Our congregation is studying Judges (that most docile of Bible books, ahem). Sunday's sermon focused on Judges 6, which is the beginnings of Gideon's story.
The gist goes like this:
- Israel does evil, forgets/rejects God through idolatry.
- God allows the Midianites to defeat Israelites and inhabit the land
- Jews cry to God for help.
And what do you think God does?
He sends a prophet (preacher) to remind them of who He is, what He has done for them.
That's all. No lightning from the sky. No burning fire to consume the enemy. No fix. Just some words. (And to read those words, check out Judges 6:7-10.)
And in chorus with many--dare I say, all--of humanity, we utter the words: If God would only help.
What the pastor said next resonated well.
We often want relief from whatever plagues us; but God often wants to rehearse His salvation. God is not in context of our problem. Quite the opposite. Our problem is in context of God. What good is it if God remedies the situation but leaves your heart where it is? God is all about redeeming your soul.
We want to escape our problems, but God may want us to interpret them. We want out, but God may want us to stay where we are so that we can understand the depth of our depravity, our idolatry against Him. We need Jesus more than we need immediate relief. We need sanctification more than we need relief.
God says "I am with you." Is that enough? Your answer to that reveals a lot about your heart, your faith in God and the work of Christ.
So how are you viewing God in your circumstance? What don't you believe about Him that's causing you to despair? To fear? To doubt? To be anxious? Angry? Annoyed?
If only God would help? Friend, He already has.
1 comment:
It was a good sermon. Thanks for summarizing it here for us. I can never hear the gospel enough.
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