This article about the Old Testament judge, Gideon, is one of a series of articles built around the theme, “What would they say to us now?” From the perspective of eternity and a completed life, what would they say is really important to us today?
There are generally two kinds of people in the church. One group, the smaller of the two, thinks they can do anything. They are the first to volunteer, the first to accept a challenge and the first to get involved. They are extroverts. The other group, in fact the majority of people, constantly belittle themselves. Their standard response is, “Oh I could never do that!” They have to be persuaded.
Have you ever had a nagging feeling that you should be doing something for God? Perhaps you have sensed a voice calling, nudging or prodding you to step out in faith to write a book, start a new church or Bible study, or maybe to open a dialogue with your neighbor. Were you nervous, scared or unsure of where to begin?
God loves to use people whom the world considers unqualified. God repeatedly picks people who are small in their own eyes. Gideon is an example of God taking a weak, humble, fearful person and using him to do spectacular things. The story of Gideon has been repeated in the lives of millions throughout history. And God wants to repeat it in your life.
1. BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU
Two hundred years after Joshua directed Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land, the people had turned their backs on God and the Lord allowed the fierce nomadic Midianites to pillage the country. The Israelites were living in hiding to preserve their crops and animals.
The people cried out to God and God began the process of deliverance by choosing one man – Gideon. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon.
When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?” (Judges 6:12-13).
Mighty warrior. Gideon was taken aback by this sudden appearance of an angel. Gideon didn’t feel like a valiant warrior. And as for him delivering Israel by himself, he thought that was a lot of nonsense. Gideon considered himself more a weakling than a warrior.
Gideon’s response was to belittle himself. He reminded the Lord that in the entire tribe of Manasseh, his family was bottom of the barrel, the most insignificant family. He said he was the youngest and weakest! Basically he said, “If you’re looking for a leader, you are betting on the wrong horse!”
Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever thought you had nothing to offer God or considered yourself someone whom God could never use? If you have, welcome to Gideon’s world. Possibly, the very thing that you think disqualifies you, may be the very thing that makes you a candidate for God’s work!
One God plus one weakling is always a majority in any fight. God told Gideon, I will be with you and that was enough for Gideon to know. He did not let his feelings of inadequacy keep him from being obedient. God saw the possibilities in Gideon.
Gideon asked a good question. If the Lord is with Israel, how come all this bad stuff has happened? The Lord didn’t answer Gideon’s question about why these things had happened. Maybe it was obvious in Israel’s case, as God had already pointed out through the prophet he sent.
Is God calling you? Have you ever debated with God when he speaks to you? Do you ever have difficulty distinguishing between your wishful thinking and God’s voice? Gideon wanted to be sure it was God calling him, so he asked for proof that it really was God who was sending him. This was understandable as he was being asked to fight against and defeat the entire Midian army! He asked for a sign from God.
Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.” (Judges 6:17). The angel agreed.
Gideon prepared a complete meal for the angel from his limited resources and presented it to the angel. When the angel saw the sacrifice and dedication of Gideon, he was pleased. The angel said, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread.” (Judges 6:20-21).
Gideon got his proof when divine fire consumed the offering. God frequently resorted to the dramatic to confirm his presence. Gideon asked for signs from God because he did not have other resources, like the Bible, to learn about how God works. Today we have the Bible to give us principles for discovering God’s will. We do not need to go to God for a supernatural sign for every decision we make. We live according to biblical principles.
Believe what God says about you. Too often we listen to what others say about us rather than what God says about us. Gideon listened to what God said about him and so must we.
The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” … “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” (Judges 6:14,16).
Attention all weaklings! God may choose you! This has always been God’s way. Moses, Jeremiah and a host of others initially looked down on themselves, but God used them. God is still choosing people who limit themselves or who are overlooked by others. And when God chooses you, he empowers you, making you strong and effective. One person with God is always a majority. He says, I will be with you.
Gideon was not an extraordinary man; he was an ordinary man from an ordinary family in an ordinary tribe. He was weak enough for God to choose him; he was obedient enough to follow God’s call even amidst doubt and uncertainty.
2. GET YOUR RELATIONSHIP RIGHT WITH GOD
Gideon did not immediately set out to confront the Midianites. Before saving the entire nation from the clutches of the enemy, God had a big assignment for Gideon. God told him to put his family’s house in order! He was to get rid of the Baal-altar and establish Jehovah as Lord over this home!
That same night the LORD said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height… So Gideon took ten of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. (Judges 6:25-27).
This was no simple task. He flew in the face of the family’s religion, risking the rage of his father and the consequences of a shocked community.
There is always a cost to following God, and often it starts at home. God’s path requires total devotion and frequently great courage. God does not share his glory with anyone. If Gideon was to follow the Lord, there could be no secret devotion to an evil deity. Jehovah deserved total devotion. That night, Gideon destroyed Baal’s altar. In it’s place, he erected an altar to Jehovah.
In the morning, Gideon’s father defended his son’s actions and gave him a new name, Jerubbaal, which meant, “the one who defeated Baal.”
3. TRUST GOD’S METHODS, NOT YOUR OWN
God’s ways are not our ways. At times, God uses methods that we consider unorthodox or even appear foolish. But his ways are always right.
The time came for Gideon to act. Eventually, the time will come for you to act.
i. Be clothed with the Spirit of the Lord
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and he blew a trumpet summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. (Judges 6:34).
Gideon had heard the divine call and divine promise and had wholeheartedly given himself to the Lord. Now the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. In fact, the Spirit clothed him. There was the divine presence and divine power.
ii. Be assured of God’s presence
Before going into battle, Gideon wanted to be sure. Remember, he had no Scriptures to consult.
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew. (Judges 6:36-40).
iii. Be assured, God will test you!
God patiently allowed Gideon to test him, then, God tested Gideon. God sometimes tests his people to reveal their weaknesses and to build character in them.
Though the Israelites were already outnumbered (32,000 Israelites against “swarms” of enemies) God decided to shrink the size of Gideon’s army. This was done to test Gideon’s faith, as well as to show beyond doubt, that God was the only reason Israel would succeed.
Soon, 32,000 soldiers became 10,000. But that was still too many. Again the army was paired down so that only 300 men remained to fight. Each time Gideon was asked to send more troops home, he complied, putting his faith in God rather than physical warriors.
iv. Attack
During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp because I am going to give it into your hands. (Judges 7:9).
Sooner or later, you have to take action. Planning is good. Prayer is essential. Consultations are valuable. But at some point, you have to bite the bullet and act. It was time for Gideon to attack.
v. Use what you have: trumpets, clay pots and torches.
Believing God would bring victory to the Israelites, Gideon knew he still had to do his part. He armed the 300 men with clay pitchers, torches and trumpets. Later these simple items would awaken the Midianites and throw them into frenzied confusion. Gideon with his 300 men set out in the dark of night to claim the victory God had promised.
God can and does use all the programs and technological advances that are ours, but our dependence must always be on God himself.
4. EXPERIENCE GOD’S VICTORY!
Gideon learned that God can use anyone if that person is humble and yielded to his divine will.
When Gideon gave the signal, 300 unarmed men surrounded the enemy, blowing their trumpets, smashing their clay pitchers and flashing their torches, terrorizing the enemy. Within hours, victory was complete.
The lesson of Gideon is that God can use anyone. Victory comes from the Lord. When we are clothed with the Spirit and move forward in faith, we can be assured of God’s protection, provision and promised victory.
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