This morning, while listening to my pastor, I was inspired by the story of Gideon.
The Story
Found in the Bible book of Judges, the story begins as God calls out to Gideon while he is threshing wheat in the winepress. An unlikely place to do it, but the wheat needed to be hidden from the enemies of Gideon’s time, the Midianites, who were marauding the countryside.
I imagine how this went:
“The Lord is with you, oh mighty man of valor.” Or – mighty hero.
Possibly Gideon looked up in amazement to view the Man who had suddenly appeared, whereupon a conversation ensued. The kind of conversation we always want to have with the Lord instead of listening to what He has in mind for us: “If God is with us, then why is all this bad stuff happening?” (We ask it over and over today.)
Once they got past all that, God told Gideon that He wanted Gideon to lead an army against the Midianites. God wanted to give Israel freedom in victory.
So, by now, Gideon could have abandoned the wheat and stood before the Man. Looking this way, then that way, Gideon denies he could do such a thing as lead an army. “I can’t do that!”
What is recorded is, “Oh my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Perhaps his knees were knocking, and being from the weakest clan certainly sounded like a good excuse.
“Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”
Seal The Deal
The Lord then reassured Gideon that he was the Man of the Hour. Gideon then requested the Lord wait with him while he prepared a sacrifice, which he offered to the Lord who then set it afire and disappeared.
Even after such assurance, the sacrifice, and a fiery miracle that should have sealed the deal, Gideon requested some signs (of course, more than one—just to be sure). The Lord patiently fulfilled every request.
Yo-yo Potential
Isn’t that just like us? “Why would God choose a yo-yo like me?” We know ourselves to be sinners, and unworthy of great heavenly missions.
Yet, God DOES choose us. Not only does He choose us, but He sees who He made us to be, not who we see ourselves to be. Is that not LOVE?
We are made in the Image of God, with potential to do remarkable things He has designed us to do—to create. How wonderful to know He loves us that way, and He equips us for those grand deeds.
We just need to say “yes” when He calls us.
“The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor” Judges 6:12b.
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