Although there are principles and guidelines clearly spelled out in the Bible, God is intentionally anti-formula. In fact, he goes out of his way to avoid patterns that we could turn into a formula. Because he values something so much more. Partnership with us.

Old Testament: Every Battle is Different

In the Old Testament, there are no formulas for victory. God directs Israel to fight every battle differently. Here are a few examples:

• Joshua 6: Joshua marches around Jericho seven days in a row with worship. On the seventh day, God collapses the wall protecting the city and Joshua’s army wipes it out.
• Joshua 8: God tells Joshua to set an ambush behind the city of Ai. Half the army pretends to retreat on the battleground in front of the city, leading Ai’s army away from the city. Those behind sack the city and attack Ai’s army from the rear. Then those feigning retreat turnaround and attack from the front. Ai’s army is caught between two fronts and soundly defeated.
• Judges 7: Gideon’s greatly outnumbered men cover torches in jars and sneak around the enemy at night. Then all at once they break the jars, blow trumpets, and shout. This throws the enemy into confusion and they help Gideon’s army by killing each other in panic.
• 1 Samuel 17: God defeats a giant, seasoned, professional warrior with a shepherd boy and a rock.
• 2 Samuel 5:18-20: God tells David to attack the Philistines directly.
• 2 Samuel  5:22-25: God tells David to circle around behind them, wait for the sound of marching in the treetops, and then attack.
• 2 Chronicles 20: King Jehoshaphat doesn’t have to fight at all. The Lord fights the battle and causes Judah’s enemies to kill each other. Jehoshaphat and his army just go out and pick up the plunder for the next 3 days.

New Testament: Every Healing is Different

In the New Testament, there are no formulas for healing. Jesus and his disciples heal people in so many different ways:

• Matthew 8: Jesus doesn’t even go, but from a distance tells the Roman Centurion his servant is healed.
• Luke 4: Jesus rebukes the fever of Peter’s mother-in-law and casts it out.
• Luke 8: The woman with the issue of blood sneaks up behind Jesus and touches his cloak, getting healed before even Jesus knew it.
• John 9: Jesus heals a blind man by putting mud on his eyes.
• John 11: Jesus actually lets Lazarus die first and then raises him from the dead.
• Acts 5: Peter’s shadow falls on people and they are healed.
• Acts 19: Cloths touching Paul are taken to sick people and they are healed.

No Formulas, No Idols

So why is God so anti-formula? I think because he knows that if we had a formula, we’d cut him out. And he loves us too much to allow that.

If we could turn the works of God into a formula, we would. We’d make an idol out of the formula. We’d cut him out, enjoying the benefits of Kingdom success by following the formula while excluding him. But God values partnership with us too much to allow that.

The beauty of our anti-formula God is that your life doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s life. While that can be scary, it’s also very freeing.

So What’s God Doing In Your Life?

Does this resonate? What is God doing in your life that looks different from everybody else? When has God had to do something unique, outside conventional wisdom, that worked beautifully? Tell us your story in the comments. And please share this post if it will bless others.