The Right Basis for Confidence

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 17, 1907

The Right Basis for Confidence

The promises of God, and not the outward appearances, furnish the right basis for confidence in the work of God. The man of faith has learned with faithful Abraham that what God has promised, that he is able also to perform, and he rests upon the unchangeable Word.

But this very faith makes it necessary to know exactly what God has promised, in order that one may not be led to build his hope upon a false foundation. We can maintain our confidence even against appearances, if we have a definite “Thus saith the Lord” upon which to fall back, but no merely human enthusiasm will long stand against the logic of adverse circumstances.

Joshua could march around Jericho for a whole week without the least outward appearance that the city would be overthrown, because the Lord had said unto him, “I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.” He permitted God to fulfil his promise in his own way, and he implicitly obeyed instructions which would seem utterly foolish to a general who followed the accepted methods of warfare. The results showed the soundness of his policy.

To Gideon the Lord said, “Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of the Midian: have not I sent thee? . . . Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.” Depending upon this promise and following the instructions given him how to order the battle, “Gideon and the three hundred men that were with him came unto the uttermost part of the camp . . . and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. . . . And they cried, The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon.” “And Jehovah set every man’s sword against his fellow, and against all the host.” Thus did three hundred men of faith under Gideon’s leadership gain a signal victory over their enemies who “came in as locusts for multitude.”

The lesson applies to-day. We must settle it in our hearts that the clear statements of the Word of God are the sufficient answer to all unfavorable circumstances, and that appearances do not count for or against the promises of our great Leader, “for he is faithful that promised.”

“Standing on the promises that can not fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.”