Imagine with me a world where trust does not exist. You would never get out of bed in the morning because the floor could give out from underneath you. You would never drive your car because it might fall apart in the middle of your ride. These, and so many other aspects of your life, would cease to happen.
These are some silly examples to show that trust is foundational in our lives. I have trust that the very chair I am sitting in will support me as I write. Similarly, as children, we put trust in our parents every single day. We trust that they will provide and care for us.
The question is, why? Why do I trust this chair? Why do I trust my parents to provide for and care for me? The answer is quite simple. History supports my decision to trust. I have sat in this chair many times, and it has never once failed me. Likewise, my parents have given me proof that they will provide for and care for me.
God does the same thing for us in His Word. Throughout the biblical narrative, we see God working in the lives of His people so that we may have every reason to trust Him. As we reflect on God’s mighty acts of power in the Old Testament, I encourage you to take a step back and look at where in your life God has worked.
When thinking of God’s faithfulness and mighty acts of power, one story in particular comes to my mind: the Red Sea crossing. This event is foundational for the trust that the Israelites hold. In Exodus 6, God stated that He would deliver the people from Egypt because He remembered His covenant with Abraham. However, things took a dark turn as they were leaving. The Israelites stood on the shores of the Red Sea. They faced death from Pharaoh’s army behind them and the waters right in front of them. Despite this, Moses’ words to the people brought them peace. “The Lord will fight for you, you have only to be silent’” (Exodus 14:14).
In the midst of great turmoil, Moses’ call for trust seemed almost unexpected. Yet Yahweh remained faithful and gave the Israelites every reason to trust Him. Indeed, the Lord did fight for them as they were delivered from the hand of Pharaoh. God’s promise to lead them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land was fulfilled, and it all started with the Red Sea crossing. This event is the foundation for the Israelites’ trust going forward.
This, along with the Davidic covenant in
II Samuel 7, is the instance of trust reflected most in the Psalms. It shows God’s faithfulness to His people and to His covenants. With these stories in mind, our foundation for trusting the Lord has been laid. Now, we can look to the hundreds of other promises in Scripture and apply them to our lives. Just like the chair or my parents, the history of God’s mighty acts points to our reason to trust Him.
In the darkest, most tumultuous moments of our lives, the faithfulness of Yahweh shines like a beacon of hope. David writes in Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” This verse, paired with the story of the Red Sea crossing, shows us that we have a God worth trusting.
Max Larson [FLBC sophomore] is a member of Ebenezer Lutheran, Northwood, N.D.
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