Flying Blind

We don’t know what we don’t know.

When Columbus decided to cross the ocean to discover a new land, he didn’t know for sure what he would face. Would he face dragons or other unknown dangers? This causes anxiety or fear in us when we don’t know what the future holds.

Likewise, when a pilot has limited sight due to fog, how is the landing completed safely? A pilot trusts his instruments in this case, trusting the equipment, his training and experience to guide him into landing the plane safely.

What does this have to do with our faith? We can look at the situation that Gideon found himself in. When we face overwhelming situations, God will guide us.

See Judges 6:26-40 to read about Gideon’s conversation with the angel of the Lord.

In Gideon’s case, he is hiding in a wine press to thresh wheat. Hiding because when the Midianites see them having food, they come and take it. Gideon was visited by the angel of the Lord who said to him, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

But Gideon didn’t understand why this was happening to them if God was with them. However, they had been instructed to not worship other gods and they had not been faithful to the one true God.

The angel told Gideon that he was to save Israel from the Midianites in the strength that he had been given. Gideon’s clan was the weakest in Manasseh and Gideon the weakest in his family.

Isn’t that just like God to use the most unlikely as the hero of the story? He has done that all through history. Mary, a young girl as the mother of the Messiah, Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, Rahab, a prostitute, to save the spies sent to explore the new land. God has always used the unlikely.

We doubt because of the sin in our lives. It’s caused us to doubt that we deserve God’s forgiveness, his grace. But, God doesn’t address us by our fears and failings. He calls us by who he’s created us to be. Fearfully and wonderfully made.

Anything that causes us to distance ourselves from the Father to follow other gods compromises our devoting ourselves fully to following God. It may mean leaving other things behind to follow God.

The Spirit of the Lord empowers Gideon, but he still asks for reassurance. God doesn’t get angry with him. Gideon asks for a sign that he is doing the right thing. He doesn’t doubt God’s power, but His presence. Have you ever felt that God was leading you to do something, but you wondered if it was really God?

Gideon essentially asks three questions.

• Are you serious? God will always ask you to do more than you think you can do! By doing this he asks us to step out in faith. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
• Are you sure? David, Moses, and Rahab all failed in their own strength. God says “yes”! He knows the plans he has for us! Our debts, failings and sins don’t define us. God’s calling on our life does.
• Are you there? It’s the same question we ask God when we face struggles. Gideon may need assurance, but God wouldn’t abandon him. Even Jesus expressed doubts when on the cross he shouted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

God gives us comfort and guidance. We are called to live by faith. He’s there, even when we can’t see him. Life’s not easy, but he’ll catch us. If we play it safe, we miss out on the abundance he has for us. When you feel him calling you, ask him these questions and he will be faithful to provide what he has in store for you. We can fly blind when we can’t see the cross because Jesus has us. We can trust him because he promises to guide us. He will not leave us or forsake us.

What a great reminder! Even when we can’t see it, He is there.

In Faith,

Pam