From Doubt to Faith (Judges 6 + 7)
I probably don't have to tell you that the weather in Seal Beach, CA is nearly perfect all year. "Nice day, huh?" is almost always answered with a "Yep!" However, I've mistakenly elongated my answer with "Yep! This weather is how you know God loves us!" It's an answer meant to be funny, but it unwittingly implies that God doesn't love people in Fresno, CA, where it's above 100 degrees all summer.
That comment is a harmless mistake but reveals a more profound theological distortion we all fall into; "When life is good, God is present and for us. When life is bad, God is absent and against us." This train of thought was undoubtedly present for a guy named Gideon, recorded in Judges 6:1-13.
This week at Grace, we will continue thinking through doubt together. We'll pause Psalm 73 for one week and look at Gideon's life in Judges 6 & 7. He was a man filled with doubt, yet he received a commendation for his faith in Hebrews 11.
I hope we can answer these questions: What is God's disposition toward us when we doubt Him? How does God transform our doubts into faith?
Hope to see you Sunday!
Pastor Chris
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
32 …For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
- Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-34 (ESV)