So many times, in life we feel we are against the odds. Sometimes, to the point, we feel overwhelmed and give up. However, when we give up or take the low road, we miss so much of really learning how to live. God gave us so many examples in scripture of people who faced the “impossible,” according to our understanding. And here, we have the problem. We are leaning unto our own understanding, instead of simple obedience and trust. The simple truth sometimes seems like it is not enough, but God said;
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
This is not something you do and forget. Trusting is a continuous action. Our hearts are selfish and prideful. To trust with all our hearts takes effort. It must be a deliberate action because it does not come naturally. We tend to think a situation through in our minds and allow the odds to sway us to believe one way when God has another way. We tend to only seek God’s ways in great crises, but if we want the answers we need to seek “in all our ways,” in everything, and at all times. Then God will make the path straight. When we only get serious about seeking God when there is a crisis, we have a hard time following, because we don’t understand what He is doing. We are not accustomed to His ways, and if we have not been learning them all along, we will not trust them. It’s like taking an Algebra test when you haven’t been to class for a month! You probably won’t have the right answers, and if you do you will not be sure about them.
Think of Gideon, there is no doubt in my mind, that he didn’t understand what God was doing when he told him to fight the Midianites. Read Judges chapters 6 and 7 for a complete story. The summation is that Israel had turned away from God to their evil ways, and God allowed them to be overcome by Midian for 7 years. They were so afraid they were hiding and living in caves. Finally, Israel comes to their senses and they cry out to God (their crisis mode).
Judges 6:6 “And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.”
God comes back on the scene through a prophet. He speaks for the Lord and God reminds them of the times he took care of them and brought them out of slavery in Egypt. God gives a clear explanation for the situation they are in, “you have not obeyed my voice!”
God is merciful and God hears their cry. He sends an angel to speak to Gideon while he is hiding threshing wheat. Gideon is scared and gives every excuse as to why he can’t lead a battle against the Midianites.
God whittles the Army of Israel from 32,000 to 300! Talk about not leaning to your own understanding! However, with insurmountable odds Gideon obeys, and the victory is the Lord’s! Read the account and you will understand a little more of what it means to trust.
We can learn so much from Gideon’s example. He did not understand what God was doing. He felt completely unable to do what God told him to do. His understanding of the situation yielded certain defeat. Then God takes him on a path of obedience. First, he had to get the idols out of the way. He destroyed the idol, Baal. This was not an easy task. It had to be done at night, if caught in the act he would have been killed. Yet with great fear he obeyed. Then he had to convince Israel he had direction from God. One step at a time God led him to the path of victory. Each step of obedience in the quest made his army smaller, but with complete obedience, he learned how to completely trust. Then, and only then, God gave victory.
What idols do you need to destroy to get a clearer direction for your life? What robs you of your time alone with God? What can you “put off” to “put on” more of Christ? Do you feel the odds are against you when it comes to putting God first in work, play, self-discipline, or worship? Examine yourself. Think through what your actions are revealing about your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and allow you to see clearly, then obey. My prayers will be with you as you follow through on this daunting task. However, if you follow through on what the Holy Spirit, and His word, reveal to you, victory will be yours.
excellent