What’s the difference between anecdotal evidence and a genuine pattern? If you see a cat fall out of a tree that's an anecdote, which means “a short account of a particular event or incident”. If you see a cat fall out of a tree every day for weeks that could be a pattern, a regularly repeated event. The first time we probably wouldn't begin to think cats grew on trees, but maybe after seeing it repeated often enough we might start to wonder. Even then we couldn’t be sure because a few anecdotes that appear connected aren’t necessarily related. Observing a few similar incidents doesn’t prove a genuine pattern. Unless we do real research to confirm the connection we might be trusting unreliable anecdotal evidence. Cat's falling out of trees may only prove that's one stubborn cat. However, leaves falling out of trees in the fall reconfirm a well-established pattern.

Now, let’s talk about something of genuine importance – is trusting God based on anecdotal evidence or a genuine pattern? Ah, that’s a tricky question because in our life time we’ve seen religious people give convincing, but ultimately untrue testimonials. Many people really believed “The Boy Who Went to Heaven”, but he eventually admitted he didn't. It was a lie. Even in our own lives we have to be very careful about attributing good incidents to God acting in our lives for our special benefit because it may just be an anecdote. After all, God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45), and bad things happen to God's people (1 Peter 4:12).

However, there is a pattern of God bringing physical blessings for the righteous. It happens among nations in general, but it was especially true with the nation of Israel all the way up to the coming of Christ and the establishment of a universal church, a spiritual nation. After all such protection was promised to Abram, Isaac, and Jacob and then codified in the Law of Moses. The pattern of fulfilling the promise was established over many years as God worked with Israel. Of course there was also a promise of punishment when they sinned. A far too frequent pattern as well.

During the days before Samuel took charge at the direction of God Israel was wicked and consequently afflicted. But, when Israel did the spiritual cleaning as Samuel ordered (1 Samuel 7:3-4) God rescued them (1 Samuel 7:10-11), just as he had many times before and continued to do again and again.

If this had happened just once or twice we could call it anecdotal evidence. However, since it happened over and over and over, and the Bible is a reliable record of that pattern, we can conclude it wasn't a coincidence or an anecdote. Which is why we can trust God to continue his pattern and keep his promise of saving his people in the ultimate rescue through Jesus. Now that’s a pattern we can trust. The question isn't “Can you trust God?” the question is “Will you trust God?” A question only you can answer.