Our Faith, Precious to God

Bible Reading

• Psalm 105
• Isaiah 14:24-27
• Isaiah 45:7

Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 105 is one of my favorite Psalms because it gives a little glimpse behind the scenes of what God was doing. We read the account in Genesis of the life of Joseph and his brothers, the plight of the people of Israel, and all that happened to get them to the promised land, and it shows us the power of God. But, what did those experiences mean for the individuals at that time, particularly Joseph?

Romans 9:17 says, “For the Scripture says to Pharoah, I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth!” But, while God was making his point with Pharoah, what was happening to the people of Israel?

Isaiah 45:7 reminds us that God “forms light and creates darkness. God makes well-being and creates calamity.” God is the one who does all these things. In Genesis 41:54 a famine lavished the land of Egypt and Canaan. Jacob and his family were close to starvation. Yet we learn from in Psalm 105:16 that it was God who sent the famine! Does that make God a mean ogre, out to make life difficult for his followers?

Isaiah 14:24 and 27 says, “The Lord of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand, For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched out hand, who can turn it back?

So, what does God intend? What has God planned for us? 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come SO THAT YOUR FAITH of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, MAY BE PROVED GENUINE (found to be strong, holding up against the fierce trial) and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus comes.”

I love what Job said in the middle of his trials. While he was debating with God and processing things with his friends, he said, “He knows the way that I take, and when he has tested (tried and proven) me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10) That’s exactly what happened with Job. We learn from what he says in Job 42:5 that he recognized that before this experience, his understanding and relationship with God was nothing more than hearing about it. But, because of going through the fire, and being tested, proven, like gold, he was now really seeing God like he had never before.

The growth of our faith is more precious to God than anything else. He longs for us to know his love and his power and come to the place of unhindered peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:7). But, he knows that the only way we will get there is by going through deep waters!

What an incredible God we serve. “How good is the God we adore, Our faithful, unchangeable Friend! His love is as great as His power, And neither knows measure nor end.” (Hymn – The God We Adore)