One time when I was high up a mountain in Norway, God chose to rescue me from an untimely death. At the time it felt anything but pleasant, but God knew that I was in spiritual bondage and that I needed to be saved—largely from myself. He was aware that I was spiritually dead and needed to wake up to my predicament. So he sent a series of extremely uncomfortable events my way in order that I might see what I truly needed—Him!
Samson was often impulsive and impetuous. Yet God used his character, complete with its flaws, to rescue Israel from her spiritual death. The strong man did some dubious deeds in order to bring out the fierce hatred and retribution of Israel’s enemy, the Philistines (Judges 15:5,8). By his actions, he orchestrated a confrontation that Israel didn’t want (Judges 15:10-11). But God wanted to bring His people out from under the oppression of the Philistines, even though they resisted His way of rescue. They were content to be ruled over (Judges 15:11).
God rescued His disobedient people by using a man who was powerful, yet flawed. He used Samson to rescue His people from their oppressed state, and they hated the strong man for it. They even tied him up and brought him to the Philistines! (Judges 15:12).
Sometimes God allows us to go through tough times in order to wake us up. When our spiritual discernment is low, and perhaps we’ve gone cold in our relationship with Him, God sometimes uses alarming circumstances or uncomfortable situations to bring us back to life.
Will you try to make these opportunities go away, as the people of Judah did, or will you embrace them as a loving wakeup call from your Creator? He wants you to experience life in Him to the fullest!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
More:
Read Isaiah 52:1-12 and see what God said to His people and what He promised to do for them.
Next:
What wakeup call do you need to accept from God? How does it make you feel to know that God’s love won’t permit you to remain in complacency?
nattykins on March 26, 2015 at 8:00 am
Thank you for another great devotional. This is true for so many of us, including myself. As I mentioned before in a different post, I’m in the process of trying to go back to Nursing school and during this process I’ve been doubting myself and my abilities to do it, as well as worrying about the financial burden of it. Through this process however, I realized, I’m trying to do things myself instead of relying on God. Although alot of us wishes we could skip the crappy trials we go through, I know it is necessary so God can get our attention. Thank you again and thank you Lord for your love and mercy and for never giving up on us. God Bless. 🙂
russell fralick on March 26, 2015 at 1:16 pm
I find when I am in a trial that Philippians 4:13 is a great help: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. This means 2 things to me. Firstly, whenever I am claiming to be defeated or think I can’t go any further, I must be working in my own strength, not His. Secondly, if I am working in His Spirit, then I simply cannot be defeated. I need to remind myself of these truths quite regularly! Glad you were encouraged by the post.
Tom Felten on March 26, 2015 at 8:52 am
I’m reminded of how King David received a wake-up call from God through the prophet Nathan. He then humbled himself before his Creator. Russell, thanks for this reminder to approach God with a humble heart after He reveals something we need to do or change.
russell fralick on March 26, 2015 at 1:21 pm
That’s right Tom. It is so interesting and sobering to see David’s response when challenged, compared with Saul’s when he was challenged by Samuel over his decision not to slaughter all the Amalekites as he was instructed to do. The humility and repentance of David contrasting so vividly with the arguing, excusing and self-righteous false humility of Saul. I like to think I would always default to a David-like response, but I am aware that Saul can lurk within me sometimes, desperate to wriggle out of my conviction! May God keep me humble and contrite always.
LCC on March 27, 2015 at 4:44 am
Indeed our God is our Abba Father who will do anything to save us, His children from hurting ourselves to destruction.