Be Careful What You Wish For
“With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live . . . For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.” -Genesis 31:32
In the above passage, Jacob is being accused of stealing Laban’s idols, for he had gone from his father-in-law’s household in haste, and the idols were missing. Yet Jacob speaks hasty words, not knowing the full background of the matter, and says that whoever has stolen Laban’s “gods” shall not live.
Little did Jacob know that his own beloved wife, Rachel, had stolen them, and she managed to keep them hidden from Laban and his search party.
Yet, I believe that it is no accident, that afterward, when Rachel was giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, that she died. Though Laban had not found the idols himself, God heard the words of Jacob, and knew the guilty party, and upheld Jacob’s pronouncement.
“And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.” -Genesis 35:17-19
Elijah’s example
In another place in Scripture, we see another “wish” of a godly man, one which may have even been spoken in haste, or in passing: yet God heard his cry, and answered him according to his request.
“But he [Elijah] himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” -1 Kings 19:4
Yet it was not long after that God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, and told him in so many words that He did have a replacement prepared:
“And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus . . . and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.” -1 Kings 19:15-16
Now Elijah did not “die,” but rather he was taken from off the earth in a chariot of fire; but God heard his cry, even though it may have sounded harsh or hasty at the time.
God holds us accountable for our words
It is not only when we make official prayers and cry unto the Lord that God hears us, but in every word that we speak, God is weighing our speech. Jesus said that in the day of judgment, we will have to give an account of every single idle word that we’ve spoken.
“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” -Matthew 12:35-37
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