not.  He's God and He's sovereign.  And He's good.  But, we know that His nature is to be merciful.  So why not pray and fast and ask for God to relent?  What really do we have to lose.  Even if it doesn't change the outcome, it WILL change us as we commit ourselves to prayer, fasting, asking for God to move.

Do our part.  Trust God will do His part ... EVEN if what He might choose would be different than we desired. 

In 2 Samuel 12:16-20, David finds that his child with Bathsheba has died.  He has been mourning, praying, fasting ... begging, really.  He finds out that the child has died and he gets up, gets dressed, goes to worship and then eats.  He accepts God's action.  The time for saying, "Who knows what God will do if I ask" is over and it is time to put on his big boy pants and go out and live his life. 

I don't think I often live in the "Who Knows" mode... I am a bit more on the side of figuring out what I think someone will say or do (even God) and working my life around that.  Often not even asking.  For example, I had a great doctor serve with us in Peru last summer.  His oldest daughter went as his translator and they are some of my favorites.  When we were talking about this summer's trips, Warren asked me, "What do you think Dr. J will do?"  "Hmmmm ... I don't think he'll want to go to Haiti.  He might go to Peru if Kristen leads ... but I don't think he'll go to Haiti" .... well, I had a rare "Who knows" moment yesterday.  Sent him an email.  Asked if he was interested.  Gave him a list of "outs" to choose from and WHO KNEW ... He wants to go.  Man, I need to live in the "Who knows ..." A LOT more.  Might not change things, but it just might make all the difference in the world ... WHO KNOWS ... hmmmmm ... maybe God.  But I think I'm gonna quit trying to do His job and let Him have it!