Comedian Hal Roach once told the following story about a certain Pastor back in the old west and a lady in his congregation. As the story goes...
The Pastor was preaching away and said to his congregation: “You must learn to hope in God; you must learn to step aside; and you must let the good Lord fight your battles for you.”
Now, just as he was saying this, a gust of wind blew in through the open window and lifted the jacket of his suit ever so slightly, but just enough to expose a large pistol that he was carrying in a holster underneath his arm.
A member of the congregation saw this and made a mental note of it. So, afterward, the lady went up to the Pastor and said, “Reverend, if we should hope in God and let Him fight our battles, then why are you carrying a handgun?”
The pastor replied, “Well, I’ll tell you, Sister. The way I see it, I know God is coming, just like He promised. So this is just to hold the bad guys off until He gets here!”
In truth, it is much easier to talk about trusting God than it actually is to do so. Perhaps no better example exists in all of the Bible than that of Abraham. He had received God’s promises in Genesis 12 and again in Genesis 15. Yet, after each promise, in Genesis 13 and 14, and again in Genesis 16, he sets out to make things happen in his own strength - only to make matters worse than they once were.
Thankfully, Genesis 17 appears to be where he finally decided to stop trying to make things happen in his own strength and to trust God. Now, to be honest, I am reminded by Abraham’s example of just how many times I myself have said I would trust in God’s promises, only to wind up doubting and trying to make things happen on my own. Maybe you have done the same.
We would all do well to remember the admonishment of God’s word in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This is the lesson Abraham eventually learned; and it is the lesson each and every child of God must still learn today as well.
The Pastor was preaching away and said to his congregation: “You must learn to hope in God; you must learn to step aside; and you must let the good Lord fight your battles for you.”
Now, just as he was saying this, a gust of wind blew in through the open window and lifted the jacket of his suit ever so slightly, but just enough to expose a large pistol that he was carrying in a holster underneath his arm.
A member of the congregation saw this and made a mental note of it. So, afterward, the lady went up to the Pastor and said, “Reverend, if we should hope in God and let Him fight our battles, then why are you carrying a handgun?”
The pastor replied, “Well, I’ll tell you, Sister. The way I see it, I know God is coming, just like He promised. So this is just to hold the bad guys off until He gets here!”
In truth, it is much easier to talk about trusting God than it actually is to do so. Perhaps no better example exists in all of the Bible than that of Abraham. He had received God’s promises in Genesis 12 and again in Genesis 15. Yet, after each promise, in Genesis 13 and 14, and again in Genesis 16, he sets out to make things happen in his own strength - only to make matters worse than they once were.
Thankfully, Genesis 17 appears to be where he finally decided to stop trying to make things happen in his own strength and to trust God. Now, to be honest, I am reminded by Abraham’s example of just how many times I myself have said I would trust in God’s promises, only to wind up doubting and trying to make things happen on my own. Maybe you have done the same.
We would all do well to remember the admonishment of God’s word in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This is the lesson Abraham eventually learned; and it is the lesson each and every child of God must still learn today as well.