Dec 31, 20216 min read

Who Can You Trust?

Think about it.

Can you trust any of these people?

Look at Jesus - Supremely trustworthy

Look at Judas - A Betrayer, and a greedy thief

Look at Peter - A one time lapse - He cursed. He lied. He manifested fear of man at the fire and in the fellowship. Paul actually had to rebuke him.

Look at the Serpent (Genesis 3) - he lied. he sought to turn people away from and against God.

Look at Joab - He lived by deception and revenge.

Who of this group would you trust? Consider, however, that Peter and Judas were actually people that Jesus trusted....Even though he knew them! He also trusted James and John who wanted to call down fire upon others....

Some things to remember.

Our ultimate confidence must be in God - Proverbs 3:5-6 - Jeremiah 17:5

We can trust people but we must not trust people implicitly....We must learn how to discern who can be depended upon

People will always fail us in some way.

Realize that as our culture continues to decline and we get closer to the coming of the Lord, trustworthy people will be fewer and farther between - Micah 7:1-7

Today, believers must be wise. Why? because in large measure, we have the following:

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

Ezekiel 22:27

27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to

shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

Matthew 7:15

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but

inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 10:16

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore

wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Acts 20:29

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in

among you, not sparing the flock.

Angel of Light / Ministers of Righteousness

2 Corinthians 11:13–15

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves

into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is

transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his

ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose

end shall be according to their works.

False Christs and Prophets - Deceive the very elect.

Matthew 24:24

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew

great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall

deceive the very elect.

When it comes to people, we must be wide awake. We can trust people until they prove themselves untrustworthy....and when they prove themselves untrustworthy, they must rebuild that trust (e.g. Joseph and his brothers). He put them to the test and then eventually trusted them again.

What are the general characteristics of a trustworthy person?

A. Actions consistent with words - Psalm 101:6-7

B. Regular performance of duty - Psalm 89:37

C. Knows when to be quite - Proverbs 11:13

D. Faithfully Brings refreshment and renewal - Proverbs 25:13

E. Willing to bring hard truth - Proverbs 27:6

F. Consistently Does Good things - Psalm 146

The Bible gives us specific examples of trustworthy people and why they were trustworthy. Considers these individuals.

Moses (Numbers 12:7) - There was a rebellion among the people, and a decision was required about whom to trust. God gives a powerful principle concerning who is trustworthy....who should be trusted. Read Numbers 12:6-8.

There is a chiastic structure to this verse that leads us to its essential core truth....

A Introduction: Hear my words (6)

B If there be a prophet among you,

C I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision

D And will speak unto him in a dream.

E My servant Moses is not so (7)

E´ who is faithful In all my house

D´ With him will I speak mouth to mouth (8)

C´ And not in dark speeches

B´ The similitude of the Lord shall he behold

A´ Rhetorical Conclusion: Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

Moses was faithful….therefore, he was trustworthy servant. In all aspects of life he was characterized by faithfulness (“in all my house”) - (A faithful, husband, A faithful father, A faithful brother, a faithful prophet, A faithful worker).

Next consider Uriah and Zechariah. In this story we see that Assyria was coming to judge Damascus and Samaria. Isaiah is Prophesying this coming judgment. He gives a sign - God told him to take a large scroll and write in it…..Maher-shalal-hash-baz (a child’s name).

There were to be two witnesses (Isaiah 8:2). These men were not friends of Isaiah. They would have been, at best, hostile witnesses…they had problems....BUT they would be called upon in about 9 months (the length of a pregnancy) to remember that Isaiah had written this child’s name 9 month before....and his name means (hurry spoil / Swift plunder) - These two men were trustworthy because they remembered and they told the truth. We can trust people who faithfully remember and tell the truth

Next, Consider Zadok - Who was Zadok? What was it about Zadok that made him trustworthy. How can this help us know who to trust? (I Samuel 2:35). Eli, the priest, was old and had lost his heart for God and his family! God pronounced severe judgments on him and his family....including a prophecy that his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, would die in a single day. BUT, God would raise up a faithful / trustworthy priest - ZADOK. How shall we know that he is trustworthy? He will faithfully “do” what is in God’s mind and heart. Zadok and his family will keep the high priesthood from the time of Solomon until the destruction of the temple! - They are so faithful that they will remain at post until there is no post left…doing the mind and heart of God. When Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest, and Put in Zadok....the promise was fulfilled. Unlike Eli and his family, Zadok and his family will try to do as God does....they will try to think as God thinks.....they will try to feel as God feels....they will try to know as God knows. This is the kind of man that can be trusted.

Next, consider David (I Samuel 22:14). Ahimelech was a priest in Israel - Of Eli’s line. He helped David, when David was on the run from Saul . He gave him bread and Goliath’s sword. Saul was infuriated that Ahimelech would do this and had Ahimelech and the other priests killed.....Did you know that this was actually a prophesied event..... This verse goes back to God’s pronouncement of judgment issued upon Eli (that we just read about) See I Samuel 2:33.

Before Ahimelech died, He gave this testimony concerning David (Please read I Samuel 22:14). David understood human authority and understood chain of command; and he placed himself in his proper place. He was a servant - Even though already anointed by Samuel to be king. He obeyed his authority, and protected him.... “goeth at thy bidding” - But the implication here is that David was the defender and body guard for Saul. David knew that it was his role to protect this man that God had put in a position of authority. He even protected Saul when one of his friends wanted to smite him, but David wouldn’t let him! David lived honorably, and was thus honored.

We are learning who to trust aren’t we?

Finally, meditate upon Abraham (Read Nehemiah 9:7-8). The word “faithful” in this passage does imply faithfulness to God (as in the case of Moses, but there is something more here that I want you to see. Faithful means to have a heart full of faith - Believing God. Be careful with a doubting Thomas - He will say and do things that are not best....don’t follow him....Follow and trust the man that is full of faith in God....Like Abraham (Genesis 15:6). We see his faith when his and Sarah’s bodies were “dead” (Romans 4:20-21), and when he was called to offer Isaac.