God's Grace and Our Doubt

Intro

When we know the way why do we doubt? sometimes it is easy to doubt when we do not know the way that we are to go.

Back when Criston and I where going on our honeymoon we could not afford all that much. We bought a tent and some camping gear and headed out on a road trip to Yosemite National Park. We even climbed a mountain. It was an unforgettable trip, albiet a bit cold in some places. We did not know the way all the way down to California so we borrowed a GPS from Criston’s parents. We truisted in that thing for the first bit. The first hiccup was when we where going south through the border near Lethbridge. Back then the GPS didn't really update itself that well with road construction. At the time I was driving my minivan that I put a straight pipe on to make it more manly to drive. The GPS took us down a road that was under construction which is not a big deal. But what was a big deal is that it had been turned to clay, and it had just rained. I didn't realize this till I hit the .5 mile stretch of clay and then I had no choice but to hit the throttle and try and get through. The man van almost got left on a back road in AB. The border didn't even want to let us across the border because our van was more mud then van after.

we didn't know the way, we where being guided by a GPS that was supposed to lead us down the right path but we almost ended up stuck. That is not the first time the GPS led us astray but it was the last time that we trusted it completely anyways. God also tells us the way in which we should go, how we should step out in faith and even that we sometimes Doubt. Bu God shows us grace, sometimes even in the midst of our doubt. And then we get back up and keep trying to follow God.

God has shown us the way in which we should go. So seeing how God has worked in the past we can move forward as we step out in faith trusting that by the grace of God He will carry us through.

Narrative

Many of us have heard of the story of Gideon and what he did and the fleeces but there are parts of the story that I do not think we tend to focus on. So let us turn to our Bibles to Judges 6 and see what we can learn.

Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord - Judges 6:1-10

As usual we see the common theme that Israel after having peace for 40 years started again to do evil in the sight of the Lord. The children around at the time where now adults and the adults where getting to old to remember it seems like what the Lord had done. The temptations of the nations around them where getting to be to great for them and they fell to sin. So they where sold into the hand of the midianites.

3-6

It started to get bad again, so bad that the Israelite's instead of turning to God fled and hid in the mountains. But they had to live so they started to plant crops to live off of. But there was a downside to this, the Midianites saw the crops and knew the Jews where not far off so they would find them and attack them because of it. They took the produce of the land they planted and ruined it.

It was only when Israel was poverty stricken and where at their lowest that they cried out to God it tells us in Verse 6. In the midst of their poverty they cried out to God.

7-10

In verse 7 it seems to tell us that Israel cried out to God not because of their sin but because of what Midian did to them. The Lord sent a prophet to them. We are not sure who But what He said is something that we need to remember.

God reminded them of His mighty acts that He had done for them in the past. God told them, “I rescued you, I saved you, I brought you from slavery to freedom” which is also saying “you got yourself into messes and I brought you out”. God told them that it is him they should fear and worship not the people in whose land they dwell but they did not listen.

the first thing we are going to have to remember is

Let the past mighty acts of God inform our path forward

remember this. when we fail to see the way, when we start to dwell on our mistakes remember what God has done in the past and remember the mighty God we serve and that if He has called us, He will prepare a way. You see, sometimes we need a reminder of what God has done in the past so we can remember that He will always be there for us even when we turn away from Him.

The Lord Calls Gideon - Judges 6:11-23

God started to call Gideon. At the time he was threshing wheat in a wine-press in hopes to hide it from the Midianites. Remember when the prophet spoke to them, he said to remember what God has done for them in the past but that it was because they did not obey God that they where in the situation that they where currently in.

Vs 13-16

Gideon's response to the angel of the Lord calling Him is what we need to look at as well. He put the blame on God for what was going on.

Rather then recognizing his responsibility Gideon blamed God.

He had the audacity to ask God that if He had done all this for them then why are they in the hands of the midianite’s right now?

It was their sin that was the problem, it was their own mistakes that got them into the situation that they where currently in. You see if we are going to run after the god’s of the people around us we too should not be to surprised if the Lord is not answering our prayers.

going back to Gideon though it is not to surprising that he us somewhat unaware of all this because he comes from a family that has devoted themselves to the worship of other god’s. Biblical faith and the stories of the past have lost their power in light of the present reality they are facing. their own situation has taken center stage rather then the Lord God.

Gideon still doubted so he asked to bring a gift to the messenger of God, a sacrifice to God. Similar to the call of Moses, Gideon felt unqualified for the job. Which is a good place to be in if you ask me.

Gideon has to deal with his families sin - Judges 6:25-32

25-27

before he could judge the Israelites and the nations Gideon was called by God to do something first, he had to deal with the sin prevailing in his families and his life first.

He was to take a couple bulls for a sacrifice and go and tear down the altars that his family had built to the false gods. He was to build an altar to the one true God instead. Seems easy enough to us but imagine how hard that would have been for him.

And it was hard, he was scared to do it in the light of the day so instead he went by the darkness of night to do the job.

28-32

The family was mad, they asked to bring out the boy, they figured out who did it I guess. But His dad stood up for him in a sense and said that Baal will deal with this boy if he really is a god like we say he is. They even started calling him Jerubaal because Baal was going to deal with Him.

the next thing we learn from this narrative is that if we to want to follow the Lord God, then we need to tear down the altars of sin in our life. What is it that you are holding on to in your life and are you willing to deal with it?

Gideon’s fleecey doubt - Judges 6:33-40

12 - the Lord is with you. 14 - I am sending you to Midian Go. 16 - I will be with you; you will strike Midian down.

many times the Lord God told Gideon to go defeat the Midianites, that God would be with Him, that God would fight through Gideon. You would think The angel of the Lord and then the Lord himself would have been enough to get the attention of Gideon and stir His faith but it wasn't enough.

It says that The spirit of the Lord enveloped Gideon and he blew a trumpet and people rallied to Him and yet he still doubted.

Gideon knew the Lord told him that He would use Gideon to deliver Israel but he needed more signs yet. He asked for two more miraculous signs that included dew and a sheep's fleece.

I would not say that this is a good example for us to follow, even Gideon was scared to try the second time.

What this shows us is Gideon had a lack of faith

Gideon had a lack of faith in God and there are times when people where given a stern warning for showing that kind of lack of faith. Take the story of Zecheriah for example in the book of Luke.

He was given a promise by the angel of the Lord that he was going to have a son, even after he had been praying for it for a while. Yet he doubted, essentially asked for a sign. He said how is this going to be. Because of this he was struck mute for the time of the pregnancy.

Another example is the Pharisees and the Sadducees in the book of Matthew when they ask for a sign that Jesus is who he said that He was. He said they where evil and adulteress and no sign would be given to them except the sign of Jonah.

there are other examples as well but the Lord does not always take kindly to people doubting when he gives them directives to follow Him.

How often do we doubt what the Lord wants to do through us. I have told many people of the story of a little Vietnamese lady who felt God calling her to build a nursing home for the elderly that where being forgotten on the streets. But she didnt have the money to do it, all she had was the assurance that it is what God wanted her to do. So she stepped out in faith and did it and God provided.

Sometimes we have doubts, and one thing we need to remember is that God’s grace is granted to us even in our doubts. Though we must be careful to not use that as an excuse.

So what?

Many people often see this story of Gideon and how he put out the fleece as a good thing. When in reality it is more a sign of the grace of God in the midst of our doubt.

God has shown us the way in which we should go. So seeing how God has worked in the past we can move forward as we step out in faith trusting that by the grace of God He will carry us through.

This is by no means that God is going to give us everything that we ask for and want just because we step out in faith and trust. But that if God has called us, as we are seeking to follow His will if we go He will provide. So when we follow God’s will for our life there are three things that we can gather from this true story.

When we doubt, remember How God has worked in the past as we move forward in the future.

the Israelites are given the same promise we are today as well. Remember what God has done for us in the past. remember how Great a God it is that we serve.

but if we are struggling, maybe we are a little like Gideon and wonder why God doesnt or is not working like that today. In their case, it was due to their sin. It was their own fault God was not leading in their lives. Take a look at your life and see if there is any wicked thing in you that you need to get rid of.

Asking for constant signs may show a lack of faith

we seek God and which way that He should call us to go and when we get a general idea of the direction God wants us to go as a church then we are called to step out in faith. But sometimes we need signs to know that we are on the right path. Sometimes what we need is a little more faith.

Judges/Ruth, Revised Edition A Need for Signs

To ask for a sign when God has already revealed his will reflects an immature faith and perhaps, in certain circumstances, a greater willingness to disobey than to obey

There are ways in which we can find out where God wants us to go. pray and seek the word of God in your life. These are the biggest ways to find out. Ask trusted christian friends and family as well. Follow where you think it might be if you are not sure and if you are seeking God above all else in all things He will open the doors for you to follow Him. I am not saying that it will be easy all the time, sometimes it will be very hard but also very fulfilling.

God shows grace even when we doubt

The amazing thing that I see in the story of Gideon is that even as He doubted and had a lack of faith God showed Him grace beyond what he deserved. This is not a sign to always be doubting god but rather that sometimes we are not sure, we ask for signs, sometimes we struggle with our faith.

But God tells us, come to me, cast your worries and anxieties and cares upon me. He says that He will provide for us. God can and will forgive us when we ask. That is the beauty of grace, we do not deserve it but God gives it none the less.

do not let your lack of faith, or your doubt be the excuse that stops you from stepping out in the will of God for your life, for the church.