... a weekly letter of encouragement.
11 March 1998 - Singapore
Good Morning!
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES?
With fear or faith?
KING SAUL AND HIS SON JONATHAN ILLUSTRATE BOTH:
SAUL, panics as he sees his troops deserting him while
on a military skirmish as they await the priest's appearance
to offer a sacrifice. So Saul steps in and presumptuously assumes
the priest's religious duty.
"I saw that the men were scattering."
- Frazzled by circumstances.
"I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come
down against me...'" - Ruled by fear.
"I felt compelled to offer burnt offerings."
- Prompted by emotions.
The consequences? Saul is dis-enfranchised as king, (and
dies a premature death):
"...Now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has
sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader...because
you have not kept the Lord's command." (1 Samuel
13:14)
JONATHAN, by contrast is vastly out numbered by the
Philistine army, yet chooses to believe God to use him in defeating
them.
"Come, let's go over to the Philistines"
- Scoped out the enemy.
"Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf"
- Made himself available to be used of God.
"Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether
by many or by few" - Believed God could
use him to destroy the enemy.
The consequences? Jonothan victoriously destroys enemy forces.
SAUL saw challenging circumstances through the eyes
of fear and failed.
JONATHAN saw challenging circumstances through the eyes
of faith and succeeded. (I Sam.13:1 - 14:23)
QUESTION: When you are faced with difficult circumstances
that appear to be overwhelmingly impossible, what do you
do? Panic, like Saul and resort to your own solutions? Or
do you, like Jonothan trust God, and see Him come through with
His solution?
+ I Samuel 13:1 - 14:23 My prayer is that you are having a great week!
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