- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 18,404
The 'water test'
'...bring them down to the water, and I will test them...' Judges 7:4
Are you a nurturer by nature, somebody who will spend hour after hour, day after day, week after week trying to help your mates overcome their issues? If so you'll know that it can be frustrating, very often one step forwards two steps back! God loves that kind of faithfulness but be careful; He doesn't need you to do His job for Him, you need to know where your work ends and His work starts!
Gideon was surrounded by too many people and lots of them were in the 'high maintenance' category! Through a series of tests God showed Gideon who he should keep with him and who he should send home.
During the first test, the 'fear test' Gideon lost 22,000 men, leaving only 10,000. Next was the 'water test' to 'Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink' (v5). Only 300 soldiers passed the test!
We learn two lessons from this story:
1) you need to be able to see your enemy approaching. Those who got down to drink like dogs, sacrificed their vision to satisfy their immediate need
2) when God reduces your support, it's in order to give you a miraculous victory. So when the people around you can't pass God's 'water test,' let them go and trust God. He has something better in mind.
written by Bob Gass
'...bring them down to the water, and I will test them...' Judges 7:4
Are you a nurturer by nature, somebody who will spend hour after hour, day after day, week after week trying to help your mates overcome their issues? If so you'll know that it can be frustrating, very often one step forwards two steps back! God loves that kind of faithfulness but be careful; He doesn't need you to do His job for Him, you need to know where your work ends and His work starts!
Gideon was surrounded by too many people and lots of them were in the 'high maintenance' category! Through a series of tests God showed Gideon who he should keep with him and who he should send home.
During the first test, the 'fear test' Gideon lost 22,000 men, leaving only 10,000. Next was the 'water test' to 'Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink' (v5). Only 300 soldiers passed the test!
We learn two lessons from this story:
1) you need to be able to see your enemy approaching. Those who got down to drink like dogs, sacrificed their vision to satisfy their immediate need
2) when God reduces your support, it's in order to give you a miraculous victory. So when the people around you can't pass God's 'water test,' let them go and trust God. He has something better in mind.
written by Bob Gass
