01/03/2023 - EXERCISE OF FAITH

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And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” ut he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” Genesis 32.26

When writing the second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul said: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2.15). If Timothy were a sportsman in the lineup for a game, he should present himself in such a way that he would not look bad before the coach. We have to stand before God similarly, ready for His work, after having exercised ourselves in the Word and in prayer (Acts 6.4).

For me, the fact that a man appeared fighting against Jacob, when he was praying to be freed from Esau – who was going to meet him with 400 men – was like an exercise for the patriarch, in order to determine the change of behavior in his brother’s heart. The latter, still in his mother’s womb, had stolen his right to the birthright, being born before him (Genesis 25.24-26). Exercise yourself to overcome your crises and problems!

Upon receiving news of the formation of a confederacy of nations to destroy Judah, King Jehoshaphat realized that, without the Lord’s help, he would not be able to respond to this attack. Only God could do the work. So, the king summoned all the people to Jerusalem. He knew that if the inhabitants of Judah stood firm before God, the Lord Himself would be in charge of giving the rightful answer to the enemies.

The people agreed, went to the city of the great king and gathered there. They were people from all over the nation who joined the king to plead for mercy. Jehoshaphat opened his heart before the Lord, asking for help, and the people agreed in supplication, that they might receive deliverance. In his prayer, the king gave a historical account of what God had accomplished on their behalf and asked that He judge the Moabites, Ammonites and those of Seir, for they had not touched them when they were taking over Canaan (2 Chronicles 20.1-14).

That was a day of great spiritual exercise, when they confessed their sins and their faith in the Almighty. Men, women and children went to Jerusalem. There, the Most High responded in a way they never thought possible. Here are the words of the prophet Jahaziel: “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20.15). They obeyed!

Hezekiah faced one of the greatest trials of his life when he became ill with a serious illness. The prophet Isaiah was called to intercede for him, but when he arrived, the Lord gave him an unpleasant message: In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live’ (Isaiah 38.1).

The king needed to exercise and so he did: Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (Isaiah 38.2,3). Do the same, and you will see that God loves you too. Your faith will show you the way out!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares