Come Out, Come Out...

I think our relationship with God is like, we're the kid, he's the dad and he's playing hide-and-go-seek, saying "Come out, come out where ever you are!" And dad walks by us, as if he didn't see us, despite the curtain shaking and our feet sticking out, with our loud breathing and giggles.

This is not God.

After Adam and Eve sinned, he called them out. He didn't act as though he didn't know, he simply questioned them - he wanted to see the honest answers. He wanted to know where they were at.
They were the ones who were in shame, they were the ones who didn't know what to do.

There were consequences, there were very real implications for their sin and they knew the results of their sin, but did it anyway. However, I'm pretty sure it sunk in.

Skip a ways through scripture to one story. There's a man named Gideon. Gideon was a coward. He was a wimp who was sitting inside a silo, blowing on the chaff of wheat. Get it? I mocked Gideon all the time, for a long time because of his cowardly way - that is, until my addiction became clear that it really was an addiction.
What happens? Gideon's sitting there, and then *bam* the Angel of the Lord showed up, and said, "Arise, mighty warrior!"
Right... mighty warrior.

The guys a freaking coward! Now, here's the catch - I've been working in a secret place, too. I've been hiding from the enemy, hiding from the world doing my little jobs. And then God says, "Arise mighty warrior!" And then, after him saying that, he says, "your going to lead the charge."

God... really? Arise mighty warrior AND you're going to lead the nation? ha.. ha.. ha..

But then he says "Give me an offering" and so then God burns up that presentation and accepts it. Then vanishes.

*AH-HA!* moments, are kind of annoying - both in others lives and mine. I mean, as nice as it is, but it's usually over something that was obvious... you know?

Then God continues to talk to Gideon saying, "tear down the the alter of Baal and the Ashera Poles". Ok... tear down the structures that people love and worship... and you want me to do it... Sure God, you told me, but i'm going to do it at night... I dont' want to be seen. Sure you told me to do it, but I don't want to be seen.

You will be found out if you are real before God and begin to do what he wants. Your deeds and actions and words will speak louder than ever before.

I identify with Gideon now... and therefore recognize my own cowardice. I'm tearing down the poles and alters. Some of them are at night time (when no ones looking) and others are when it'd broad daylight.
Scary stuff.