Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8
Various times in the Old Testament the pre-incarnate Son of God temporarily visited earth, drawing near to encourage, teach, and commission His servants. For example, the Lord visited Abraham in Mamre (Gen. 18:1), Moses at Mount Horeb (Ex. 3:1-2) and Gideon in Ophrah (Jdg. 6:11). In all these incidences, the Lord expressed His fellowship in their lives and service.
Yet, all these were temporary visitations, pointing to the time when the Word would permanently incarnate Himself in human flesh (John 1:14; Gal. 4:4). At Calvary, He paid for our sins so that He now eternally indwells those who have received Him as their Savior, perpetually bringing them near to the transcendent God (Eph. 2:13), whom they can now call “Father” (Rom. 8:14-17).
The Lord’s visit with Abraham visibly demonstrates that He delights in fellowshipping with us and that we need His presence in our lives. Christ is our wisdom and strength for both our sanctification and our service for Him. Without Him, there can be no meaningful fruit from our preaching, teaching, helping, evangelism, hospitality, giving, praying, and any other work for Him. Abiding in the continual presence of Christ (John 15; Heb. 13:5-6) and walking in the fellowship of the indwelling Spirit (Phil 2:1; Gal. 5:16, 25) are vital as we travel along Sanctification Road.
We have continual access to God our Father through the risen, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, we come to Him reverently, venerating His Name in our hearts, recognizing He is the holy God and there is none like Him (Matt. 6:9; 1 Pet. 3:15). The prophet Isaiah says: “And there is no other God besides Me; a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me” (45:21). We come to Him in faith (Jam. 1:6), confident He welcomes us and that He hears, listens, and answers our prayer (Heb. 4:16).
Prayer can often be puzzling, inexplicable, and perplexing in its exercise. This should not be surprising when we consider that we are conversing with the Most High God who is and dwells far above us (Isa. 57:15). The same prophet says: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (55:8-9).
How and when He answers our prayers can often be mysterious, unexpected, and surprising. Paul prayed for an opportunity to visit the believers in Rome, “making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you” (Rom. 1:9-12). God answered his prayer but in an unexpected manner. Paul met them in chains (Acts 28:15-16).
Sometimes God says “no” but gives us something better. Paul prayed for his thorn in the flesh to be removed. Instead, the Lord gave him His sustaining grace. In Paul’s continual weakness and dependence upon Christ, God’s grace gave him power and fruitfulness in ministry (2 Cor. 12:7-10; Col. 1:11). At other times, God says “yes but wait.” Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, and Elizabeth were granted sons after waiting upon the Lord for years. Yet again, in His wisdom and power He may reject our spoken prayer or change it, conforming it to His will, in the end answering the very prayer of our heart. This was Abraham’s experience at Mamre (Gen. 18-19).
For His glory and our spiritual profit the Lord desires to conform us to Himself and His ways. This is Christlikeness, His ultimate plan for us (Rom. 8:28-30).
I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know, God answers prayer.
I know He gives His pledged word
Which tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered soon or late,
Though often it is hard to wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought;
I leave my prayer with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own,
Assured that He will grant my quest,
Or send an answer far more blest.¹
Endnotes
¹ J. Sidlow Baxter, Awake, My Heart (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1960), p.280