Evidence: Not for Lawyers Only
What do a wheat farmer
turned general, a nomad turned land owner, a childless priest turned father of
a son who changes the world and a prince turned nomad have in common? At first
glance, not much. What if you know they’re Gideon, Abraham, Zachariah and
Moses? Can you guess then? If you’re still stumped add Thomas the Apostle and
yourself to the list. Got it, yet?
Everyone on the list,
including you, has asked God for PROOF. Proof
that a promise you believe He’s made will come true. Proof that a dream you believe He’s
breathed in your heart will come to pass. Proof
that all you’re building your faith on is not a misplaced hope, childish
fantasy or dangerous delusion. Proof
that you're not standing in the wrong place at the wrong time for the wrong
thing!
Still, at the root of your
need for PROOF is a hint of doubt whispering into your belief. It’s ok to admit.
We all experience that gnawing sense of uncertainty that the finances we
thought Jehovah-Jireh had promised just may not come, the house He had us
circle seven times just may be a frivolous desire, the healthy body Jesus died for just may elude us on this
side, the spouse of our future He told us to stay pure for may be a
fantasy. God gets it. If He gave you those desires, planted them in your heart,
your imagination, you prayer life, your soul and you believe them, He delights in your request for PROOF.
Again
the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether
in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” Isaiah 7:10-11
(NIV)
Faith can falter. God
knows so He guarantees His promises.
When
God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid
guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word
cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. Hebrews 7:
13-18 (The Message)
Consider Gideon. He requested
PROOF that he had heard right after his in-your -face, one on one with an Angel.
While hiding in a winepress to thrash his wheat, Gideon saw an angel. Then, said angel called him a “mighty
man of valor,” or in other words, brave soldier. That’s probably about the time
Gideon started rehearsing his request for PROOF.
The 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?” 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”
The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike
down all the
Midianites, leaving none alive.”
Made no sense in light of
his current reality. Gideon’s response is understandable – a little astonishment,
a lot of doubt since God’s statement defied Gideon’s reality. From Farmer to
General – overnight - based on an angel sighting and celestial voice. Wouldn’t
you request PROOF that what you
have just been persuaded to believe is real?
Gideon
replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign
that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come
back and bring my offering and set it before you.” Judges 6:14-18
(NIV)
Your humble requests have
probably been close to Gideon’s most likely sounding something like this: "Pardon me, Lord. Uhmm. I really,
really, really need some PROOF that I am hearing this right. I want to
believe it. In fact, I do believe it. But….what if I am hearing things? Just in
case, can I get a little PROOF?”
God quickly gives Gideon
indisputable PROOF. A rock burst into flames then roasted his meal! After
that, Gideon immediately obeyed God. Even though he did it under the cover of night to remain anonymous (he will still grappling with the notion of being made a military strategist), Gideon destroyed Israel’s Asherah
poles. Then, God piled it on. He told Gideon to go fight. Gideon thought that a
little premature. So, Gideon submits his second request for PROOF. God gave it
to him.
Gideon
said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised — look,
I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there
is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know
that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what
happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece
and wrung out the dew — a bowlful of water. Judges 6: 36-38
Then Gideon asked again - a total of three unabashed times Gideon requested PROOF. Guess what? Three times, God gave it to him. God never balked
and said, “Oh, ye of little faith.” He honored Gideon’s request – to the
smallest detail!
- Still Processing
- Still Processing
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