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Although the Israelites were God's chosen people, their actions, beliefs, and words often fell short of this prestigious status He graciously gave them. When reading the Bible's accounts of these failures, it can be tempting for us to point out the extremity of their rebellion and faithlessness while seeing ourselves as less sinful or foolish than them. However, Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11 firmly remind us that their sins were recorded for our instruction and as reminders of our vulnerability to the same sinful attitudes they harbored.
This need for instruction and remembrance is especially important in where we place our trust. As the Israelites were thoroughly aware, trusting in God is far more difficult when serious circumstances arise. While many of them failed in this regard by trusting in others and themselves, certain men and women in the Bible successfully rose to the challenge, wholeheartedly placed their trust in God, and witnessed Him prevail in even their bleakest moments. All these accounts, both positive and negative, serve to demonstrate the importance of placing our trust in God rather than others or ourselves.
Among the most tragic examples of trusting in others instead of God is recorded in 2 Kings 17. Here, King Hoshea was under the stern control of the Assyrians, who were heavily taxing him and occupying much of Israel's land. Because the king despised the situation he and his nation were in, he desperately sought liberation from his enemies. However, instead of leading the nation to turn in faith and repentance to God, he sought help from the pagan Egyptians. Due to his faithless actions and the great sin of his people, God allowed the Assyrians to imprison him and permanently destroy the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Although we may not experience consequences quite as severe as Hoshea, trusting others over God in any circumstance profits us nothing. Specifically, failure, unmet needs, and destruction come with placing our faith and dependence in other people, the government, social movements, godless ideologies, or anything else besides God. Such is why Jeremiah 17:5-6 says, "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come." Thus, no matter the circumstances we face, we are always best to trust in God rather than seek help and providence in that which is of man.
However, King Saul's account in 1 Samuel 13 demonstrates how equally foolish it is to trust in ourselves instead of God. In this passage, Saul and his army were in a perilous position in battle against the Philistines. He was previously instructed by Samuel to wait for him to come offer a sacrifice to God and share His guidance. However, when his men began deserting him, he gave in to impatience and faithlessly offered the sacrifice himself. Despite Samuel severely rebuking him and God promising to replace him as king, Saul's heart unfortunately never changed. Instead, he spent the rest of his life repeatedly believing his way was better than God's, leading a self-destructive lifestyle that eventually resulted in the demise of himself, his son, and his royal lineage.
Like Saul, we can bring severe destruction in our lives and those of others by trusting in ourselves rather than God. Specifically, lost opportunities, a prideful heart, immoral behavior, and even bodily injury are among the fruits of prioritizing our own wisdom, strength, and ways over God's. Such is why Proverbs 3:5-6 warn us to not rely on our own understanding instead of His. Thus, circumstances are best faced by trusting in the perfect, omnipotent, and omniscient Creator of all things rather than our limited strength, finite wisdom, and foolish decisions.
Contrasting the immense destruction and severe consequences of the previous two accounts is how 2 Chronicles 20 showcases the perfect providence and immeasurable blessings that come from trusting God. In this passage, King Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah were in grave danger from not one, but three incoming armies. Unlike Hoshea and Saul, Jehoshaphat refused to trust in others or himself; rather, he called all of Judah to turn to God in fasting and prayer. Furthermore, in fervent supplication he acknowledged God's sovereignty and their powerlessness in the situation. In addition, when God required them to not fight to receive victory, Jehoshaphat refused to give into his circumstances and faithfully obeyed. Because of his obedience and immense faith in God, the Lord miraculously caused all three armies to destroy one another, delivering His people without them having to lift a single sword.
Thankfully, the same God who simultaneously defeated three colossal armies is the same One we can trust in during perilous times. When we place our trust in Him rather than others or ourselves, we experience the peaceful, fulfilling, and fruitful life that Psalm 1 describes. Specifically, like the tree deeply rooted in the soil, so are we rooted in God through faith, providing us an unshakable foundation in times of trouble. Also, like the tree receiving all it needs from the soil and the streams it is planted by, so do we depend on the Father's perfect providence to care for all our needs. In addition, the tree's fruitfulness represents the spiritual fruit, good works, and saved souls we will bear through Him in His perfect timing. Finally, like the tree withstanding the wind in contrast to the chaff, so will we stand firm in life's storms through His protection, guidance, and strength. Thus, trusting in God during all circumstances allows us to not only survive in them, but also thrive through Him.
As the Bible's accounts of the Israelites clearly demonstrate, every trial and temptation represents a test of where our trust truly lies. The choice we make in these circumstances can mean the difference between tremendous victory and unspeakable destruction. We can either be like Hoshea and Saul and be driven away like dry, feeble chaff, or follow Jehoshaphat's example and yield in faith to God, planting deep roots of faith in Him and receiving the providence and fruitfulness necessary to not only survive, but thrive in our storms.
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