That leads me to another thing—the need for faith to take the step. If remaining on “the rock Rimmon” might answer to staying at home in your locality waiting on the sovereignty of God in this matter, lying in wait in “the vineyards” at “the feast of the LORD in Shiloh” would speak of going to the special gatherings of the saints (i.e., conferences), but not doing anything. Young men, you need to get off the “rock,” and out of the “bushes” to claim a victory! You might be saying, “But I’m too scared to come out of the bushes; I don’t want to make a mistake in this important decision in life.” That’s understandable; but sitting on the “rock” is not the answer either! It’s not acting in faith.
Remember, the man in Genesis 24 who was seeking a wife for Isaac said, “I being in the way, the LORD led me ... ” (Gen. 24:2727And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren. (Genesis 24:27)). That means that he got help and leading from the Lord when he was in the way seeking. He was acting in faith, and moving forward step by step, and he found that the Lord was moving with him to make his journey prosperous. God honours faith. If you take a step in faith, you’ll find that the Lord will open the way. But to do nothing is not faith; and it makes us wonder what kind of an inner life you have with the Lord. If you had the inner life of the man in Psalm 19, who came forth from his “chamber,” you’d have the needed conviction to come out and claim a victory. And, believe me, the girl will respect you for having that kind of conviction too!
If you’re still worried about making a mistake, let me give you a principle from a chapter that Mr. Hayhoe gave to us that was a great help to me. In Genesis 20, a man named “Abimelech” saw a woman that he desired to have as his wife; and he made movements toward her. But he didn’t know that she was another man’s wife! He was making a big mistake and was going in a totally wrong direction. But we find that because he was acting in the integrity of his heart, God stepped in and preserved him. We can count on the Lord doing the same for us! This is God’s fail-safe for you faint-hearted young men! God honours faith, and if you are acting in faith—in the integrity of your heart—but are taking wrong steps, He will intervene and protect you from making a mistake in your life. What a provision of grace!