The VALUE of ‘FASTING’ during our ‘TROUBLES’!
The VALUE of ‘FASTING’ during our ‘TROUBLES’!
Then
all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the
house of God and wept. They sat there
before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. So the children of Israel
inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
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
my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?" And the Lord said, "Go up,
for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand." (Judges 20:26-28)
This fasting incident took place not long
after the death of Joshua and his generation, for Phinehas was the high priest in
those days (v. 28). The tribe of Benjamin had only 26,700 soldiers, against 400,000
from all the other tribes of Israel (vv. 15–17). However, in the first battle the
tribe of Benjamin killed about 22,000 Israelite men (vv. 18–21). In the second battle,
again about 18,000 Israelite men were
killed (vv. 22–25). The reason why the other tribes of Israel could not be
victorious was because they were not walking
close to Jehovah!
So, the
Israelites were forced to humble themselves
before God through fasting until finally success was promised. The
situation called for a day of fasting and weeping, as the people cried out to
the Lord for mercy and wisdom (v. 26). They implored the favor of God by offering
burnt-offerings and peace-offerings to make atonement for their sin and to acknowledge
their dependence upon God. This time the Lord promised them success (vv. 26–28).
It was only after Israel recognized that
the battle was not theirs but the Lord’s that they were able to prevail.
We too
cannot expect the presence of God with us, unless we thus seek it in the way God
has appointed. When we operate on the basis of human wisdom, we create one problem
after another, but when we pause to pray and seek the mind of the Lord, He
shows us what to do. Fasting is a means
toward spiritual focus by concentrating on God through soul searching rather
than on food and other personal needs!
Let us
understand that there is a great value
in fasting during our troubles. Fasting must center on God alone as our eyes
are fixed on Him. As we spend our time on fasting and inner reflection, it will
reveal the things that really control
us. We would truly be sustained by the word of God (Matt. 4:4) as we fast in
His presence. Fasting will help us keep our balance in life as we afflict
ourselves before God (Psalms 35:13). Fasting is a discipline that will
ultimately give us true freedom, and
our prayers will be more effective as we
will be guided by God in our crucial decisions!
God will truly reward us when we diligently seek
Him in fasting. Have you tried fasting
and prayer to effectively face the troubles in your life?
