The Need to Trust God
From Eco-Bible 1
These are notes for an incomplete "Concept" page.
- Information is being added as the Bible Pages are added. In the end, everything will be compiled, further information added (as necessary), broken links connected, etc.
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- See also the opposite: Trust in Humans, Resources and Abilities.
- In the matter of warfare, Israel needed to learn that: God Fights for His People.
Scripture Pages that Link to Here
- Tell the people to start going forward; (then) divide the sea! The obedience (walking toward the sea) may have started before the solution to their problem became evident (the parting of the waters). They had to trust God!
- God provides water; they just need to trust him.
- God tells the people he will test them, to demonstrate whether or not they will obey him.
- The people had to choose between trusting God and fearing the huge people in Canaan. (There were probably only a few of those huge people in the land. Only a small number are mentioned in later books of the Bible.)
- God has repeatedly said that he would do the fighting, and that he would give Israel the land!
- God tells Moses to make a bronze snake for the people to look at and be healed. This "looking at" the snake was an act of trust in God. Their willingness to look meant they believed that what God said was true: that they would be healed.
- How will the Israelites do destroy the wicked nations who are more numerous than they are? They need to trust God and he will deal with the wicked nations, the same way he did with Egypt.
- The Philistines attacked Israel, while they were gathered together in a time of repentance. (They were not prepared for war.)
- 1Sa 7:8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines." (etc.) And God delivered them.
- The real issues (in Job's case) had to do with: 1) injustice and 2) trust in God; not "reaping what you sow."
- The real issues (in Job's case) had to do with: 1) injustice and 2) trust in God; not "Accept God's correction and you will be blessed!"
- It is foolish to put one's trust in an army or in horses ("battle equipment"), or in any other man-made resources, rather than in God!
- Psa 33:18 Behold, Yahweh's eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness;
- Psa 146:5-6 Happy [or, "blessed"] is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever.
- He "keeps truth" - a reference to his faithfulness. He is trustworthy!
- God's pleasure is not in those who boast of strength and power, but in those who fear him and who put their trust in him.
- Trust God to defend you, when the enemy is much more powerful than you.
- (This assumes that trusting God is a way of life. To ask God for protection without having repentance for existing sins won't necessarily result in victory!)
- They reinforced their defenses, but refused to look to the God who was sending this judgment!
- This lack of trust in God is actually a symptom of deeper issues - an entire lifestyle. And they refused to repent of their evil ways.
- A stubborn people (Israel) who trusts in others (Egypt), rather than in God - they will be brought to disgrace.
- The issue: They valued the help and advice that comes from humans more than the guidance and protection that comes from God. This is an act of adding "sin to sin"; and the end result will be shame and disgrace.
- When Jonathan and his armor-bearer decided to approach the Philistine garrison by themselves, it was a demonstration of total trust in God. Not blind trust, but a trust based on God's very character.
- God had already promised (many times in the past) that he would do the fighting (whether or not people were also involved). Now it was simply a matter of finding out if this was the right moment... and if so, of trusting God to do what he promised he would do.
- Already, before they have any idea what the outcome will be, Jonathan acknowledges that any victory will not be to his credit, but to God. (He was just being honest.)
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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