Abandoned by Others

When faced with potential dangers, threats or public failure, those who formally professed their loyalty may abandon us; ESPECIALLY when we decide to demonstrate courageous faith.

• Deuteronomy 1:28-29 HCSB (28) Where can we go? Our brothers have discouraged us, saying: The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, fortified to the heavens. We also saw the descendants of the Anakim there.' (29) "So I said to you: Don't be terrified or afraid of them!

We must not placed our faith in humans. As we well know, they often fail. Our faith must be firmly placed in the Lord God. When all others forsake us, He will not.

• Deuteronomy 31:6 HCSB Be strong and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you."

Our confidence is not due to our perfect circumstances. Our confidence is not due to our powerful friends and family. Our confidence is due to a perfect Lord.

• Psalms 27:1-3 HCSB Davidic. The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom should I be afraid? (2) When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell. (3) Though an army deploy against me, my heart is not afraid; though war break out against me, still I am confident.

We need to be patient. God’s children always endure. Very soon, those who threaten us and those who failed the test of loyalty will be gone and we will be left standing hand in hand with the Lord.

• Isaiah 62:4 HCSB You will no longer be called Deserted, and your land will not be called Desolate; instead, you will be called My Delight is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land will be married.
• Isaiah 41:10-14 HCSB Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. (11) Be sure that all who are enraged against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will become as nothing and will perish. (12) You will look for those who contend with you, but you will not find them. Those who war against you will become absolutely nothing. (13) For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand and say to you: Do not fear, I will help you. (14) Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel: I will help you--the LORD's declaration. Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

Note: Our post-modern minds balk at being addressed as “worms” (v.14). However, it is precisely that fact - that God is so much more powerful than we are, that in comparison to Him we are worms - that gives us comfort in life’s harsh circumstances.

Do not rely on fickle humans. David’s men had just come from a great victory. They returned to find their homes destroyed and their families kidnapped and instead of trusting their captain to find a solution, they began wanting to kill him. Instead, find your strength on the immutable Divine One.

• 1 Samuel 30:6 HCSB David was in a difficult position because the troops talked about stoning him, for they were all very bitter over the loss of their sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
• Isaiah 2:22 HCSB Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. What is he really worth?

In view of God’s eternal omnipotence and unimaginable loyalty, who needs weak humans anyway?

• Isaiah 2:22 HCSB Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. What is he really worth?
• Isaiah 51:12 HCSB I--I am the One who comforts you. Who are you that you should fear man who dies, or a son of man who is given up like grass?

Our Master knows what it’s like to be abandoned. He sympathizes.

• Mark 14:27-31 HCSB Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will run away, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. (28) But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." (29) Peter told Him, "Even if everyone runs away, I will certainly not!" (30) "I assure you," Jesus said to him, "today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!" (31) But he kept insisting, "If I have to die with You, I will never deny You!" And they all said the same thing.
• Mark 14:50 HCSB Then they all deserted Him and ran away.

There is an inherent loneliness in ministry. The Apostle Paul was faithfully serving in God’s kingdom and Demas’ materialistic heart cause him to abandon Paul. Paul also felt abandoned because his fellow workers were off in other lands serving. Then Alexander the Coppersmith also caused a lot of trouble for Paul, because Paul’s preaching was hurting Alexander’s business. We need to take heart in Paul’s statement – “the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…the Lord will rescue me…and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.” We have the same Lord Paul did.

• 2 Timothy 4:9-18 HCSB Make every effort to come to me soon, (10) for Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (11) Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. (12) I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. (13) When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. (14) Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. (15) Watch out for him yourself, because he strongly opposed our words. (16) At my first defense, no one came to my assistance, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. (17) But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me, and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. (18) The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.