by Pamela Condie
Lately I’ve been thinking about “trust”. Things like: “Who can I really trust?” “Who’s let me down?” “Why is trust so important, anyway?” I can trust some people completely (like my wonderful husband J ). These are people whom I know and who have proven themselves to be totally trustworthy. These ponderings made me think about trusting God. Because I just trust him – without really thinking about it. I’ve known God a long, long, long time. And, in all these years, he has never let me down. I know he is worthy of my complete trust.
There’ve been times when I’ve felt alone, then I’ve heard God whisper, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I can’t begin to say just how much reassurance that promise has meant throughout my life. Along with that verse, is the challenge of Proverbs is 3:5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
I thought I’d share some thoughts on how three OT characters responded to God’s call on their lives. I think the stories of Deborah, Barak (Judges 4) and Gideon (Judges 6-7) are worth looking at.
Faced quite a challenge – to completely trust and “recklessly obey” God – each one responded differently. Two did trust, whilst the third leant on his own understanding rather than submitting with all his heart. Deborah trusted God and did not hesitate but Barak did not trust and chose conditional obedience. Gideon tested the waters but then trusted God completely. You’re probably familiar with these accounts but I’ve included the essential passages:
Judges 4:4-10
Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leadingIsrael at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honour will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.
God spoke to his people through Deborah, his prophet, and clearly promised to give the Israelites victory over their enemies (vv.6,7). Deborah trusted God completely, but Barak leant on his own understanding (v.8). Let’s compare Barak with Gideon who, ultimately, did not lean on his own understanding (Judges 7:4-8ff).
4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
At first glance, Gideon’s response (Judges 6-7) might seem just as cautious as Barak’s. Gideon was not overly impressed when greeted by the angel, who calls him a mighty warrior and declares that God is with him. I love Gideon’s initial comeback. Please don’t take offence, he responds. BUT… if God’s on Israel’s side, where has he been all these years and why are we living like this? (6:12ff). As I read further, I see how God dealt patiently with Gideon’s doubts and once Gideon has his answers, he obeyed unhesitatingly and confidently.
So fast forward to chapter 7 where Gideon’s army is about to do battle with an enemy that significantly outnumbers them. To really “up the ante”, God has reduced Gideon’s 30,000+ men to just 300. Against all odds, God gives Gideon’s men an outstanding victory (7:4-8ff).
The more I pondered over the response of these three Israelite leaders, the more I was drawn back to my favourite proverb. I considered my own responses to God throughout my life. How many times have I leant on my own understanding rather than trusting God with all my heart?
What have I learnt from these narratives? Barak did not trust God completely. He relied on his own understanding and trusted Deborah rather than God. I see Deborah immediately put Barak straight. His reliance on her meant someone other than Barak would receive the honour for defeating the enemy leader (4:21,22).
Gideon appears hesitant, questioning God’s directions. But, unlike Barak, he wanted to be convinced. God patiently grew Gideon from being a cautious doubter (Ch 6) to a military commander, willing to obey what must have initially seemed a completely reckless strategy.
So, as I ponder the stories of these three people, I am struck by the goodness, patience, and graciousness of our God. I see how he dealt with Gideon’s doubts by revealing the campaign’s victorious outcome before the battle (6:9-15). I am also reminded that God’s plans for Israel were not brought undone by Barak’s lack of trust.
These OT stories encourage me. They remind me not to place conditions on my obedience. They remind me that God will continue to grow my confidence in him even when the odds seemed totally stacked against me. I thank God for the inclusion of the story of Gideon. I know I need God’s patience as I work through things. Our God is faithful. He is just. He is the Creator of the universe. And he loves me. How amazing is that!!
Pam’s been involved in Girls’ Brigade as company captain, State Training Co-ordinator, Girls’ Leadership Course Director, and State Commissioner. She was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia in 1999 for service to youth leadership development in Queensland. She spent 14 years on the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Australia Board including over 4 years as Board Chair and recently completed an 8 year term on the Board of Queensland Baptists. She currently serves as the President of the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force Association (Qld). Pam holds both a Bachelor Degree and a Graduate Diploma of Theology and has recently completed a Doctor of Ministries. She will commence working as denominational archivist on 1 July 2020.
Pam is married to David. They have three adult children, two of whom are married and have blessed Pam and David with grandchildren (now all young adults).
Pam also served on the State Award Committee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Queensland for 10 years and worked for the Award as a Project Officer. In 2015 Pam and David went to PNG with MAF where David served as Interim Engineering Maintenance Manager for the PNG programme for nearly 18 months
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