#122: Has God Failed You?

I knew that God’s fingerprints were all over where I was. He had undeniably led me to this place and had given me a task to complete. It was going to be difficult. I had to put in considerable time, effort, and preparation for it to be a success, but I knew that I had God’s help and blessing. The day finally came for my preparation to be put to the test. I prayed and knew people were praying for me. I did everything possible and devoted full concentration, and it was a failure. I was so disappointed and my heart sunk and the tears flowed. My mind went back to where I knew that it God’s direction that had led me down this path. I had put in the time to prepare. Why had I failed? Had God failed me? Did he lead me down a path knowing that I would not succeed?

When I read the passages listed above, a theme emerged that helped me have a greater understanding of my situation. In Judges 20, A group of men from the town of Gibeah had raped and killed a woman that was passing through the town. When the town leaders were confronted with the situation, they refused to give the offenders over to those seeking justice.

Judges 20:4-5 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

In pure disdain for this action, the children of Israel rallied together, gathered a troop of 400,000 men to come out against the people and the sin in Gibeah. The Israelites went to Lord and asked counsel of God, and he said go.

Judges 20:18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.

They approached the battle with preparation and confidence. In amazement, they failed and lost 22,000 men.

Shocked and discouraged, the people of Israel wept before the Lord, encouraged themselves and went before the Lord to seek direction again. And the Lord said go.

Judges 20:22-23 And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

Israel went a second time against Gibeah, and this time Israel failed again and lost 18,000 men. Can you image the discouragement and frustration they were feeling? They had prepared, they had sought direction, they had fought hard and they failed.

A weak and defeated Israel went before the Lord the third time.

Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Judges 20:28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

The Lord said go, again. For the third time, Israel went into battle. This time, Israel’s plan of attack and strategy emerged and they were able to defeat Gibeah.

Why did Israel have to fail twice? Did God set them up to fail? Did God forget to help? They were the good guys fighting evil. They had prayed for direction. God said to go and so they went. Isn’t this a recipe for success? Why was a failure the result?

Has God ever told you to do something and it turned out bad? If this has ever happened to you, you might have asked, “Why?” For Israel, there is no apparent reason given in scripture why they needed to fail, but maybe other parts of scripture can give some understanding of why this might have happened in your life and in mine.

When you are experiencing failure, you have to keep in mind that God is God. He has not forgotten you and he is still a part of your battle, even in failure.

Psalms 104:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

What God does with your life and in your life may not make sense. You might feel forsaken in the failure but you must try to encourage yourself. Even remembering God’s mercy, you might still say, “I know God’s promise to never leave me or forsake me, but why am I left in this situation?”

Sometimes these questions go unanswered. You may never find the answer to this question, so the only thing you can do is get closer to God, press in and beg for his wisdom.

Proverbs 2:2-3 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

You may not know the answer until you get to Heaven why failure was the result. But God is God and he is good.

Paul experienced difficulty and was left to struggle. Paul was good, he labored for the Lord Jesus, he sought the Lord for healing and the answer was “No”. God did not take away an infirmity but left Paul to be afflicted. The answer he received was, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Could this be the answer to, “Why did I fail?”

2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In part, this might be a reason we might fail. God’s grace is sufficient for you and his strength is made evident through your failure. Others around you get to see the evidence of God’s strength when you rise up and try again. After failure, if you don’t rise up and try again, God’s strength will not be evident to those around you. Rise up and fight again!

When you are strong and able, God’s strength gets shrouded in your accomplishment and will not be evident to others. They see your strength and admire your ability. But in your weakness, in your loss, in your failure, and infirmity God does great things through you that is undeniably God’s intervention. No one could reason that it was done through your ability; it is evident that God was present in your weakness.

Maybe that is why Israel lost two times. They started out strong with 400,000 men. They were seeking the Lord and going in his power, but to the on-looker, the credit would have been given to their strength in numbers.

Twice defeated and reduced in number. They continued to return and any observer could recognize that there was divine power behind their efforts. Glory to God.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

God might just leave you in a state of weakness or allow you to fail so that his power and presence will be evident to others when you rise up and fight again, and one might be saved from hell because she saw God in your life. That makes your suffering and failure worth it. Don’t you think?

Have a Conversation with Your Lord

Lord, has there been I time when I sought your direction, thought I had received it and then failed?

Lord, after a failure, what do I do? Do I rise up again, or do I quit?

Lord, how can I make your strength more evident through my failures and weaknesses?

Lord, thank you for your direction and strength. I can experience your mercy and strength even in my failure. May others see you through me…