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Where Is God in Conflict?

Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” PSALM 42:3 NLT

Where is God when you have conflict…

God is present even in what’s been kept secret

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” JOSHUA 2:1-3 ESV

God is present in what you intentionally hide

Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. PSALM 44:21 ESV

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. PSALM 90:8 NIV

…according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. ROMANS 2:16 ESV

God is present to what’s currently hidden from you

 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. PSALM 51:6 ESV

…Your real life is hidden with Christ in God. COLOSSIANS 3:3 NLT

There are things about you only God knows.

God is working for truth in the midst of lies

But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. JOSHUA 2:4-7 ESV

Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. COLOSSIANS 3:9-10 NLT

God is softening the heart of my enemy

Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” JOSHUA 2:8-14 ESV

God is working in the heart of your enemy, is he working in yours?

Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts. HEBREWS 3:15 NLT

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you!” MATTHEW 5:43-44 NLT

God is looking for a sign of personal surrender

Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. JOSHUA 2:15-21 ESV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” MATTHEW 16:24 NLT 

Jesus has raised his scarlet flag; will you wave your white one?

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Get away to a quiet place to meet with God; spend time resting in the fact that he longs to meet with you and hear from you. Begin your time by asking God to search your heart to reveal anything hidden in the secret places - places that may be buried so deep that even you are unaware of them. As things begin to surface - perhaps behaviors you have justified or maybe anger that’s been hidden, be on guard to not push those things back down, but rather, invite God into those places as they are revealed. Visualize bringing these before God, asking him to show you his truth about you. Thank God for showing you these unhealthy places in your heart, and then release them to God, asking him for healing. Now examine how these hidden places have affected your relationships. Are there people you need to talk with to bring about repair? Ask God for the courage and the faith to take any necessary steps to repair those relationships. Close your time with God by thanking him for the freedom he offers as you surrender these areas over to him.

Discussion Questions

  1. Whether through worship, Bible reading or your community, what is one thing you feel God is saying to you this week?
  2. Read Psalm 42:3. When was the last time you can remember wondering where God was in a conflict or problem and what did you learn about him or yourself as a result?
  3. Read Psalm 44:21. Even though God knows everything about us, what is one thing about you that you wish you could hide from God and why?
  4. Read Colossians 3:9-10. When have you told a lie, or omitted all of the truth, to this group and what overpowered your willingness to tell the truth?
  5. Read Matthew 5:43-44. What are some of the practical steps you take to overcome your initial desire to hurt your enemies and instead love and pray for them?
  6. Read Matthew 16:24. What specific thing do you believe Jesus is calling you to surrender to him in this season and what do you need to do about it?