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Bible Question: How
do we know that God has answered our questions? How do we know
it is not the Devil?
Bible Answer:
God
answers all of our prayers in a variety of ways. Sometimes His
answer is "yes," and other times it is "no."
When God does answer with a "yes" He may or may not
use Satan to accomplish His purpose. God may use people, natural
events, or direct intervention to accomplish His will. It is
important to remember that when God does use Satan, God is in
control. Satan is not in control. Satan does not have the freedom
to do anything that God does not allow. Job 1-2 is a great example
of this. Listen to this conversation between God and Satan.
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Then
Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
Hast Thou not made a hedge about him and his house and
all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the
work of his hands, and his possessions have increased
in the land. (NASB) Job 1:9-10 |
Satan had to ask God for permission to afflict Job.
Satan was not free to do as he wished. After listening to Satan,
God allowed Satan to afflict Job because God wanted to accomplish
something important in Job's life. That is what the book of
Job is all about..
Directly. When God answers with
"yes," He sometimes acts directly. A wonderful example
of this is in the life of King Hezekiah. The king became sick.
He was going to take his own life. So he asked God to heal him
and extend his life.
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Return
and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, "Thus
says the LORD, the God of your father David, "I have
heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will
heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house
of the LORD. And I will add fifteen years to your life,
and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of
the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My
own sake and for My servant David’s sake.” (NASB)
2 Kings 20:5-6 |
God did. He healed him and added years to his life.
That was an act of God. Only God can give life.
Angels. On other occasions God uses angels to answer our prayers.
The prophet Daniel had a prayer answered by an angel.
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