Exodus 25-26
Matthew 20:17-34
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
When we read Hebrews 11, it is exciting to hear the stories of God at work in the lives of individuals. Hebrews 11:33-35 goes, “...who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again.” It is all “Victory! Victory! Victory!”
Yet, we are also told, “There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and ill-treated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground” (Hebrews 11:35-38). After this devastating experience that people have, the writer of Hebrews concluded: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40). How could these individuals still trust in God even though they never received what they were promised?
The truth is: when we trust in God, we should not put pre-conditions by saying, “God, I trust You for…” and then our wish lists afterwards. Our trust in God is not dependent on what He does for us, and it should not change because of our circumstances. In other words, if we said to God, “I trust You for my healing” or “I trust You to provide for my need” and these things do not happen for us, our trust in God should remain constant and not waver.
When we say that we trust God, we have to let God be God and what God does is His business. It may be that what we would like is not what He is going to do but we trust Him regardless. Paul reminds us, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21). This is who God is.
Can we admit that our finite minds and limited visions cannot compare to what God has in store for us?
PRAYER: Lord God, my finite mind and limited vision cannot comprehend what You have in store for me. I surrender my life into Your hands. Thank You, Lord.