Lesson 353: “Forsaken Cry"
The most devastating and heartfelt cry of being forsaken comes from Jesus on the Cross (Mark 15:34). The indication of God not answering is throughout the Bible when people interpret wrongly. God may have answered but not the way they wanted so therefore they assumed or perhaps accused God of not answering their cries. A very good example of this would be the Israelites in the desert, grumbling and complaining for the entire trip because God, through Moses did not answer their cries. However, their clothes did not wear out nor did the sandals on their feet (Deut. 29:5), they were fed manna and quail (Ex. 16) and never went thirsty (Ex. 17). David continually cried out to God and God continued to listen and answer (Ps. 66:19-20) and answered specifically (2 Sam. 5:23-24).
When the people cried out for something they did not need, God did not answer immediately such as the time they wanted a king against God’s will (1 Sam. 8:6-18). However, their “request” was met but with a warning when God told Samuel to “give them a king” (1 Sam. 8:18, 9:22). Another warning and promise not to have cries answered by God came in Micah 3:4 because of the evil the people had done. Abraham “bargained” with God and God answered his cry to the very extent that he asked (Gen. 18:23-33). In Jeremiah 29:13 we are told to seek and search for God and He will answer and again in Jeremiah 33:3 God assures us that if we call He will answer. I believe the problem then and now is not in God NOT answering but in His people NOT calling out to Him!
Everyone who calls on the Lord gets an answer. It may not be the one you expect or desire but you will get an answer. Daniel did not give up or get up until his cry was answered (Dan. 10:12-14), Moses was answered (Exodus 33:17), Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:55-57 and that “stuck in the middle of nowhere” prayer of Jabez was answered on the spot (1 Chro. 4:10). Samson’s dying cry was answered (Jud. 15:18-19) and God answered Samuel on request (1 Sam. 12:18) to show the people the power of the Lord.
The greatest cry answered in the entire Bible is: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13)! This is a promise worth believing!