What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, it is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
Sometimes it is just so hard to hang in there waiting for God's deliverance or for Him to act. But in those times we have to make a practice of worshipping and praising God in faith, believing against all odds, pushing aside all doubts, just trusting in God to act. In the case of Abraham, Romans 4:20-21 says, "Abraham staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief [though he knew his wife was barren - Genesis 11:30]; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Recently, I had a bad experience trying to do the right thing. It sort of took the wind out of my sail, so to speak. Sometimes we do things with the right intentions, but they bear the wrong results. Very much troubled by what had happened I prayed and asked God why? I prayed for him to show me the way and point out what I may have done wrong. The scripture from 2 Chronicles below pulled me through, encouraging me that it was my job to plant the seed and it was for the Lord to water it and tend to it. The battle was not mine to fight, but the LORD's, though I should be ready and waiting patiently, prayerfully, and courageously for God's timing. The Bible says, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to rely on your own understanding." The scripture in 2 Chronicles talks about the reaction of King Jehoshaphat of Judah when he heard the alarming news of three separate armies marching together on his kingdom...
2 Chronicles 20:1-4, After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, " A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar." (This was another name for En-gedi.) Jehoshaphat was alarmed by this news and sought the LORD for guidance. He also gave orders that everyone throughout Judah should observe a fast. So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD.
Jehoshaphat's and Judah's cry to the Lord was,
vs. 12. O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.
13. As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children,
14. the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there...
15. He said, "Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army for the battle is not yours, but God's.
16. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that open into the wilderness of Jeruel. [An omniscient God who knows where your enemy is and what they are up to at all times!]
17. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD'S victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"
Further into the chapter we read that as the people of Judah worshipped and sang praises to the LORD, the LORD threw the three armies into confusion and they started fighting amongst themselves. By the time the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point all they saw was dead bodies lying on the ground for as far as they could see.
I had also been reading the Book of Acts and certain incidents in Paul's life seemed to be in parallel with what I had read in 2 Chronicles. The difference was that in Acts we see what happens if we do not stay within God's plan for us even as the circumstances seemed contrary to God's instructions, and our instincts say "flight" rather than "fight" our doubts and fears.
As we read Acts, chapters 21 through 27, Paul, following his second missionary journey, returns to Jerusalem knowing very well, forewarned by the Holy Spirit that trouble awaited him in Jerusalem. One day while he was at the Temple performing certain purification ceremonies (Acts 21:24), some jews from Asia who were there incited the crowd against Paul and attacked him. The local Roman regiment commander intervened and arrested Paul. Let me summarize what we read in Acts chapters 21-27. Paul was arrested and brought to trial, first in front of the Jewish High Council and as he gave his testimony, he realized (Acts 23:6) that some members of the council were Saducees and some were Pharisees. Relying on his wisdom and intelligence, he took advantage of this and tried to manipulate a favorable outcome by telling the Pharisees in the council that he too was a Pharisee (true prior to becoming a disciple of Christ) and that his belief in the resurrection as a Pharisee was on trial. The Pharisees in the council agreed with Paul, but the resulting clamor amongst all who had gathered failed to accomplish what Paul had hoped for - his freedom. The Roman commander fearing that Paul would be killed, arrested him again and imprisoned him. The Lord that night appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome."
The following morning Paul heard even worst news through his nephew that there was a powerful plot to kill him. A group of Jews had taken a vow to not eat anything until they had killed Paul and they planned to carry this out when he appeared again in front of the Jewish high council. Fearing for his life, Paul brought this to the attention of the Commander and Paul was escorted from Jerusalem under heavy guard to Caesarea where he faced trial in front of Governor Felix. Here Paul ends up spending 2 years in prison while his trial continued.
In the meantime, Felix was replaced by a new governor, Festus. The new governor wanting to please the powerful Jews asked Paul to stand trial in front of him back in Jerusalem. Paul, realizing the danger in going back to Jerusalem to stand trial appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:9-11). Apparently, under the Roman rule any one who appealed to Caesar would then have to be tried/heard in Rome and so Governor Festus complied. While waiting to be taken to Rome, King Agrippa, the local ruler (son of Herod Agrippa the emperor of Rome - the Caesar) who was visiting Festus, heard of Paul's story and was very much interested in a hearing. King Agrippa had the authority to settle local cases unless it had been appealed to Caesar. After listening to Paul's testimony, King Agrippa found him innocent of all charges the jews had brought against him and would have set him free, but because of Paul's appeal to Caeser, King Agrippa did not have the authority to do so anymore. King Agrippa said to Governor Festus, "He [Paul] could be set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar!" (Acts 26:32)
Think for a moment, the Lord had promised Paul deliverance and safety (Acts 23:11) when He told him "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome." God was telling Paul that there was still work ahead for him and that his life would be preserved by God for the Good News to be preached. But the circumstances were stacked so high up against Paul that it was humanly impossible for him to grasp what God was telling him... (He couldn't see past the painful and extremely stressful "present" experiences of his life.) Paul was a highly educated man, trained under the best teacher there was of that time - Gamaliel. Paul was an extremely intelligent man, well versed in all sorts of disciplines including religion and law, and based on his experiences that were choking his faith made decisions based on his intellect that did not give him a favorable outcome as he desired. Following his hearing in front of King Agrippa, Paul was taken to Rome with other prisoners. As we read Acts, chapter 27, we see all the dangers he had to face while sailing to Rome, almost losing his life, but for the hand of God delivering him at the proper time. His decisions caused him years in imprisonment.
The lesson from these scriptures is also echoed in Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." When you hear God's gentle whispers, hang in there within his plan even when your senses advise you to the contrary. God will grant victory to those who wait on him to act. Isaiah 30:15 says, "The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, "Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it." The end of verse 18 of the same chapter says, "Blessed are those who wait for him to help them."
Hillsongs - Mighty to Save
