Monday, April 28, 2014

God Lovers Doubters

God loves people who have doubts about Him. Lots of folks who go to church heard about doubting Thomas this past Sunday. The people at West Adrian Community Church heard about him and a few others. We first looked in the Old Testament at some pretty famous men who were doubters to the extreme and yet God loved and used them in some pretty remarkable ways.


Abram, the father of many nations was a big time doubter. But, before we get to the doubting part let's look at his heart towards God. God called Abram to walk hundreds of miles to a country he had never been to. Abram did as he was told. God told Abram to look into the night sky and begin counting the stars. He told Abram that he would be the father of a people who outnumbered the stars in the sky. Abram believed God and had a righteous heart. God revealed his plan for Abram in a vision and Abram believed it. Pretty dedicated man towards God.


A famine hits the land and Abram takes his pretty good looking wife to Egypt. His heart and mind know that God has plans for him and Sarah. He knows that God will be faithful. Funny thing about Abram, he doesn't trust God with his beautiful wife. He tells Sarah to lie to the Egyptians and tell them that she is his sister. They lie and trouble comes.


The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and Isaac, Abraham's son does the same thing. He marries a very beautiful woman. When famine comes he goes to the Philistines for food. Along the way he tells Rebeka, his wife, tell the Philistines that you are my sister. They might desire you and kill me. They lie and trouble comes. Both father and son love God and have witnessed His hand upon their life. Yet, like so many of us, a time came and they doubted that God was involved in the situation.


One last Old Testament character, Gideon. The Midianites were in control of the land are Gideon. The families would thresh their grain out of sight of the Midianites so it would not be confiscated. Gideon was threshing his grain at the olive press, out of sight. God appears to Gideon and tells him that He is going to rescue his people through Gideon. Gideon hems and haws and tells the Lord that he is the least of the clan and the tribe is the least of all the tribes.


Gideon asks the Lord for two separate signs that He would support him. The first sign is a flambeau of beef and broth on a stone. The second being a fleece presented to God. Gideon asked God to give him a sign by having the fleece wet and the ground dry. It was so. Not quite convinced Gideon asks the Lord to reverse the sign, wet ground, dry fleece. It was so. Gideon fought and won and now he passes out bibles in hotel rooms.


Doubting Thomas is no different than his Old Testament ancestors, and us. He doubted and wanted proof. When the proof came Thomas confessed Christ and his life was never the same. You and I are no different. There are times when it is easy and comforting to believe God. But, there are many times when it is not so easy to believe the promises of God.


Many people I know have great burdens for their children, spouses, and other family members. We wonder when God is going to answer the prayers that have gone up for years and years. God will come through. He will prove that He is faithful and the doubts we once had will be transformed into rock hard foundation stones.


Tedd Galloway is a former missionary and is currently the pastor at West Adrian Community Church. His book, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God, is soon to be released through, Morgan James Publishing. You can follow Tedd on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. His website is, www.teddgalloway.com

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