One of the most absurd things I've heard is that we can command God. There is some very convincing preaching and teaching out there, based on biblical principles, by men of God claiming faith in Christ, with many followers and nice big churches. I have heard others pray "Lord we command you..." It is based on this verse:
Isaiah 45:11 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
This is one case of the KJV failing to capture the meaning of the passage. The context is seen by verse 9 and 10:
Isaiah 45:9-10
"Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'The potter has no hands'?
Woe to the one who says to a father, 'What have you begotten?' or to a mother, 'What have you brought to birth?'
And the NIV translates it properly:
Isaiah 45:11 (NIV)
"This is what the LORD says-- the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?
It seems to be saying the exact opposite. It is saying God is the potter, we are the clay, we have no right to question Him or give Him orders.
A similarly absurd idea is that "God cannot do anything on Earth without our permission".
Of course we can pray and petition fervently, we can plead, strive, and try our hardest, but we should never command or demand.
To command God, to claim that God can't do anything without our permission, is basically lawlessness. Lawlessness is not respecting God's authority and government.
Isaiah 45:11 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
This is one case of the KJV failing to capture the meaning of the passage. The context is seen by verse 9 and 10:
Isaiah 45:9-10
"Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'The potter has no hands'?
Woe to the one who says to a father, 'What have you begotten?' or to a mother, 'What have you brought to birth?'
And the NIV translates it properly:
Isaiah 45:11 (NIV)
"This is what the LORD says-- the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?
It seems to be saying the exact opposite. It is saying God is the potter, we are the clay, we have no right to question Him or give Him orders.
A similarly absurd idea is that "God cannot do anything on Earth without our permission".
Of course we can pray and petition fervently, we can plead, strive, and try our hardest, but we should never command or demand.
To command God, to claim that God can't do anything without our permission, is basically lawlessness. Lawlessness is not respecting God's authority and government.
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