Faith, Love & Family
Faith That Trusts Him: Why God Will Not Be Used
Key Scriptures
3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
19 The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. 20 For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. 21 And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Reflection
In 1 Samuel 4 Israel is beaten. Four thousand men fall in the field. The elders ask exactly the right question — “Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines?” — and then they never wait for His answer. They send to Shiloh for the ark. Not for God. For the box. And when it came into the camp, “all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.”
The shout changed nothing. Verse 10 says thirty thousand footmen fell. Verse 11 says the ark of God was taken. Hophni and Phinehas died that day. Eli fell backward and died. A dying mother named her son Ichabod. Israel wanted the power of God without the presence of God. No one in that camp confessed a sin. They carried the mercy seat into battle and never once knelt at it.
Jeremiah 42 is the same heart in gentler words. The remnant of Judah promises, “Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God.” Ten days pass. God answers plainly — abide in this land, “for I am with you to save you.” And Jeremiah says, “ye dissembled in your hearts.” They had already chosen Egypt. Their prayer was not a question. It was a formality.
Romans 4 shows what faith really is. Abraham had no ark to carry and no vow to offer. His body was dead, Sara’s womb was dead, and still “he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” He simply believed that God could do what God had said.
Paul says it was not written for his sake alone, but “for us also,” who believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” God will not be used. He gives Himself to be trusted. Christ is not a token we carry into our battles. He is the Saviour who bore our sins and rose for our righteousness.
One thread runs straight through all three readings
- Israel had the ark and lost everything; Abraham had nothing but a promise and was counted righteous.
- Judah asked God for a way they had already chosen — that is not prayer, it is permission.
- God is not moved by our holy objects or our careful words; He is honoured when we believe what He has said.
- The righteousness that saves is imputed, never earned — Christ delivered for our offences and raised for our justification.
Application
1) Search Your Prayers
Ask honestly whether you are seeking God’s will today or seeking His approval for a decision already made. Judah dissembled in their hearts while their words sounded reverent.
2) Bring the Sin, Not the Symbol
Israel carried the mercy seat into battle and never repented at it. Name your sin before God plainly today and ask Him to forgive it.
3) Believe What He Said
Take one promise of Scripture and rest your weight on it this day. Abraham staggered not, because he was fully persuaded that God was able to perform.
4) Stay Where God Has Put You
Egypt always looks safer than obedience. If God has told you to abide, abide, and trust Him to be with you there.
5) Rest In the Finished Work
You are not accepted because of your vows or your record. You are accepted because Christ was delivered for your offences and raised again for your justification.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I have wanted Your help without wanting You. I have prayed with my mind already made up, and I have leaned on religious habits instead of leaning on You. Give me the faith of Abraham, that I would not stagger at Your promise but be fully persuaded that what You have said, You are able to perform. Thank You that Jesus was delivered for my offences and raised again for my justification, and that this righteousness is imputed and not earned. Teach me to trust You today, wherever You have placed me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Today’s Reading
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