The Trust Test

By Dr. M. DeWayne Anderson in Living in Christ's Victory

The Trust Test

Although God brought Abraham’s descendants out of Egypt with many signs, wonders and miracles, they had to learn to trust Him. They were under His providential care, but they still had many doubts and fears. When they arrived at the Red Sea, everything looked very bleak. They were certain that they were going to be captured and taken back into slavery in Egypt. When God opened up a way across the Red Sea, they all rejoiced, sang and danced before the Lord. Then they entered into a time when their trust in God was tested. They recognized that God had brought them out, but they were not sure that He was able to do everything that Moses was saying. They had heard from their ancestors that God would give them a Promised Land, but when things did not go the way they anticipated, they were filled with doubt, fear and distrust. They did not know that God was able to do what He promised. They did not trust the Lord their God with all of their heart, mind and soul. Although they were walking under the cloud of His presence, they did not have assurance in God’s truthfulness, righteousness, goodness, mercy, grace and salvation.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…

Everyone needs to hear this word from the LORD. God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the action that He is prepared to take.

Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

Abraham’s descendants would have been helped if they would have believed that God was going to finish what He started. God carefully watches over His word and is ready to make it happen. For that reason we need to pay attention to the things that God has said. From God’s inspired Word we gain confidence and faith that God will do what He said He would do. It will boost your faith when you begin to see what God has done for those to whom He has made promises. Solomon reminded us of God’s faithfulness when he stood before the altar of the Lord at the newly constructed temple and spoke about God’s faithfulness.

1 Kings 8:56 NKJV Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.

While in the wilderness, they were not sure that God was able to accomplish what He promised.

God brought them across the Red Sea to the base of Mount Sinai where the ground shook when He revealed His glory and gave His law. He spoke to them from the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud. He supplied manna from heaven to feed them all. After they left Mount Sinai, God sent twelve men to spy out the Land of Promise. It indeed was a land of plenty. After forty days when they returned, they had mixed reports. On one side they said the land was exactly what God had promised, but ten of them were overwhelmed by the giants and walled cities. They said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” They forgot that almighty God promised to give them the land. Joshua and Caleb attempted to quiet the fears of the people.

Numbers 14:7 NKJV They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.

Numbers 14:8 NKJV If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’

Numbers 14:9 NKJV Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”

When Joshua and Caleb said this, the whole congregation was ready to stone them with stones. When the people failed to trust God, the LORD was ready to destroy them. God said, “they have seen my glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness.” God said “As surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of them shall enter the promised land.” “They have continued to disobey me and have tested ten times — and treated Me with contempt.” As a result of their rebellion and failure to trust in the LORD their God, they all died in the wilderness.

What happened to those who passed the trust test?

King Solomon gave a report that brings assurance and a sure anchor for our soul.

When Solomon was considering all of God’s promises, he said, “Not one word has failed.” This gives us assurance and confidence. We can absolutely trust in God’s veracity and faithfulness. God does not lie and everything He has promised will come to pass. Our assurance is linked to God’s sovereign power, wisdom, and knowledge. In every aspect of God’s character and nature, the believer finds security and assurance. Since God does not change, we can rest assured. God is faithful to His promises. Everyone of you who believe will face the trust test. Abraham and Sarah believed God would bless them with a son. They held firm in the faith until Isaac was given.

Romans 4:19 NKJV And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

Romans 4:20-21 NKJV He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

You can be fully convinced that God is able to do everything that He has promised.

Nothing that Pharaoh or the Egyptians could do was able to stop God from bringing His people out. The Red Sea was not greater than the LORD God. God was not diminished by the impossibilities that lay before them. God made a way where there was no way and the multitude of Israel crossed over on dry ground, but the Egyptians perished in the sea. God took extra-ordinary steps to give Jericho into Joshua’s hand.

You need to know the nature and character of the God that you serve.

Our God is Faithful — He will do whatever He has promised to do.
Our God is Mighty — there is nothing that you can face that is greater than Him.
Our God is Able — He can do anything.
He is Reliable — He always helps in times of need.
He never fails.
He is Righteous, Good, and Kind.
The Lord is Merciful and Loving.

God still knows the way through the wilderness. He knows how to supply for your need when you are hungry and thirsty. He is stronger than any giant you are facing. He is bigger than anything that is standing in your way. He is mightier than the armies of the enemy that are encamped around your home. He is able to divide the waters that hinder your progress.

Don’t fail the trust test!

God will take extra-ordinary steps to fulfill His promise.

Consider the fact that God sent His Son into the world to secure your salvation. He has made it possible for you to experience His best in your life. If you need a miracle, God is a miracle-working God. Your healing was purchased by the stripes on Jesus’ back. He will give you beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, (Isaiah 61:3). He will restore what has been broken and raise you up in victory.

In the glory of the Lord you will boast and rejoice in the goodness of our God.

God will hasten His word to perform it. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will guide you on the right path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)