Missing the opportunity to see GOD

Judges 12: ¹⁷ Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”

¹⁸ He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding” ¹⁹ Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 

²⁰ As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. ²¹ When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord.

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“Come on, come on!” I willed to my car to start but it seemed to have a mind of its own. Finally I heard a sputter and off I went to pick up my classmate. With four bald tires, no working heat and a gas gauge that could not tell me how much gas I had in the car, we set out on our icy drive. My friend had to scrape the ice that formed on the windshield inside the car as we plodded down the street.

I looked and saw a car that spun out on the road and then another and another. “They must be bad drivers” I said to myself. Suddenly my car went into a skid. We swerved back and forth all over the highway. “I” got control of the car and said to myself “I” better pay attention, not once praying!

• When I look at my abilities I can miss GOD.
• When I think I accomplished something I can miss GOD.
• When I pat myself on the back and look at others like they have a problem I can miss GOD.

Many times I have missed the message of GOD because HE was standing in my face and I was too blind to recognize HIM. My assumption of what HE would say and how HE would sound and when HE would help blinded me to what HE was doing right in front of my face.

• GOD wants me to open my eyes to see HIM every day.
• GOD wants me to recognize HIM from the smallest task to the largest.
• GOD wants me to see HIM in everything rather than putting HIM in a building I go to visit once a week for a very short period of time.

 I hear the term “Act of GOD” and cringe because it implies that HE only works with the large things. GOD works with the infinitely tiny as well as the outstanding enormity of the universe. HE is concerned with my day to day situations and wants me to give HIM as much time and communication as I can.

Recognizing GOD on a daily basis is not a stretch, all I have to do is open my eyes and I can see HIS marvelous works.

• Are you blind to what GOD is doing in your life?
• Do you think you are doing things on your own ability?
• Can you open your eyes to see GOD working on the small things in your life as well as the large?

GOD is with you through the battle!

Judges 11: ²⁹ Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.

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³² Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. ³³ He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

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Scowling faces made me feel a bit uneasy as I walked through the crowd. As I shook a few hands I engaged people in conversation to find out why they were so angry. As they told me their story I could empathize a bit more.

As I stood at the podium I saw the same scowls on the ocean of people but a sense of peace fell over me. I took a deep breath and began my presentation. I could actually see the scowls lift into smiles as I made some modifications to my discussion that included their pain. I could feel a spirit of peace in the room.

• GOD gives me peace when I face something huge.
• GOD leads me beside still waters and restores my soul.
• GOD fights my battles when I face difficulty.

I would like to say it was me who calmed the crowd, but in reality it was GOD who brought peace in the room. Every circumstance, every situation, every tough decision can be brought to GOD and HE has plenty of peace to give me. All I have to do is trust that HE will be with me as I walk out and fight the battle, knowing the battle is already won because of HIM!

• Are you fighting on your own strength?
• Do you think you can win the battle by yourself?
• Won’t you stop fighting without GOD and ask HIM to go before you today?
• Can you trust that HE has your best interest in mind?

Do I really want to hear from GOD?

Judges 10: ¹¹ The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, ¹² the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites^[c] oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? ¹³ But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. ¹⁴ Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

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After many disappointments from observing others I decided not to go to church anymore.  I mean people who were “sinning” seemed to be having more fun and they got away with whatever they were doing. Besides, my bowling alley job kept me up until 3:00AM so I had an excuse for not going.

Years later my world started crumbling apart from all sides. Finances were in the toilet, I was dumped, school had kicked me out and my dented old car wasn’t working. I was barely living but alive. I had no plan and no one to turn to… or did I?

• When I turn from GOD my world falls apart.
• When I leave GOD alone my world falls apart.
• When I think GOD is the problem my world falls apart.

My tantrum included yelling at GOD and telling HIM I wasn’t going to serve HIM any longer.  It took years for me to understand this was not a good idea. Fortunately for me GOD had something else in mind for me.

• GOD welcomed me back with open arms, but I had to turn to HIM first.
• GOD listened to me when I cried out for help, but I had to cry out first.
• GOD picked me up and dusted me off after I had fallen, but I had to stand and turn to HIM first.

Some people ask me “how do you know you are hearing from GOD?” My answer is simple, HE tells me to follow HIS ways and usually I don’t want to do it. In fact the more I turn away from HIM the more things go wrong, because HE allows me to walk unprotected. GOD has mercy and abundant love. HE wants me to turn to HIM all the time.

• Are you walking away from GOD?
• Do you think you have nowhere to turn?
• Can you turn your life back to HIM?
• Won’t you trust GOD again the way you used to years ago?

GOD doesn’t play

Judges 9: ²² After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, ²³ God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. ²⁴ God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

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Lying had become a way of life as I tried to get as much as I could at that time. It was so convenient to just make up a lie rather than facing whatever I was facing.  When the dorm director asked “why didn’t you open up the office on time”, I wasn’t quick enough to form my lie and my story fell apart quickly.

I lost the cushy office job and had to look elsewhere. This same thing happened at the next place when I was a janitor. “I wonder if I should take these jobs seriously” I thought to myself.

When I sin I try to hide what I did by lying to myself.

When I sin I think I can get away with whatever I’ve done.

When I sin I hope no consequence will fall on me.

“I can’t be perfect” is my excuse for sinning so I jump in with both feet. I then justify my sin by comparing what others have done and trivializing my “little” sin to their “big” one. BUT GOD sees things different.

GOD doesn’t want me to blow off my sin even though I am fully forgiven for them.

GOD knows sin somehow weakens me to the point where I can’t be used for HIS plan.

GOD sees through my lies even when I lie to myself.

“Vengeance is mine” GOD says and that goes for me as well. HE fights my foes and protects me from their attacks, but HE also corrects me when I am the attacker. GOD cannot stand sin, no matter how I try to justify it. Fortunately for me, HIS SON forgave me of all my sins and cleanses me of all unrighteousness.

I still may have to face consequence while I’m on this planet, but thank GOD my consequences are only for this lifetime. However, the more I can reduce my sinning the more GOD rewards me in the next lifetime.

Are you lying to yourself and others?

Do you constantly have sin in your life that you are not addressing?

Do you feel powerless?

Won’t you mature by not lying to yourself and turning to GOD for the answers?

Never Take Credit

Judges 8: ²² The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

²³ But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”

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Graduating with average to pitiful grades was not something to brag about, yet working at the only company that would accept me made me feel superior enough to become entitled. I did not leave when everyone else left because I was studying. Soon I became the best programmer in the department, or at least that is what people told me.

I felt I needed a raise and a promotion otherwise I would take my brilliant mind elsewhere. When I interviewed for another company I didn’t get the job and had to sit humbly at my desk.

• When I think too highly of myself I start comparing what I do to others.
• When I think too highly of myself I become deserving and entitled.
• When I think too highly of myself I forget where I came from.

Gideon knew where his strength came from. I mean 300 men fought and won battles against 150,000 or more. The odds were definitely not in his favor and upon return he rejected the Israelites request to become a ruler. This is a wonderful example to me.

• GOD wants me to point my life to HIM rather than taking credit.
• GOD wants me to tell people about HIM rather than trying to subdue HIM and pretend HIS power is mine.
• GOD wants me to know where my strength comes from instead of thinking I have any power.

Low self-esteem is not what I’m shooting for. I believe GOD made me beautifully and wonderfully. HE loves me with my many flaws and accepts me as I am, but I should not get to the point where I think even the tiniest blessing comes from me. All good things come from GOD!

• Are you comparing yourself or your church or your group to others?
• Do you think “that person” or “that group” is the problem?
• Do you feel you can do or say “it” better?
• Can you reduce your focus on “you” and point your life to GOD today?

My own strength is faulty

Judges 7: ² The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ ³ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

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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.”

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With instructions from my brother I trekked to my high school early in the morning. It took an hour and fifteen minutes to get there on public transportation that day because I second guessed what was told to me and I missed busses and trains.

As I got closer to the school, I noticed thugs, bullies and gangs lurking about.

Finally when I arrived I breathed a sigh of relief, but that sigh was short lived as one of the teachers gave instructions on what I had to purchase, where my locker was and two thousand other laws I had to keep. I was overwhelmed. Will I ever graduate, alive?

• When I look at my strength I sometimes tremble with fear.
• When I see situations that are far larger than me I sometimes shutter with fear.
• When I think I have to solve a situation that is larger than my power I get stifled because of fear.

Fear makes me want to quit. I mean I think I am going to lose anyway, so why try? Maybe I should just go home, sit on the couch and ball up in the fetal position! BUT GOD has something different in mind.

• GOD takes me through many difficult situations only to show me HIS strength.
• GOD brings me through the battle to show me HE has already won the war.
• GOD says “where you are weak I can show MY strength.”

Battles are GOD’s specialty. HE knows the extent HE cursed the Earth and HE knows just how to protect me through very harsh and difficult times. HE wants me to rely on HIS wisdom, HIS love and HIS strength. My strength pales in comparison to HIS so HE wants me to trust HIM.

• Are you tired of trying things on your own?
• Are you just plain old tired?
• Won’t you look to GOD to solve and resolve your situation?
• Can’t you add trusting in the LORD to your plan?

Excuses

Judges 6: ¹⁴ 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?”

¹⁵ “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

¹⁶ The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

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Distracted was the word that described my pitiful efforts. As I floundered through my classes I was stuck in a perpetual “I can’t do it” mode. I had no discipline, resources or focus and people expected me to graduate?! I didn’t even know where to begin.

• When I see nothing but problems ahead I am probably making up excuses.
• When I can’t think and I feel lost I am probably making up excuses.
• When I feel overwhelmed because the task at hand is huge and I feel small I am probably making up excuses.

Back then I couldn’t see how I was going to accomplish the task at hand because I made excuses. Everything was a barrier and I couldn’t find my way around, over or through them.  At one point I just sat in my apartment and stared in despair. BUT GOD had something different in mind.

• GOD says “Go in strength” meaning not my strength but HIS.
• GOD says “I am sending you” meaning HIS plan will work no matter what I will encounter.
• GOD says “I will be with you” meaning HE will be with me!

It is never my plans that succeed rather it is GOD’s plan that will never fail. When HE says “go” I must listen. When HE says “I will be with you” I should drop my fear and know HE is there to protect me. GOD tells me to “go in the strength I have” for in my weakness HE is strongest!

• Are you trying to do things with your own power?
• Do you have a very large task facing you?
• Won’t you ask GOD to take over your plan?
• Can you add trust to your plan?