Where does faith begin?

Joshua 6; Psalms 135–136; Isaiah 66; Matthew 14

Joshua was tested. Who in their right mind would think a fortified city could be conquered by marching around it, playing trumpets and shouting? God told them to use this outrageous strategy. They believed God, maybe because He spoke in a prophetic tense meaning it was already accomplished before they even started. Or maybe they believed Him because they realized His faithfulness to His Word. Whatever their thinking, they did it. The inhabitants of the city did not shoot at them. No indication that they laughed either. He and his men marched as told and on the last one, the walls fell flat, the city was taken and everything destroyed.

The psalmists were tested too. They looked back at their history and determined that God was faithful. They could declare, “Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.” (Psalm 135:6) and repeatedly declare, “His steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136) They said it 26 times in 26 verses and gave that many reasons and more.

The prophets were tested too. Isaiah declared the Word of the Lord even though he was told the people would not listen. In the end, the Lord had him say to the people:

“For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me,” says the Lord, “so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 66:22–23)

The disciples were also tested. Could they trust Jesus to feed 5000 plus people with five loaves and two fish? They found out that He could when they gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. (Matthew 14:13-20) Could they believe Jesus could walk on water? Only after seeing Him do it, and invited Peter to join Him. (Matthew 14:22)

In many examples from the Bible, faith is built on seeing God at work yet obedience is there first, which means a measure of faith is there too. Joshua would not have gone forward to march around Jericho if he thought God had no power to make victory happen. The psalmists could not praise God as omnipotent if their faith hadn’t held during the dry spells of uncertainty and unanswered prayer. They would not know His love endured forever if they decided all their blessings were ‘coincidences’ or ‘luck’ or anything other than God showing them His love for them.

The disciples would never have started passing around lunch if they thought they would run out after the first one or two hungry recipients. Peter would never have set one leg over the side of the boat had Jesus not said, “Come” and this man believed he would be safe to do so.

Everyone has faith in many things. The sun comes up in the morning and sets at night. Snow melts in the spring. Babies do not stay in the womb but are born. Even the stove heats when the switch is turned. I learned this from evidence, from hearing and reading. It makes sense that God’s Word says, “Faith comes by hearing” . . . not just being told but reading the information God gives us through the narratives, the worship experiences, the wisdom He gave others who believe, the miracles that Jesus performed — all of it.

I’m thankful that my mother and the created world insisted and keeps on insisting that there is a God and that I listened to both, starting with a little faith. Then I read and read and read without getting it, just putting it in there until that day Jesus walked in and gave me a greater glimpse of who He is, enough to move me to follow Him. My eyes and I-wants tug me away at times, but the more I read, the more I see the wonder of this God who changed my direction and keeps blessing me with a deeper trust in Him.

APPLY: Keep reading His Word. Wallow in it. Soak it up. Listen to it. Love it. Tremble at it. and let God pour truth into me like milk for a baby, water for a wanderer, food for a famished soul. Faith comes by hearing words about Jesus.