09/15/2019
Do you have a project at work that isn’t going very smoothly? Is there some task you are working on at home, or elsewhere, that is causing you trouble? There are so many sources of bad news and difficulty in our day to day lives, but as Christians how are we to approach them? What sets us apart from the unbelievers, and what are the consequences when we approach trouble as the worldly do?
“He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”
Psalms 112:7 ESV
I work in computers, and most of the projects in this field are very complex. So I have worked on such difficult initiatives myself, and I have also watched others do the same. I have seen Believers and unbelievers as they have approached hardship, and dealt with bad news on a daily basis. Sometimes I have been disappointed to watch as Christian men and women behave in a worldly manner, exactly as if they had no faith, when as children of God they should be seeking His help in all they do. Instead, they go about their jobs as if God weren’t there.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalms 46:1 ESV
We go to God in times of trouble through our prayers. We lift up our voices asking him for guidance (His will), and then what He would have us do. Interestingly enough, God’s help comes to us in different ways. Sometimes He tells us to stand still, and watch as he goes into battle for us...
“And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."”
Exodus 14:13-14 ESV
But most of the time when we go to Him, He instructs us in various ways regarding what we are to do next. First we seek His will in whatever we are wanting to do...
“Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.”
Proverbs 20:18 ESV
Then we listen to His detailed instructions, just as Joshua did at Jericho; taking notes as to precisely what He would have us do...
“And the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him."”
Joshua 6:2-5 ESV
These are very detailed instructions, but we are meant to obey them to the letter...
“So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord." And he said to the people, "Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord."”
Joshua 6:6-7 ESV
If we trust in Him, and do exactly as He tells us, we will succeed, but how many times have we gone to the Lord, asked him what we should do, received His guidance, and instructions, then proceeded to analyze and change them, or acted out of our human nature?
“And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."”
Numbers 20:11-12 ESV
How many times have we heard the voice of God then convinced ourselves that what we heard must have been our imagination because the answer we received seemed so outlandish to us? What if Joshua had listened to God’s voice and thought “You have got to be kidding me!” And then went on to build a siege tower that he would roll up against the walls of Jericho? Would he have succeeded? Maybe so, but what would the consequences have been... many men dead, his soul in jeopardy, or some other punishment?
I have four children, and many times through the years they have come to me with their problems, and I have given them guidance, and told them precisely what to do. Sometimes it would be that they should do nothing, and let me handle whatever it was they needed, but most of the time I would give them instructions as to how they should proceed. Occasionally I would write these things down so that they would make no mistake... kind of like God did for Moses on the mountain. But, in all cases I watched to see how they proceeded. If they obeyed precisely then the problem was solved, but if they disregard my advice, modify it, or used their own approach, then either they failed, or they took a hard road with many challenges. If you are a child, have you found this to be true of your actions? Were you on a hard road? Were the results similar to Jonah’s?
“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.”
Jonah 1:1-3 ESV
Have you found that your disobedience caused you undue hardship? Have you been thrown overboard, and possibly ended up in the belly of a whale like Jonah did?
“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”
Jonah 1:17 ESV
Actually, the whale part of this story was a rescue, but it sure doesn’t sound like it does it? So whether at work, home, or out in the world somewhere, we will face problems, but as Christians, our solution should always be sought by seeking God’s will and plan for us through prayer, and then obeying it. This always involves behaving as a child of God, and our actions might seem odd if viewed through the world’s eyes, but regardless of how unusual it sounds... it will be good. Where will you turn for help? Will you turn to your own understanding, the world, or to God, and if your choice is God, will you obey Him when He speaks to you?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your wise council, and for leading us through our problems and trials. Thank you for your Son Jesus who’s life speaks to us regarding how we are to obey your will in the face of hardship and tribulation. We thank you also for showing us how you expect us to behave in the face of adversity by remaining humble, and otherwise Christlike. Help us Holy Father to remain calm in the face of pending calamity, and to not only come to you for deliverance, but to trust in you in all the things you ask of us in these hard times. Teach us Lord that sometimes we will be asked to blow horns, and march about, when taking up battering rams, or building siege towers seems more expedient in our eyes... but that your way is always perfect. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who’s council is always perfect, and who’s ways are always swift. Praised be your name for solving our every problem when in your will we pray, and obey you. Great are you, and powerful your arm when you go before us, and Christlike is our demeanor when we follow your way to the solution to our problems. You are glorious Father, and your mercy and grace abounds in your rescue, and guidance, because we are undeserving, and yet you love us enough to send your only begotten Son to redeem us.
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!”
Psalms 9:9-11 ESV
Rich Forbes