When God is Silent

It's interesting to note that there were times when God was silent to the very people whom He chose to use for special assignments.


Hezekiah was a great King who did all that was right in God's sight but he experienced God's silence when God's word to him may have changed the course of history in his day. God wanted to know if he would always consult Him in all of his decisions. "And God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart." (II Chronicles 32:31). When the Caldean astronomers came to inquire about the God who could turn the sun backward, instead of giving praise to God for the miracle,Hezekiah unwisely showed them all of his treasures. Later, Judah was invaded and all the rich treasures were taken to Assyria.

Though Hannah prayed to God earnestly for a child, she experienced grief and sorrow and God's silence. Careful reading of her life, we can conclude God had to prepare a Hannah before He could prepare a Samuel. Though not recorded in scripture, I perceive her strong intercessory prayer included her promise to pray for Samuel all the days of his life if God granted her request. She may have forseen his leadership role as a prophet and she may have vowed a promise to never take him away from his calling. Samuel became the second most outstanding prophet of his day. This is the power of a praying Mother!

Job was a man of great wealth and influence. He was blameless and a man of outstanding character. He suffered with unimaginable pain and loss yet God was silent during this period. He lost his family and wealth and his wife even told him to curse God and die. His life style of serving God and praying for each of his children tell us he was a righteous man. Through it all he maintained his integrity and said, "Though He slay me yet will I trust Him!" Job did not know that God had given permission to Satan to severely test him. He steadfastly confirmed that God does not forsake His children. When the testing time was over, God graciously restored twice as much as Job had before, but the great contest between Satan and God proved that Job loved God through all of his severe testing.
Can you say that?

Every believer will meet a time in his life when God will be silent but the silence should bring a time of soul searching to find out the reason. One comforting scripture for everyone who is being tested today, is God's promise: "There hath no temptation (or test) taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God's silence in our lives causes us to search for Him until we reach Him in prayer. Sometimes the silent period is the most important tool God uses to draw us unto Himself. If you are passing through a period when God is silent to you, don't be discouraged. It's testing time! When God is silent is the time to pray and ask Him to reveal the reason, if any, for His silence.