12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." 13"Pardon me, my Lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." 14The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you? 17Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me." Judges 6:12-14, 17 NIV
This series I want’ to explore the questions, doubt, unbelief, and sometimes resentment that we may have with God because we feel that he has failed, disappointed, abandoned, or possibly even isn’t real sometimes based on how we feel at that moment of what we’ve gone through. I personally feel that questioning God is not a sin, but is natural, and he doesn’t disown us, or is salty about us having questions. Doubt also isn’t a sin, nor is fear, but what is a sin is unbelief. We will all have moments of doubt, and fear is a natural feeling, I would go as far as to say that fear is present at the same time as faith, that they typically share the same space, just not the same intensity or level. Faith has to overcome, and step up to replace fear in order for us to move. My legs may still be shaking but I’m walking anyway, their my be tears running down my face, but I have to press through the pain, and my heart may be broken, but I have to trust anyway. In this section we will look at biblical characters that asked God to show or prove himself, and in the midst of not understanding his plan, walking blindly when he has told us to move, and even questioning whether it is really him speaking to us, or whether he is still walking with us when things get tough, but nevertheless still pressing forward. We will inevitably be called into action by God, and when that call occurs, we hope to be ready and at the moment have enough faith to carry out the assignment, but in case we are having moments of being human, we’ll look to some situations where we my find commonality and faith that like them we’ll be obedient and successful to the glory of God.
- The fleece test: Gideon
- It’s time to leave your comfort place: Abraham
- Lord will you bring me back home: Jacob
- I had a dream that I would be great; God what is this? Joseph
- Lord you told me to say/do this: Moses
- God you said that you’d give it to me: Caleb
- Lord, they’ve taken everything: David
- Lord why would you let them take my life: Elijah
- Father, there has to be another way: Jesus
- Lord, why am I still in this dysfunctional environment?: Titus
