Often we put up excuses when we face challenges, I’m not good enough, choose Fred. The Old Testament is full of stories about people God chose who were not the ones we might have chosen, Moses, David, Gideon etc.. Jesus chose an interesting band of disciples .. God’s ways aren’t our ways, nor his thoughts or thoughts, but they are much greater. The story of Gideon is one we need to re-examine, are we really too weak for God’s purposes
Judges 6 vs. 11-17 Gideon the weakest of the weak used by God
Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain
From the Midianites, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty Hero, the Lord is with you!”
Gideon was taking a risk, hiding from the Midianites, threshing wheat, going against the grain
Yet doing it in a way that ensured he was well hidden, even then God could see him and keep in view
As we are prepared to take a stand against God’s enemies, God will us inhabit, in us remain
We can’t do things in our strength, but can do all things in him who strengthens us, if we hear him and do
That which he calls us to do, sometimes that seems strange, Gideon a Hero, it seemed insane
Gideon must have wondered what was happening when the angel said “Mighty Hero, the Lord is with you”
“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all
The miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, “The Lord brought us up out of Egypt?
I can sense the incredulity in Gideon’s voice, Yeah Right! God with us, our backs are against the wall
My ancestors saw God at work, but he has forgotten us, we are oppressed, nothing God does is legit
What can he do to get us out of the mess we are in, we’re in bondage, where are you when we call?
Why should I believe that God is with me, what miracles can he do, do he understand how things sit?
But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him
And said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
Often our perception of what God is or isn’t doing is miles away from the reality, like fat is to thin
We prevaricate over will we or won’t we do something, yet God says at this time I want to use you
I have ordained, I have searched for the right person to intervene, and to draw people away from sin
We may feel weak, unworthy, incapable, God says “Go with the strength you have, I am sending you!”
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe
Of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The Lord said to him, “I will be with you.”
We place limitations on God and upon ourselves, we see difficulties real and imagined, strife
That doesn’t seem solvable, in doing so we block the Spirit, and fail to see what God has in view
It isn’t about us and our perceived frailties, rather about surrendering to God’s will in our life
Who will go for us, who will prepare the way we ask, not me! Yet God says” I will be with you”
And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Gideon replied,
“If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me.
Like Gideon we often desire a sign, proof that what we hear is what God has for us designed
Lay a fleece, get an answer and yet still struggle to conceive of what God in us does love and see
Will you stand on his promises; will you walk in his way, believe in his empowering, or be blind?
“My ways aren’t your ways, nor are my thoughts your thoughts” says the Lord, listen, and wait on me
And as you do I will show you my purposes, trust me with all your heart, soul, strength and mind
My steadfast love for you never ceases, my faithfulness is without end, believe, trust and follow me
Mark Maffey, January 2008