Trusting God
An all-creatures Bible Message

Trusting God
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
9 July 2017
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

Genesis 24:28-33
Psalm 45:10-17
Psalm 112:7-10
Philippians 1:14

Trusting God is something we all need to do, but unfortunately most people don’t really do it.
 
Sometimes people are not trusting God because they get impatient waiting for God to respond.
 
Some answers may come quickly but others may take months or even years until God fully answers.
 
As an example, we have been praying daily for God to help us improve our ministry to be more effective in ending the suffering and exploitation of animals, and overcoming the indifference to suffering, the corruption, and injustice in the world around us, and except for dribs and drabs, it still hasn’t happened, but we are still trusting God for it to happen, and in the meantime, we are doing everything we can think of to help it to happen.
 
As another example, when we started our ministry over 30 years ago, relatively few people knew what “vegan” meant; today it has become mainstream with most people knowing what it means.
 
Some progress is being made, but billions of animals are still suffering and dying every week, so we are still trusting God and working for the day when the whole of God’s creation is freed from the corruption it has been subjected to.
 
In Genesis 24 we are told the story about Abraham sending his servant to his relatives’ home to get a wife for his son, Isaac, because he didn’t want Isaac to have a wife from among the people who lived in Canaan.
 
The servant went as he was instructed, trusting God, and through God, Rebekah responded exactly in the way the servant needed to hear so that he would know that her answer was from God.
 
Let’s pick up the story at Genesis 24:28-33, and see the results of people truly trusting God.

28. Then the girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.

Rebekah realized that her encounter was more than just a casual encounter with Abraham’s servant.

29. Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring.
 
30. And it came about that when he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

Now Laban was also trusting God, because of what he heard and saw, which is something for us to remember when we are talking to others about the creation and heavenly will of God.
 
They need to hear and see what we are saying is alive in our own lives, and that we actually live the way we speak.
 
This is the best way to get others to believe and begin trusting God.

31. And he said, "Come in, blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?"
 
32. So the man entered the house. Then Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

This is further proof that Laban was trusting God.
 
If we place more faith in trusting God, we would all be more successful in freeing creation from its present corruption.

33. But when food was set before him to eat, he said, "I will not eat until I have told my business." And he said, "Speak on."
NASB

Laban wants his whole family to hear more from Abraham’s servant, and as a result Rebekah decides to go with him and become the wife of Isaac for she continues to be trusting God, just as we all should.
 
Let’s now take a look at Psalm 45:10-17, which seems to have a parallel theme to the Genesis passage that we just looked at, and in which we can see more evidence of people trusting God.
 
And remember that today, because of Jesus’ teaching, we should be trusting God even more.

10. Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear;
Forget your people and your father's house;

This is what Rebekah had to do, but in a way this is telling us to leave the things that are ungodly, and go forth trusting God.

11. Then the King will desire your beauty;
Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him.

Notice that both the word King and the word Lord are capitalized; this means that the passage is referring to God, and it is the Lord that looks upon people living in His heavenly will as being beautiful, for they have turned away from the evil in the world around us.

12. And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift;
The rich among the people will entreat your favor.

Because the children of God are openly living in His heavenly will, some of the corrupt people will see the truth, and want to become a part of it.

13. The King's daughter is all glorious within;
Her clothing is interwoven with gold.

The children of God are not interested in the riches of this world, they are interested in trusting God and His word and, as a result, their clothing appears to God as being woven with gold.

14. She will be led to the King in embroidered work;
The virgins, her companions who follow her,
Will be brought to Thee.

All who are truly trusting God and living in His heavenly will, will be drawn to the Lord, adorned with His love.

15. They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing;
They will enter into the King's palace.
 
16. In place of your fathers will be your sons;
You shall make them princes in all the earth.

The offspring of the children of God will also be welcomed into the kingdom of God, because they are being brought up in God’s heavenly will.

17. I will cause Thy name to be remembered in all generations;
Therefore the peoples will give Thee thanks forever and ever.
NASB

And people throughout history will learn who they are; the people who are trusting God in every aspect of their lives, and giving thanks for all that the Lord as done for them.
 
Let’s now take a look at Psalm 112:7-10…

7. He will not fear evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

If we are living in the heavenly will of God, and truly trusting God for every aspect of our lives, we will not fear the evil ways of this world, including peer pressure that worldly family members, friends, and others bring upon us.

8. His heart is upheld, he will not fear,
Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.

Such people do whatever the Lord desires them to do.

9. He has given freely to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted in honor.
 
10. The wicked will see it and be vexed;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked will perish.
NASB

And because of the way the children of God live before others here on earth, the worldly people will be angry and may even want to become violent, but their efforts will fail.
 
All who are trusting God will succeed.
 
Finally, let’s take a look at what Paul wrote from prison about trusting God in Philippians 1:14…

14. and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
NASB

Why?
 
Because they see Paul’s faith, even while being persecuted, and are encouraged by it to live in the same way trusting God without fear, even the fear of being persecuted themselves.
 
We can live in the heavenly will of God.
 
We should be trusting God, shouldn’t we?
 
Then we need to live like we believe.
 
Amen?
 
Amen.

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