Sharing Our Faith Together

How Much Do You Trust God?

by Peter Blount 3 September 2023

Welcome to ‘Sharing Our Faith Together’

Our title today poses an interesting question and a very good way to get your attention!

Whilst you are struggling even to comprehend the magnitude of the question, here is a reminder of the trust one person had in God. His name is Joshua, he trusted God for many things but I guess the time we all recall straight way is Joshua’s encounter with the walls of Jericho.

If you want to read it in full it’s Joshua Ch 6

When faced with the besieged city of Jericho, God told Joshua, in basic terms, dispense with the army, and swords and ladders and suits of armour – we will use priests, just seven of them armed with trumpets! Well, I suppose everyone who heard Joshua’s plan thought he had finally lost it – gone completely mad – off his rocker!

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Bob Newhart produced a sketch which was basically Joshua’s army commander on the phone to the chief armourer, attempting to explain this outrageous plan and the reason why they would not now require all the extra equipment he had been making so that the army was fully stocked up ready for battle. If you get chance it is really funny and worth a listen.

Coming back to the scriptural story, yes of course it is one of the many phenomenal old testament miracles performed by God through His prophets and servants. On this occasion, however, let’s just focus on Joshua. He is prepared to risk his life, his reputation, his army, his people and his credibility (imagine his historical profile had he lost the battle under these circumstances!) because he acted on God’s word without question or consideration for himself – total and utter trust!

Maybe we have not had to face that kind of situation but we all face our own battles and challenges, which, sometimes feel like they have the same weight and pressure on us. Those struggles may be physical, mental or spiritual but in each case we need not only the knowledge that God can do the most unbelievable miracles but also the faith to trust that when asked, he will perform the miracle required in our life or the situation about which we pray.

As Paul writes:- ‘To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us. Ephesians 6 : 20

So here it is again ‘How much do you trust God’?

Prayer
Thank you Lord that You are the God of miracles in the old testament, in the new testament and in our lives today. AMEN