Chapter 1


DIVINE INQUIRY

By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze

1. When Elijah thought that he was the only saint left in Israel, God told him that there were still seven thousand Israelites who had not worshipped Baal .
   

14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."

15 Then the LORD said to him: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." 1 Kings 19:14-18


2. When Saul left in search of his father’s donkeys, he never knew it was God’s plan to make him a king.
   

3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, "Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." 4 So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

5 When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us."

6 And he said to him, "Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go."

7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"

8 And the servant answered Saul again and said, "Look, I have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way." 9(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: "Come, let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11 As they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"

12 And they answered them and said, "Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place. 13 As soon as you come into the city, you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up, for about this time you will find him." 14 So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.

15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, 16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me."

17 So when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him,” There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people." 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Please tell me, where is the seer's house?" ...

As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us." And he went on. "But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God."

Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: "Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance?

2 When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you, 'The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, "What shall I do about my son?"'

5 After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. 8 You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do."

9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. 1 Samuel 9:1-10:9


3. Israelites once told Jesus that His mother, brothers and sisters were seeking for Him. He looked around and defined those who hear and obey God’s words as His mother, brothers and sisters.
   

47 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."

48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." Matthew. 12: 46-50


4. Martha troubled herself much to get food ready for Jesus. When she complained to Jesus about Mary’s non-involvement, Jesus justified Mary instead of Martha.
   

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42


5. There is no way a man can know and do the will of God, except God makes it known. God is perfect, but man is imperfect. He is infinite, while man is finite. The knowledge, wisdom and understanding of God are unsearchable. Therefore, for a man’s action to conform to divine will, he has to inquire from God from time to time.
   


6. Besides, the benefits from divine inquiry make it necessary. One of such benefits is Success. In several portions of the Bible, where inquiries were made from God and His directives followed, the results were usually successful. It was by inquiries from God that Moses was able to solve the hard problems that confronted the Israelites in the wilderness. In the same vein, David made outstanding achievements. Such successes were more than what an ordinary man could achieve by himself.
   


7. Inquiries prevent disobedience to God’s will and ensure peace with Him.
   

He is never defeated or shamed.
No, not even in the least-
I mean him that
Seeks the divine will
And complies with the instruction.
We labor and suffer
    Because we do things
    In our own way.
Whereas, peace and success
Are readily ours
    if only we heed the Almighty

1. What should be done.
2. How it should be done.
3. When it should be done.
4. Where it should be done.
5. What materials should be used.


Do not do things simply because your know how to do it.

1. Do ascertain.
2. Have I not told you to ascertain before you do anything?
3. Examine very well.
4. Always ascertain what should be done; how it should be done; when it should be done and where it should be done.
5. If you had enquired, you would not have put yourself into trouble.
6. You prayed for somebody and delivered him from death. But the death you cast out is waiting for a chance to come upon you, because you did not inquire from me.
7. All these problems would not have arisen if you had inquired from me.