No one intentionally wants to use God’s instructions to act against His will. However, because we often resist drawing near to God and getting to know Him personally, we remain distant. With that distance, we misinterpret His guidance and end up using it in ways that do not fulfil His true purpose. At times, we use God’s Word to mask our unbelief or to distance ourselves from Him. It can be startling to realise how we’ve turned something intended for our blessing into a source of judgment. In the sections ahead, we will examine how and why mankind misuses His Word, despite God’s continual efforts to reveal its true meaning.
God Willing…
The phrase “If God is willing” is frequently used, not as an expression of genuine submission, but often out of doubt and unbelief. We convince ourselves that we are yielding to God’s will when, in reality, we are masking our uncertainty. We fool ourselves into thinking that by leaving things to “God’s will,” we are being faithful, when we may simply be avoiding full trust in Him.
This kind of uncertainty is highlighted in the book of James:
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” — James 4:14–15 (NIV)
James did not write this to discourage making plans, but to correct those who were proud and self-sufficient—those who pursued their own desires without seeking God’s guidance. Trusting too much in our own agendas prevents us from genuinely following God, because true discipleship requires self-denial and complete reliance on Him. When we depend on God, we must also be attentive to His purposes for our lives and boldly embrace them, leaving no room for doubt. When Jesus made a request to His Father, He didn’t say, “If it is Your will,” because He already knew His Father’s will. Instead, He said, “If it is possible,” acknowledging the weight of what was to come while fully trusting in God’s purpose.
The question “Are you willing?” is crucial because God is always willing to bless us, protect us, and guide us toward eternity. Yet some believers even question His very existence in prayer, saying things like, “If You are a living God,” or “If You truly rose again,” or “If You dwell in my heart.” These “ifs” reveal the doubts and disbelief that still linger within us.
Do Not Speak Against The Servants of God
It is striking to see that many people fear speaking out against erring servants of God more than they fear God Himself. They think little of questioning God’s integrity or even blaming Him directly, yet they hesitate to confront or challenge His servants. This fear may stem from the severe consequences God imposed on those who opposed His chosen leaders, as seen in the account of Moses:
“With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” The LORD’s anger burned against them, and he left them.
— Numbers 12:8–9 (NIV)
This reverence or perhaps fear is further reinforced by other instances of God’s judgment, such as when the Israelites spoke against both God and Moses:
“They spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’ Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.”
— Numbers 21:5–6 (NIV)
We also remember how God caused the earth to swallow a group that rebelled against Moses and Aaron. Such stories have led many believers today to avoid confronting erring leaders. Instead, they give these individuals room to continue in their error, while directing their complaints and confusion toward God. To move away from these two extremes—blindly fearing leaders or unjustly blaming God—we must heed the warning from John’s letter:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world… This is the spirit of the antichrist… even now it is already in the world.”
— 1 John 4:1–3 (NIV)
Paul echoes a similar concern in a different way:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [i.e., not just against the erring servants themselves], but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” — Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
We often pray fervently, filled with the Holy Spirit, asking God to dispel the darkness that blinds people from the truth of the Gospel. Yet many of these prayers end up being aimed at illusions, because we are unwilling to confront those who, though appearing spiritual, are being used by the enemy to advance his agenda. We fear opposing individuals who carry the title “servant of God,” even when their ministry is being shaped by demonic influence.
Recognising this, the devil cleverly uses such individuals as his agents, knowing that the fear and confusion among believers will keep them from speaking out. Unless we develop the courage to discern and oppose the evil spirit operating through these leaders, neither the spirit nor the person will be delivered.
This is not to say that God is incapable of judging both the deceiver and the deceived—He certainly can. But God desires that we partner with Him in exposing and rejecting false servants. Unfortunately, we often hesitate, misinterpreting God’s past judgments against those who challenged faithful leaders as a warning never to speak up.
The key is spiritual discernment. Only with it can we distinguish between faithful and false servants. Ironically, even many false ministers are zealous about delivering others from demonic bondage, unaware that they themselves are under the influence of darkness. As a result, the people they minister to are never fully or permanently delivered.
The enemy uses dramatic manifestations in some cases to distract us, but the greater threat lies in the quiet, unseen influence of those who, under the guise of ministry, are working against the truth while carrying the respected title of “Servants of God.”
Do Not Put The LORD Your God To The Test
“Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah.”
— Deuteronomy 6:16 (NIV)
Moses spoke these words to the Israelites when they doubted the God who had miraculously delivered them from slavery and destroyed their oppressors. Despite witnessing God’s power firsthand, they struggled to trust Him fully whenever their needs were unmet. Their fundamental problem was this: while they could recognise their suffering in Egypt, they couldn’t grasp the depth of their slavery. Later, following God’s statutes and trusting Him seemed more burdensome than their former bondage. This grieved Moses deeply, and with a heavy heart, he pleaded with them not to test the Lord.
Jesus quoted this same verse when the devil tempted Him to prove God’s protection. He understood that testing God is not a sign of faith, but of doubt and presumption.
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you…’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”— Matthew 4:6–7 (NIV)
In contrast, we see Gideon, who asked God for signs to confirm his calling to save Israel. God graciously granted his requests, even when Gideon asked repeatedly. While it is better to obey God without needing confirmation, the human mind, in its weakness, often seeks assurance. God, in His mercy, sometimes provides it to strengthen our faith.
Another compelling example is King Ahaz. He became king at twenty and reigned sixteen years, but unlike David, he did not do what was right in God’s eyes. When Ahaz learned that Aram had allied with Ephraim, he was filled with fear. Despite his disobedience, God, through the prophet Isaiah, assured him that his enemies would not prevail. Yet Ahaz, hardened by rebellion, couldn’t grasp God’s love. When God Himself invited Ahaz to ask for a sign, he replied:
“I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.”
— Isaiah 7:12 (NIV)
This response sounds pious, but it was a misuse of Scripture. Moses told the people not to test God because they were distant and rebellious. Jesus cited the same verse to resist satan’s temptation. But Ahaz used it to cover up his disbelief and disobedience. He refused a sign not out of reverence, but out of fear and mistrust, perhaps suspecting that any sign from God would reveal judgment rather than mercy. Yet even then, God chose to reveal His grace. Though Ahaz refused a sign, God gave one anyway—a prophetic promise of ultimate redemption:
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
— Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
This was not just a message for Ahaz, but for all mankind. Even in the face of rejection, God declared His saving plan through the birth of His Son.
Things To Remember
Questions like “If You can” deeply grieve God, not because they question His power, for He is all-powerful, but because they reveal our ignorance, despite His love and the truth He has already shown us. This kind of doubt wounds His heart more than it offends His might.
Furthermore, it is better to boldly reject false teachers, not out of fear of punishment, but with confidence in God’s immense love and grace. The God who forgave those who crucified His own Son will not condemn us for rightly confronting those who distort His Word. However, if our motive in exposing them is selfish, seeking to displace them or gain power for ourselves, then we risk inviting God’s judgment. But when our intentions are sincere, and we act not out of ambition but out of a heart for truth and righteousness, God will honour our desire.
Ahaz’s example illustrates how people can misuse God’s Word to justify their disobedience. We may mistakenly believe that waiting for a sign from God, which He is willing to give, is the same as testing Him. Yet in reality, we test God not by seeking His confirmation, but by turning to divination to discover our fortunes. Testing of God is when we persistently disobey Him and try His patience by not seeking His guidance.
While asking for a sign may reflect weak faith, God is often gracious to respond in order to strengthen us. However, constantly depending on signs to validate God’s will is not a healthy spiritual pattern, especially in the New Testament era, when the greatest sign has already been given: Jesus Christ.
Rather than seeking further signs, we are called to understand and live by the unchanging truths of God. We must not twist Scripture to excuse disbelief or disobedience. Instead, let us honour the Word by walking in trust and obedience, strengthened by the ultimate sign of God’s love—His Son given for us.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. – 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
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