God Answers Prayer
Sometimes God answers prayer, not simply to grant your petition, but rather to fulfill his desire. Here are some examples of answered prayer for God’s benefit:
God answers prayer for his glory – 2 Ki 19:15-19 – Hezekiah prayed for deliverance from the Assyrians and God heard his prayer. The reason was not only to spare Jerusalem for Hezekiah’s sake but so that “all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only,” [2 Ki 19:19-20]. In Ps 50:15 the Lord said, “Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
God answers prayer for his sake – 1 Ki 19:34 – God said, “I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake”. God saved them from the Assyrians, 2 Chr 32:22. But he saved them for his good, not theirs. God could have just as easily allowed the Assyrians to destroy them, as they did the ten northern tribes. However, In 1 Ki 13:2 a man of God prophesied that a king in Judah, named Josiah, would destroy the altar and idols in Israel, and that man hadn’t been born yet.
God answers prayer for his purpose – 2 Ki 20:1-6 – Hezekiah prayed to be healed. And God heard his prayer and healed him. Hezekiah was a good king and believed God would defend Jerusalem, 2 Ki 18:30. It certainly made sense that God would want a king like Hezekiah to continue to rule over his people. Similarly, Hannah prayed for a son and the Lord answered her, 1 Sam 1:11. Hannah gave her son to the Lord as she had said, 1 Sam 1:27-28. Samuel was best judge Israel ever had.
But look what happened in 2 Chr 32:23-25. Hezekiah was magnified. In verse 25 his heart was lifted up after he prayed and was delivered and healed. In 2 Chr 32:31, God left him to try him. Hezekiah had to humble himself in verse 26. The more successful anyone is in the Lord’s blessings, the greater the need for his humility.
Because of Hezekiah’s pride (and Manasseh’s and Judah’s), the Lord said the he wouldn’t deliver them from Babylon, 2 Ki 20:16-18. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was God’s servant who destroyed their city. This is what can happen when you forget that answered prayer is often not about you, but rather about the Lord.
Conclusion: So, be careful when you pray to remember that your answers are also for the Lord’s glory, the Lord’s sake (his advantage), and the Lord’s purpose. Don’t ever let the fact that God answers your prayers lift you up in pride.