They Shall Hear

1 Kings 8:42a

"(For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;)..."

How was it that Solomon foresaw people turning to the One True God? He prophesied that they would hear of His great name, His strong hand and outstretched arm. Why would they hear of this? Because when God works, humans instinctively know it is supernatural, and occurrences like that do not go unnoticed.

Why would Solomon think God would be working? The previous verses make it clear - God would be working in miraculous ways because His people would be praying. Their prayer for forgiveness, their prayers for God's listening ear, would be heard and God would respond and act. This would in turn cause people to ask questions, giving His children a chance to testify and witness of His power. This evidence of God's power would have a magnetic result, causing strangers and foreigners to come from far lands seeking to know this God Who answers prayer.

But this will never happen if God's children are not fervently praying, waiting for Him to respond. And then when He does as He promised, we must tell others, testify, witness of His powerful hand and outstretched arm.

Do I pray? Do I see answers to my prayers? Am I testifying to God's power in my life? Am I looking for those who come from afar?