GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL

Friday I wore a denim colored Ribbon to support Rare and Genetic Disease Awareness Day.

Roughly 30 million Americans are affected by a rare or genetic disease (10%). Our grandson Jake has BRBNS (Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome) which is so rare only 60 people worldwide have been registered with this illness.

We thank God for every day that Jake has that is pain-free.

We’re asking God to intervene on Jake’s behalf. We are so thankful for all of Jake’s doctors and nurses.

We are asking God for a miracle.

In recent study of Judges I had empathy for Gideon when he said “Where’s the beef?”. (That’s an extremely loose translation.) Gideon admitted to God that he didn’t understand why the Midianites were stealing Israel blind and threatening their existence. And even worse, it appeared that God had abandoned them.

One thing that jumped out at me is that God never told Gideon why He allowed the Midianites to corner the Israelites. We may not know why God allowed Jacob to have BRBNS.

What we do know is that God is always faithful.

We do know He will never leave or forsake us.

We also know He sometimes allows hardships to draw us closer to Him.

We can trust Him.

I love that God was so gracious to a man with extremely weak faith. I can relate to Gideon. God told him he would defeat the Midianites as if they were one man. (Judges 6:16) Wow, when God tells you something, that should be enough.

Gideon asked for 3 signs from God. First, he prepared a huge meal as an offering to the Lord. The Angel of the Lord touched the offering with a stick and it was consumed instantly by fire. (Judges 6:21) Later, Gideon asked for a tremendous miracle with the fleece. This wasn’t just a coincidence. David Jeremiah compared this to asking God to prevent a bucket of water from freezing while sitting outside on a night when the temperature would be in single digits.

Setting out a fleece before God is a sign of a weak faith. We should not do it. But God has compassion when his child needs reassurance. I am so thankful for that. Even when my faith wavers His love and faithfulness never waver. When I am weak His “grace is sufficient… for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (II Corinthians 12:9) Note the verb tense is present, God’s provision was and is sufficient.

In Judges 7 God reduces Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 10,000 to 300. God knew if Israel defeated the Midianites they would be prideful and want the credit (Judges 7:2). If we work in our own strength, we get man’sized results. If we trust God to use us we can subdue entire kingdoms by faith (Heb:11:33).

The most exciting and precious part of the Gideon story is in Judges 7:10-15. God knew Gideon was still scared. (Most anybody leading an “army” of 300 dudes carrying zero weapons, a trumpet, some pottery and a candle against a force of 135,000 hardened, well equipped soldiers might have a few concerns). God told Gideon to take his servant with him to scout out the Midianites camp.

Gideon overhears an enemy soldier telling a dream about a barley loaf knocking a tent down. In Judges 7:14 another soldier interprets his buddy’s dream and says, Gideon, the son of Joash will conquer the entire Midianite army.

Check out verse 15: “When Gideon heard  the telling of the dream and it’s interpretation, he worshiped.” God didn’t have to encourage Gideon again. Gideon didn’t ask for it. BUT GOD ENCOURAGED GIDEON ANYWAY.

God knows I’m scared. We don’t know what the future holds for Jacob. But we know God loves us and cares for us. And He wants me to trust His faithfulness even when the odds are overwhelming.

REMEMBER:

GOD + 300 > 135,000.

NO PROBLEM.

IF GOD CHOOSES TO STEP IN ON JACOB’S BEHALF, BRBNS doesn’t stand a chance.

Thanks again for your kindness and your prayers. Let me know if you have a need that I can pray with you about.

-Coach T