Category: Old Testament

Utmost Confidence

~ Sowmya Gali

2 Samuel 24: 14

Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

“Catch me, Daddy!” When a child is about to jump off the table, he/she expects daddy to catch – a faith that every child has. A confident trust with which they come into this world, engraved into their DNA. Is it possible to have such faith in our Lord, our Abba Father? In the One who created us?

David committed a grave mistake before God towards the end of his life by counting the number of people in Israel and Judah. Despite his commander of the army, Joab’s advice against such an endeavor, David insisted that the people be counted. Once he received the number of people in his kingdom, David’s heart was troubled within him. He realized his grave mistake and repented before the Lord. God sent a prophet named Gad to David with three different types of punishment in retribution for the sin that David committed. He is allowing David to pick his choice of punishment rather than God decreeing one.

Gad came into David’s presence and informed David these three choices of punishment: seven years of famine in the land, pursuit by enemies for three months or three days of pestilence in the land. When David heard these words, he knew that His merciful Father will forgive Him. So, he chose to fall into the hands of God. God sent a pestilence upon the land in the appointed time and slew seventy thousand men. However, God relented in His great mercy and stopped the destroying angel from further slaughter. David had that absolute confidence in God Almighty.

When we pray, do we truly believe that our prayers are answered? Are we hanging by the thread still attached to the world or in our own abilities? According to Romans 8: 15, we are given the Spirit of sonship and complete access to the throne of God, into the Holiest of Holies through Jesus Christ. How then should our prayers be? We are not bold enough to approach the throne of God with complete confidence in God. When we pray are we portraying ourselves as to be confident, yet doubting?

When we pray, the Holy Spirit reveals to us the promises and blessings of God. Instead of limiting the capabilities of our Heavenly Father, let us have an absolute trust that redemption is complete, and we are His. We are made perfect only through Jesus Christ. Let us launch out into the deep, away from shallow waters. Now that the focus has shifted from me, mine and myself, let us pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…keep on praying for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). Dearly beloved, let us make prayer our lives and our lives a prayer while living in this world that needs God’s powerful influence. Let us launch out in absolute belief in an absolute God while being untethered to anything or anyone else. Let us take the world’s best mode of transportation – a leap of faith, so our lives are in perfect harmony with God’s desires. A leap of such faith that the world will know of our utmost confidence in our absolute God.

Hello, Jesus!

~ Sowmya Gali

Several years ago, I used to teach toddlers in the Sunday School class. During the free play time, after the Bible lesson and craft are done, the kids were allowed to play whatever they choose. One of the boys named Joe picked up a toy telephone from the toy chest. He found a quiet corner. He leaned on his side on the floor and randomly punched in the numbers. I watched him smile as the number buttons made a funny noise when he dialed. However, nothing prepared me for what I overheard next.

“Hello?” He paused.

“Is this Jesus I am talking to?” he asked expectantly.

I saw the smile again when he realized it was Jesus at the other end.

“Hi, Jesus. This is Joe.” He paused for a bit as if waiting for acknowledgment.

“How are you, Jesus?” He paused again.

“I am fine. I am in church now. My friends are here.” Then there was a small giggle.

“Yes. Uh-huh…I will tell.”

“Ok Jesus. I have to go now. I will talk to you soon. Bye.” He hung up but his smile was still there.

If this was how kids thought of talking to Jesus, I wanted to do the same. I am sure whatever conversation Little Joe had with Jesus; he REALLY had a conversation with Jesus. Of all people he could have called, he called Jesus. He spoke to Jesus expecting Jesus to be on the other end of the line to hear what he has to say and listened to what Jesus had to say. The look of satisfaction and the joy with which he had the conversation never left my memory.

Along the way, we grownups have lost that connection with our Lord. We pray but most often not expecting an answer in return and sadly, doubting that our prayers don’t even reach Him. It is time to have child-like faith. When we pray, we are talking to our Heavenly Father just like we talk to our earthly father.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7: 11)

When we ask, we should expect an answer. We have that right as His children. Let us not forget our rightful place and the rights we have as His children. We are heirs in His eternal kingdom. Let us once again establish that direct connection with our Lord so that we can approach Him boldly, whenever, wherever and for whatever. It is our only lifeline that connects us to our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us at the other end always. Let us ask for ears to hear Him speak, a heart to feel His nearness and eyes to see His magnificence and provision. “Hello Jesus. I am here.”