Verse of the day: Judges 6:31, But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!”
We read in the previous verses that Gideon set out, in obedience to God, to do something that could potentially put his family at odds with him. He tore down his father’s altar to Baal (v. 25-26), risking hatred from his own family, and possibly even death. In spite of this, he obeyed the Lord. What keeps us, often, from obeying God’s will and plan for our lives? I find that we often hesitate to do what God calls us to do because we are too busy trying to manipulate a favorable outcome. We must continually remind ourselves that the outcome of any situation, or any mission the Lord leads us to undertake, belongs to Him. As we walk with the Lord, we only see a slice of what the whole circumstance entails. God, on the other hand, sees the whole picture. He already knows the outcome, and He sees all the working parts of a situation. He guides us in ways we do not always understand, and He often chooses not to show us up front so that we follow Him by faith. Although our understanding is limited, Psalm 147:5 tells us, “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.” This is the reason we must lean not on what we think we understand, but instead, do as Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Gideon had no way of knowing that his father would come to his defense, but he trusted that God would take care of the outcome of what He commanded Gideon to do. He may not have even realized that what he set out to do in obedience to God’s command would prepare him for the greater task of facing the Midianites with an army that would be far smaller than Gideon would have chosen for himself. We rob ourselves of being used in greater ways when we do not trust God in the smaller tests of our faith. God made us this promise in Isaiah 55:8-11, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” When God leads us down a path that could lead to potential conflict or difficulty for us, we must trust that He already knows that outcome, and that He will protect us from whatever we will face in being obedient to His leading. It is far better to face challenges that come as a result of being obedient to God’s leading, than to disobey Him because we desire a certain outcome, and face the dangers that lie on the path we choose for ourselves, without His protection. Jonah experienced that personally, when he chose to go in the opposite direction from which God had sent him. Where is God leading us to that we are hesitant to go because we do not have enough faith to trust Him with the outcome? What blessings are we forfeiting because we are choosing to disobey and go our own path, because we fear the possible outcome of doing what we know God wants us to do? God knows all and is in control of all, but that knowledge will do us no good if we do not truly believe it in our hearts. Obey God, trust His leading, and leave the outcome and consequences to Him. He will never let us down.
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” When God leads us down a path that could lead to potential conflict or difficulty for us, we must trust that He already knows that outcome, and that He will protect us from whatever we will face in being obedient to His leading. It is far better to face challenges that come as a result of being obedient to God’s leading, than to disobey Him because we desire a certain outcome, and face the dangers that lie on the path we choose for ourselves, without His protection. Jonah experienced that personally, when he chose to go in the opposite direction from which God had sent him. Where is God leading us to that we are hesitant to go because we do not have enough faith to trust Him with the outcome? What blessings are we forfeiting because we are choosing to disobey and go our own path, because we fear the possible outcome of doing what we know God wants us to do? God knows all and is in control of all, but that knowledge will do us no good if we do not truly believe it in our hearts. Obey God, trust His leading, and leave the outcome and consequences to Him. He will never let us down.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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