Devotionals

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Dear Beloved,

WHEN GOD BECOMES "INACTIVE"

"[God] will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you…. The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore" (Psalm 121:3-8, NIV).

No doubt, the psalmist penned several promises of God's protection and care for His own people. However, there are times when God seems "inactive" - times when it seems He could keep these promises.

The Israelites experienced such times. It was one of their numerous wars with the hostile and domineering Philistines (1 Samuel 4). The Israelites decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant - the symbol of God - to the battleground when the Philistines were gaining the upper hand. It was as if God Himself was present with them in battle when the ark arrived. The Philistines had the same impression when they heard the Israelites' shout of joy to welcome the ark. They were afraid. Nevertheless, the courageous Philistines won the battle and even captured the Ark of the Covenant!

Samson also found himself in similar situation. He had been a threat to the Philistines until one day he found himself in the net of the same Philistines. The Bible records, "Then [Delilah] called, 'Samson, the Philistines are upon you!' [Samson] awoke from his sleep and thought, 'I'll go out as before and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison" (Judges 16:20-21, NIV).

One may wonder what went wrong in the two situations. Could God not save them? Why did He leave them in such critical situations? Why was He "inactive" when it mattered most? The answer is not far-fetched. SIN had separated them from God. Samson flirted with a strange woman against God's will. Even he could not discern the danger that such action depicted for him (Judges 16). Because of the sins of the house of Eli, God decided to punish the Israelites (1 Samuel 2:27-36; 3:11-14).

What could make God to be "inactive" in your life? What could make Him not to be ready to help you? Isaiah declared: "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2, NIV).

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Note:
This message was first posted on Sunday May 2, 2004.

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