Trusting God in Everyday Life (Part 2)

It was somewhat depressing last week studying people in the Bible who didn't trust God. The thing that makes it worthwhile: studying those in the Bible who did trust God. This past week in youth group we look at 3 people in the Bible who did trust God when asked...and boy did God do amazing things!


Joshua
In Joshua 5:13-6:27, Joshua and the Israelites are waiting to begin conquering the land God promised to give them. Shortly beforehand God gives Joshua the marching orders (literally). Rather than attack in a military manner, the entire nation was to walk around Jericho once a day for six days and then seven times on the seventh and final day. It was a seemingly suicidal-like move, but commanded by God nonetheless. Joshua holds firm in his faith, he and the people obey, and God completely destroys the city.

Elijah
1 Kings 18:1-46 shows us that Elijah was asked by God to confront King Ahab. Not only was Elijah to command the rain to stop, eventually he goes head-to-head with 450 prophets of Baal in a showdown to prove which god is real. Even though the task seemed impossible (picture praying to God to light a soaking wet bull in front of 450 prophets who want your head) God came through and provided Elijah with victory. The prophets were defeated and the people again turned back to worship God (at least for the present time).

Noah
Genesis 6:9-8:22 tells of maybe one of the most bizarre things God has ever asked of a human. Noah was minding his own business when God asked him to build a ark so big that it would save mankind and the animals from an impending worldwide flood. Think about that. Noah was to build an ark (it took him up to 100 years), gather 2 of every kind of animal (from across the world) to save from a massive flood (it had never rained). Oh, and the door was so big Noah couldn't close it. Doesn't that seem a bit crazy? Regardless, Noah remained firm in his faith, trusted God through it all, and was rewarded by surviving the flood (enough reward in itself) and also getting to see the first rainbow.

There are three themes I take from these accounts...
1. When God asks us to do something, it didn't necessarily make sense.
2. When God asks us to trust Him, He gives us the strength to do what he asks and he provides the impossible.
3. God rewards us when we trust him.

Imagine what God wants to do through your life if you will only trust him when he comes to you with a seemingly impossible, irrational request.

(FYI...I've got a new program installed that allows you to move your mouse over a Scripture reference to see the first few lines)