“That night God appeared to Solomon. God said, “What do you want from me? Ask.”” 2 Chronicles 1:7 MSG
I asked God...God, you showed yourself as ”I Am” to the people of Israel that you liberated from Egypt. “The God who sees me“ to Hagar -Sarai slave (Gen 16:13), “The Lord is peace “ to Gideon (Jud 6:24) and so on... But why did you show up to Solomon as an Aladdin‘s Lamp?
Solomon context here is that God appeared to him after he did a thousand burnt offering. To give you an idea, Israel people where instituted since Moises to do burnt offerings daily, every Sabbath, monthly and in special festivals (Num 28-29). This will be about 430 burnt offering in total per year, and each one of those included bulls, rams, lambs, grain, goats and others, with specific instructions of tenure... meaning, a lot of work. This guy, Solomon, new in town - He had been recently promoted to be the king of Israel - certainly hit the record there with 1000 burnt offerings in only one day. Never seen before.
There is another bible passage that shows the same reaction from God:
“Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalms 2:8 NIV (emphasis added)
This verse is the response from God to the major burnt given in history. The lamb sacrificed in the cross for our sins, Jesus (Rev 5:6) - I encourage you to read the whole Psalm 2, to see the answer from the Father to His son.
So Gods answer to my question was: I give my best, to the one that gives me it's best (Gen 4:4, Gen 22:15, Mark 12:43-44)
Now, suppose that God appears to you asking the same question: “Ask for whatever you want me to give you“, but without the three wishes option from Aladdin‘s story, only one... What would you pick?.
Leave your answer there for a moment, and let's jump into another history. After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, he gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God (Gen 14).
“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”” Genesis 15:1 NKJV (emphasis added)
So you can conclude until now that is part of God's character to reward when He receives something valuable from us. But this time, God‘s reward was himself!!! What better reward can we get? I mean, instead of taking the three wishes, you actually take Aladdin home!!! I bet you didn’t think of that option uh? Very clever. And that was actually, king David's first option, "the man after His own heart", that loved and cared what God loves and cares about.
“I’m asking GOD for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.” Psalm 27:4 MSG (emphasis added)
I know what you might be thinking. "Yes, but what I truly need right now is this or that". And that is just fine! we are human beings, not robots!. That was actually Abram answer to God. What he really wanted there was a family. God's friend made catharsis and God made him the promise of giving him a family as-well, a huge one, and also a land for his inheritance - Abraham was living in a tent (see Gen 15).
So, God is happy to accomplish our human desires, He is the only one able to give them to us in a rightful way. And Abram history, the father of faith, teach us something about how to receive God blessings.
First we need to believe in our hearts that what God is telling about our lives is true, that He understands us and He is the only way to get those things. And receive Him in our hearts, since Himself is His major gift.
'And he believed in the Lord , and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Then He said to him, “I am the Lord , who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”' Genesis 15:6-7 NKJV (Emphasis added)
And then, we need a sacrifice to seal the deal.
'And he said, “Lord God , how shall I know that I will inherit it?” So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” ' NKJV Genesis 15:8-9
Now-days we just need to listen to His word, listen about what He has to say about our lives and receive Him in our hearts. The same thing basically. The difference in the second part. We don't need to do burnt offerings any more since God already did that for us two thousand and twenty years ago. He gave up His son to do the ultimate sacrifice for us, in the cross. So this is completed done by Jesus on our behalf. But you need to acknowledge this and declare it to seal the deal. Apostle Paul explains it like this.
'But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' Romans 10:8-10 NKJV (Emphasis added)
And if you already have done this part, great! let me just add a little thing. Let's continue with Solomon wish story...
“And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” ” II Chronicles 1:8-10 NKJV
“God answered Solomon, “This is what has come out of your heart: You didn’t grasp for money, wealth, fame, and the doom of your enemies; you didn’t even ask for a long life. You asked for wisdom and knowledge so you could govern well my people over whom I’ve made you king. Because of this, you get what you asked for—wisdom and knowledge. And I’m presenting you the rest as a bonus—money, wealth, and fame beyond anything the kings before or after you had or will have.”” 2 Chronicles 1:11-12 MSG (Emphasis added)
In another words...
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV
“So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:28-29 NKJV
God is looking for hearts after His own heart, that will do all His will (Acts 13:22). To give His Kingdom.
Now, when God appears to you asking what do you want from Him? What will be your answer?