When I fear God will be unfaithful, I wonder if I fear what I know of people rather than what I truly know of God. In contemplating this week’s question, I realize sometimes I mistake people’s failure to represent who God is without even realizing the exchange. 

In Scripture, over and over, I see stories of people who choose their way instead of God’s. For example:

• Adam and Eve eat the fruit in the Garden of Eden in Genesis, chapter 3. 
• Abram (Abraham) & Sarai (Sarah) have Ishmael with Sarai’s servant Hagar in Genesis, chapter 16.
• Jacob tricks Isaac to steal Esau’s blessing in Genesis, chapter 27.
• Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery in Genesis, chapter 37. 
• The Israelites build and worship the golden calf in Exodus, chapter 32.
• King David has an affair with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel, chapter 11. 
• King Solomon marries hundreds of wives in the book of 1st Kings.
• The nation of Israel’s failure throughout the Old Testament.  
• The religious leader’s failure in the time of Jesus as witnessed in the Gospels.

There are too many examples to name. If I am not careful, I find myself focusing on the people’s failure in Scripture rather than focusing on God’s faithfulness.

Is this something you do too?

• Adam and Eve do eat the fruit in the Garden of Eden in Genesis, chapter 3, but Jesus saves the world from Adam and Eve’s disobedience by giving His life on the cross. 
• Abram (Abraham) & Sarai (Sarah) do have Ishmael with Sarai’s servant Hagar in Genesis, chapter 16. Still, in Genesis, chapter 21, God gives Abraham and Sarah Isaac even though they are 100 years old at his birth. 
• Jacob does trick Isaac to steal Esau’s blessing in Genesis, chapter 27, but, in Genesis, chapter 32, God helps Jacob realize his sin, and he asks Esau’s forgiveness.
• Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers in Genesis, chapter 37. Still, by God’s Hand, Joseph ends up second in command in Egypt and saves thousands of lives from famine, including his family in Genesis, chapters 41 and 42. 
• The Israelites do build and worship the golden calf in Exodus 32, yet, God gives the Israelites the Promised Land in the book of Joshua. 
• King David does have an affair with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel, chapter 11, but King David and Bathsheba later have Solomon, who God leads to build His temple in 1st Kings, chapter 6. 
• King Solomon does marry hundreds of wives in the book of 1st Kings, but God gives King Solomon wisdom to lead and empowers him to write part of the book of Proverbs.
• The nation of Israel does fail throughout the Old Testament, but God repeatedly restores Israel despite their continued rebellion. 
• The religious leaders do fail in the time of Jesus, but Jesus gives His life and saves for eternity all who believe in Him.

God remains faithful in Scripture despite what people choose to do. For this reason, we must keep trusting Him when people of faith fail today. 

In humility, let’s release our desire for people’s faithfulness to prove the faithfulness of God. I know it is not easy at times, especially when we witness men and women of faith behaving in ways that contradict the Gospel. 

Deuteronomy 32:4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity just and upright is he.”

1 Corinthians 1:9 – “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

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