Good Idea Versus God’s Idea

Have you ever had an idea which filled you with excitement and peace? Sometimes God plants a thought in us and seems as if it is our own good idea, but really it comes from Him. But sometimes we get an idea which seems good to us, but it isn’t from God.

When the Israelites were thirsty in the desert, Moses stuck the rock, as God had instructed him to (Exodus 17). But we read in Numbers Chapter 20, although it was the same situation, God had actually given different instructions to Moses. Instead of speaking to the rock as God had instructed him to, this time Moses struck the rock. It was simply because he was frustrated with the people. He followed his own idea of what had worked in the past, but it wasn’t God’s idea that time. We should not let other people’s behaviour towards us make us disobey God. Our relationship with the Lord shouldn’t be dependent on others. Because of that, Moses missed the promised land.

David was a man after God’s own heart, but he had shortcomings. I do not know why David thought it was a good idea to take a census (1 Chronicles 21). He knew very well that it wasn’t God’s idea. Even after a warning from his army general Joab not to take the census, he ignored it. He pushed through with his own idea. God was displeased with David’s move, and He punished Israel for it. There is a real danger for those in power. A slight mistake might end up affecting not only themselves but also those who come under their cover. And that’s why we read in Proverbs 29:2, ‘When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice’.

But what I love about David is his heart of repentance. He never allowed pride to get in the way of repentance. David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing” (1 Chronicles 21:8).

God had asked Saul not to have pity on the Amalekites but to destroy all of them. But Saul thought it would be a good idea to spare their king Agag, and the best sheep and cattle. He and the people didn’t want to destroy anything of value, so they only killed the animals that were worthless or weak. It wasn’t God’s idea, and God ended up rejecting him as king.

Esther going before the king to intercede on behalf of her people didn’t sound like a good idea. It could have been a life-threatening move. Yet it was God’s idea. God not only preserved her life but that of millions of others, the Jewish people.

Peter had this crazy idea to walk on the water, but he thought he would first run it past Jesus to know whether Jesus was in it. And indeed, Jesus called him out of the boat. When it’s a godly idea it doesn’t matter how risky or crazy it seems, because if it is from Him, it will be the safest move. But if it is not God’s idea, no matter how safe it looks, it will be a disastrous move, because we will be stepping outside His covering.

Sometimes we check with the Lord, but we are in a rush to execute the idea before it has received God’s green light. Peter knew that, if it was Jesus’ idea, he was safe in His hands. And indeed, he was safe. Let’s be safe and run our idea past God, and not be afraid if He says no. He has our best interests at heart.