REASONING WITH GOD DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE A LACK OF FAITH – Judges 16:18
Judges 16:18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
Samson had just killed 1,000 men with the jawbone of an ass. Samson gave credit to God for his deliverance from the enemies. Now Samson uses this deliverance as a reason why God cannot allow him to die of thirst. Samson understood that God’s power through Samson was spreading as a result of his resent victory. If Samson became weak because of thirst and was captured, all the good that Samson had completed for God’s kingdom with his great victory would have been diminished. The heathen would have seen God only as a God of war.
Samson reasoned with God and gave God a reason why HE needed to provide Samson with water. Samson did not just make a request for water, but showed God why HIS reputation was on the line. God heard Samson’s request and brought water out of the jawbone. The same jawbone that killed 1,000 men provided substance for one man to live. God responded to Samson’s prayer in such a way that Samson knew it was God who gave him his strength and it was God who would provide for his needs.
A good mother does not give her child a cleaning assignment absent knowing that the proper supplies are available to do the job. The child may not be able to reach the proper tools and may have to come back and ask their mother for help. The mother will not be angry with her child for asking for help in obtaining the proper tools if it is something that was out of reach of the child.
So likewise, God has given you certain responsibilities. When something happens that is beyond your control, God does not hold it against you that you ask HIM to help you. God desires to hear you call upon HIM. God yearns for you to keep in communication with HIM. God does not consider it a lack of faith for you to ask HIM for something that you need even though HE just demonstrated HIS strength in your life in a different matter. God desires to be apart of every aspect of your life. HE desires that you turn to HIM regardless of the size of your problem.
God gave Samson deliverance from HIS enemies and God gave him water to sustain him. Samson understood that God had a purpose on his life and he did serve the Lord by judging Israel for 20 years. Samson did have a weakness in the area of lust. Samson’s weakness does not appear to be something that Samson requested God to help him escape. Samson would have done well to rely upon God in all areas of his life.
God understands that you are human. God knows that you cannot see how HE plans to help you overcome your current trial. Your trial is an opportunity for you to draw near unto God. You need to recognize that the same God who can deliver you from one thing is the same God who can deliver you from another trial. When you have seen God’s power in one area of your life, you can demonstrate your faith by acknowledging God’s power to deliver you from a trial that is new and different. You demonstrate a lack of faith in God when you do not believe that God can deliver you. You have a trial, demonstrate your faith and reason with God and cry out to HIM for deliverance.