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The Bible contains the promises that God made for all of us who are His children. Not only that, the Bible also contains the stories of people who received what God had promised them, simply because they believed in Him. These people serve as both models for us to follow in regards to trusting in God, and as examples that we should imitate for us to receive the promises that God had made.
Here are some Bible figures that will encourage you to, like them, trust God in times of need.
1. David
Some of us remember David as the giant slayer who defeated Goliath. Many remember him as the man after God’s own heart, the sweet psalmist of Israel. One thing that we should also remember is that he was a young, ruddy shepherd who had grown his faith in God even before these things happened. In fact, his experiences in the pasture gave him faith to fight the giant without fear.
In 1 Samuel 17:34-37, we find the young David talking to King Saul about it.
“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.'”
2. Elijah
Many know Elijah as the man who called fire from heaven in a showdown with Baal’s prophets. One of his experiences, as he obeyed God, still encourages us to trust in the Lord to provide all that we will need as we follow and obey Him. 1 Kings 17 shows us how God provided for him as he obeyed.
First, he was fed by ravens, the kind of bird you wouldn’t expect to give a man some food (right?). Then he was commanded to go to a poor widow because that’s where he will be fed. Ironically, the widow was dirt-poor, and was preparing her family’s last meal. God provided for both Elijah and his host at the time.
3. Abraham
Abraham, called the father of faith, was pretty rich. He had herds, flocks, a beautiful wife, and a lot more possessions with him. Some will think that he won’t need anything, but in reality he had a real dilemma. Genesis 15:1-6 gives us the account of how troubled Abram was, and how compassionate and loving God is.
“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:2-6)
Of course we all know that God gave him a flesh-and-blood son in his old age, the one whom He promised: Isaac (see Genesis 21:1-6).
