Trust Issues

Trust isn’t always earned!

Judges 6:34–35 HCSB

The Spirit of the Lord took control of Gideon, and he blew the ram’s horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him. He sent messengers throughout all of Manasseh, who rallied behind him. He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, who also came to meet him.

If anyone had earned Gideon's trust it should have been God. God clearly has chosen Gideon and had already been tested by Gideon.

Judges 6:17 HCSB

Then he said to Him, “If I have found favor in Your sight, give me a sign that You are speaking with me.

Gideon had trust issues ,he didn’t trust God and he didn’t trust himself.

Gideon’s excuse was weakness so God dealt with it.

Judges 6:34 HCSB

The Spirit of the Lord took control of Gideon, and he blew the ram’s horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him.

When God calls us to something he knows we are weak yet he still calls us and then equips us.

Trust isn’t the issue, knowing God is

To be clear Gideon knew exactly what God wanted him to do, the problem is Gideon was following a generic idea of God as opposed to the God that made a covenant with his people. So many times when we read scripture we look at it through western american eyes, with our limited understanding of nuance. The Hebrews had different words used to talk about God. The narrator uses this word.

אֱלֹהִ֑ים Pronounced Elohim

simply put it means god or deity. It’s not personal it’s a name. I have a boarder collie, named Goliath he’s great we love him. He’s amazing he’s a part of our family. We call him by his name Goliath,but someone that doesn't know him,doesn’t know his breed they would call him dog. Both are true, but one is personal.

The personal designation for God, the God that covenanted with Israel, the one that looks a bit different...

יהוה Pronounced Yahweh

יהוה Pronounced Yahweh

This more personal name is the most Holy name of God and with it comes an understanding of who God is, and of an individuals relationship with God. Gideon seems to know God as a deity. Bet God is coming to Gideon in the capacity of the one who makes covenants and is Holy. When it comes to going outside our door we have to stop testing an impersonal deity and trust the Holy God that creates.

If…Then

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel by my hand, as You said, 37 I will put a fleece of wool here on the threshing floor. If dew is only on the fleece, and all the ground is dry, I will know that You will deliver Israel by my strength, as You said.”

We all ask if.

If you really loved me...

If you trusted me...

If you only knew...

If God is real...

If I just had

If statements especially when used in relationship are almost always a tool of manipulation.

Gideon starts with doubt…when we read if you will deliver Israel by my hand…as you said. He is making it clear this makes no sense and he would really rather not have to be in the uncomfortable situation. Coming up with the fleece test was a way to say yeah this isn’t going to happen we all know how dew works and I can get on with life. The God I know and understand isn’t interested in us and won’t bother because quit frankly this is an impossible test. Of course we read what God does

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

38 And that is what happened. When he got up early in the morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung dew out of it, filling a bowl with water.

God answers Gideon that should have been enough. He’s already done other things to prove to Gideon the call. He’s accepted a meal and made an amazing exit, The spirit has taken hold of him and in doing so called thousands to Gideon’s side. Keep in mind some of these people that answered this call had just wanted his head not long ago for destroying the altar and ashera pole. It’s still not enough.

A picture of grace.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

39 Gideon then said to God, “Don’t be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me to make one more test with the fleece. Let it remain dry, and the dew be all over the ground.”

Gideon knew he was asking for something that he really had no business asking for. He saw all that God had done to prove himself and yet he had to push one more time.

We do this as well. We exhaust all other avenues in our life choices, we push God we push those around us. We want people to prove they love us prove the accept us prove how much they care and even when they do we go that one extra step and ask for one more thing...

Gideon knew that he was pushing. God’s response is amazing.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 6

40 That night God did as Gideon requested: only the fleece was dry, and dew was all over the ground.

God doesn’t yell at Gideon, God doesn’t hold the manipluation against Gideon and lets be clear that’s what’s going on. GIdeon already had his answer, more than once from God and yet he persists.

Which gives us the picture of God that we should all lean into and paint for others.

God consistently responds with Grace. As we go outside the doors of the church we must be willing to share that Grace. To live in that grace. To show that grace to others.

This Week’s Challenge

We all have broken relationships, they are usually broken because somewhere along the way trust was broken.

Write the name of the person that is right now in your brain down, spend the week praying for them, and yourself.

On Thursday reach out to that person with Grace. Rebuild the bridges that have been broken and let God begin to heal that relationship.