APRIL 25 "C'MON ALREADY, WHERE'S GOD?"

     "4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help."
     The easiest (but dumbest) thing to do is step into any bad situation and without knowing the history or the facts, lash out and say, "where's God in all this? If he's so wonderful and powerful why is this happening?".  It would be easy to look upon Israel's plight and ask those same questions, as a matter of a fact, Gideon does ask that question, 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?   FIRST thing that would be beneficial to know is God does not have to answer to us and you'll notice He doesn't immediately answer Gideon's question; however later on he does bring insight on the situation, "go and destroy your father's idols and altars that he has set up to worship Baal" (Baal of all gods!) God reveals to Gideon, when He is ready, why Israel is going through what they're going through and the issue is not God, the issue is with the people; their own sin and rebellion that has brought these horrible times on them.  It's easy to look at our family, our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ and jump to presumptions that God somehow has been unjust, unfair and uncaring with those whom we love.  Gideon never considers the fact the perhaps they are going through what they're going through because of his father and the generation that lived before. Gideon just assumes that his Father and his generation has been faithful and somehow God has not held up his end of the bargain and it is the exact opposite that is true.  Be careful about letting people draw you into their sappy stories about God; how they were faithful but yet God failed them in their greatest hour of need. Many people have an attitude with God not necessarily because of what he failed to do for them, but what "supposedly" he failed to do for another "supposed" faithful brother or sister in Christ, but as the scripture says and warns us, "let God be true and every man a liar". If ever you are forced to chose between the righteousness and faithfulness of God verses your brother or sister in Christ, a family member or friend, it would be wise to stand on God's side. Standing on God's will save you much embarrassment in the end, when all the facts come out and then you will not need to go back  and ask God for his forgiveness for ever doubting his faithfulness and goodness.

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