Joshua and the Gibeonites

A few years ago, God really convicted me about how I had let myself become molded by the "reality" of this world (and even the "reality" presented by my church upbringing) rather than keeping my mind molded to God's reality through his word. The "Believing God" Bible study I did this summer with my wife really reinforced those ideas for me and challenged me to think again about the areas in my life where I've concluded God either can't touch or doesn't want to touch.

What do you think? Are there areas in your life that are sore spots for you that you want God to change, but are afraid to ask? Or maybe you've asked and God hasn't answered like you wanted but it's still a sore spot. Or maybe you are afraid to ask because you are afraid you are not up to it and that you'll just mess it up. Is there something you are afraid to fail at?

I think sometimes God really wants us to wrestle with him over issues. Occasionally he just wants us to ask with faith and sit back and watch him make his own name great, but not always. Other times, and this is where I'm sensing he has me right now, He wants us to ask with faith and give everything I have to get the issue resolved.

In Exodus, Joshua and the Israelites made a pact with the Gibeonites under false pretenses. They messed up big time because they didn't ask of God. But when the 5 other countries heard about the pact and decided to go wipe out the Gibeonites, God didn't say "You made your bed, now sleep in it", Instead, God went to battle for them to help them honor their pact. In the process, though, God didn't just tell them to sit back and wait for him to work like he did in Egypt for them.

The Israelites made a 20 mile trek through the night in full battle armor. And when they got there they had to fight an uphill battle... with no sleep after their trek. And when it looked like the Gibeonites were going to slip away Joshua knew and believed God enough to ask God to make the sun stand still... and God did it. And as the Gibeonites were fleeing, God made hail fall on the Gibeonites and kill them without killing the Israelites. More people were killed by the hail than by the Israelites (If I remember the story right... I don't have much time and I'm writing this from memory).

Why couldn't God have just sent the hail the night before and killed them all? Because God sometimes wants us to give our all in pursuit of what we know to be God's will. Our action in faith does more to strengthen our faith sometimes than our passive faith.

So, what is it that you think God want to change or do in your life? And are you willing to give your all in the belief that God will provide what you can't? It doesn't have to be "big" like win a million people to Christ, but it is probably going to be a stretch for you. Something you are maybe afraid of, but really want to do or be free from.

I have to stop now, but take care. I'm praying that God will bring something to your mind, and that you'll have the faith to accept it as being from God.

- Jon