PROOF I

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