Some issues in life are just too big to deal with by myself. Sometimes we need someone else to step in, to provide support and help us out. Now, as Christians, we have other Christians around who help us, but we know our most valuable support comes not from humans but from God. Throughout the Bible, God promises to help His people through all their difficulties, but how is it that we gain access to that?
How can I ask God for help? Is it as simple as just querying Him with a pressing matter, or are there extra steps we ought to take? Thankfully, we’re actually given a fairly detailed guide as to how we can go seek God’s aid, and it’s in the very first book of the Bible.
In Genesis 24, we’ve got an interesting story. Abraham, the great man of faith, is seeking a wife for his son Isaac. In those days and that region, arranged marriage was the standard, and here Abraham sends out a trusted servant to go and secure the arrangement between his son and someone vaguely related to the family. There are interesting reasons as to why he does this, but that’s for a different article.
The unnamed servant goes out to pursue his master’s wishes, and in so doing arrives in the next country over to start his search. That’s the point at which he realizes that he needs some help in accomplishing this! So he turns and prays to God, which gives us our suggestions on how we ought to pray.
Firstly, he Asks. In Genesis 24.12-14, this servant simply turns to ask if God is willing to help him. So simple! But so key. If you want God to help you, you have to ask Him. If you don’t ask, what does He have to answer? Too many people claim that they want God’s help, but refuse to go to Him in prayer and ask for it. If you don’t humble yourself before God, He has no reason to want to respond to your request.
The servant doesn’t ask selfishly: this isn’t for his own good, but to serve Abraham. Nor is it forceful, trying to twist God into obedience to human will. Nor is it impossible! The servant doesn’t demand a miracle, merely request that God would give something unusual significant. He asks, and asks simply. Perhaps God will answer? You never know, but you may as well inquire.
Secondly, he Thinks. In Genesis 24.15-21, after the sign has been requested, the servant looks up to see Rebekah. This is the future wife of Isaac! But he doesn’t know that, so when she perfectly fulfills his sign, he has to pull back to consider whether or not this is actually God’s answer.
Many people are willing to humble themselves to ask God for help, only to fail to take any time to consider what answers God might be providing. He never says He’s going to speak down directly or reach a hand down from the sky to point the right direction. Instead, He often provides answers in unusual ways that require us to be a little open-minded in how we go about listening to them. If you’re going to ask for help, be open to the possibility that it may not come in the form you think of.
Thirdly, he Acts. In Genesis 24.22-25, even though he isn’t for sure on whether this is God giving Him success or not, he acts anyway. Perhaps this is what God wants, or maybe not: either way, how will you know unless you try? The servant steps forward and asks Rebekah whether or not she’s a distant relative of Abraham, and it turns out she is. God did answer, even in the way that the servant was asking for! But he only knows because he stepped forwards to do something with the opportunity.
Occasionally, people will ask God for help, then even spend time considering whether or not He has truly answered them. They figure out what doors God has opened for them, then… northing. They sit and wait for something else to happen, not realizing that God has given them the opportunity to make it work! We have a responsibility to actually engage with the opportunities God has given us. If we don’t, do we really appreciate them? Do we need them? If we just expect God to hand us everything, perhaps He’s not very motivated to actually give it to us.
Fourthly, then, he Thanks. The pattern isn’t complete until Genesis 24.26-27, where the servant praises the work of God. Too often we get our answers, then fail to remember where they actually came from. But do you think God appreciates that? To have all His work ignored when you get what you want? If you treated your friends and family in that way, would they like you anymore? Doubtful. So why treat God that way?
If we’re going to be calling upon God for His assistance, we should do it in ways that He appreciates and are going to be most effective. Perhaps asking, thinking on the answer, acting on the opportunity, then thanking God for that opportunity would do a whole lot for our ability to receive the blessings of God. He’s said He’s willing to give them, but we have to be willing to seek them too.
