What kind of faith do you have in God’s ability to bring deliverance? When you lean over the bedside of a sick and dying person – maybe a friend or close relative – do you have the kind of faith that does not doubt God’s will to heal? Or, when you pray, do you sometimes find yourself doubting God – not His power or ability to heal and deliver, but His will to do so?
I am struck by the uncompromising faith of David when he went up against Goliath (1 Sam. 17). Remember his words to king Saul who thought it was crazy for a young boy like David to go up against a giant like Goliath? David said to Saul: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (v. 37). And of course, you know the rest of the story. God did come through just as David said He would.
But how did David know this for sure? Did God tell him something that David is not saying? And if David was so sure of God’s mighty hand of deliverance, why did he then take with him five stones (v. 40)? One was more than enough. Was David talking big in front of king Saul but secretly battled with his own doubts? The bible does not say, but the outcome speaks for itself. God did deliver David and the faith that David had in God’s own ability and His will to do so was magnificent.
But my mind also takes me back to another story about three boys who also had a similar faith like David, but with a little less certainty.
Remember the story of Daniel’s three friends – Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Dan. 3)? These three men along with Daniel refused to worship the idol that Nebuchadnezzar had erected. So as a punishment for their civil disobedience, they were sentence to be thrown into the furnace of fire. But I want you to listen to what they said to the king of Babylon. It was a little different than what David said to Saul.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Like David, these three men did not doubt God’s ability, but unlike David, they doubted God’s will. They knew that God was more than able to deliver them, but they were not sure if He would.
Would you say that the faith of these three men was anything less than the faith of David? I don’t personally think so. I think they were being reasonable. They put all their hopes in the Lord’s ability to do what He thought would be best.
But here is the ONE CERTAINTY that I wish to convey to you. Even though they were not certain of God’s will, and they did express that to Nebuchadnezzar, they were absolutely certain of “their will” – “let it be known to you, O king, we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (v. 18).
Did you get that? There was uncertainty in the hearts of Daniel’s three friends with regards to God’s will, but there was no uncertainty in their hearts regarding their own will.
The lesson in these two stories are encouraging. Some have the faith of a David. “God will deliver me. . .” and some have the faith of Daniel’s three friends, “If it be so our God is able. . .but let it be known to you, we will not worship your gods.”
Both David and Daniel friends had the kind of faith that captures the attention of the rest of us. Both had a God-given faith for their particular situation. Both had pleased the Lord in their expression of their faith. And God responded to both of their faiths accordingly to His good pleasure.
So remember these two things: First, with David, “I know God will bring deliverance, but in the mean time, go see your doctor, take your medicine, do you part.” Isn’t this what David did when he took with him five stones? His faith in God did not negate his own personal preparation and responsibility.
Second, with reference to Daniel’s three friends, “I know God has the power and ability to bring deliverance to me, but even if He chooses not to, let it me known, I will serve and love Him to the end!”
How has your faith in God been lately?
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