(Friday)
God is calling upon the next Judge. Sort of an unlikely leader. Gideon. He is hiding out in a winepress, threshing wheat. Not what a wine press is normally used for but God has big plans. He goes to the weakest clan and to the weakest man in the clan (at least that’s what Gideon says to the Angel of the Lord, 6:15). But how often do we find God using the weakest things to shame the strong? The foolish things to shame the wise? So Gideon challenges the Angel of the Lord by requiring him to give him a sign. A task the Lord complies with. What strikes me about this passage is that it is alright to ask God for a sign to know that it is him, but how much better is it to have such a close relationship with God that you don’t have to ask for a sign. You see that relationship develop many times with those God has chosen to do a certain task. Moses, had to have some encouragement at first, but then his relationship with the Lord grew so strong that he immediately recognized when God was telling him to do something. He didn’t need a “sign” every time because He knew God personally.
Well, anyway, Gideon through the Power of the Holy Spirit, does the incredible, and with just 300 men defeats the very powerful Midianites.
I would love to have been there when Gideon told those 300 men the plan for defeating the Midianites. You have to love the impossible being done. And the Lord does this so we have no doubt that it is by His strength and power that these things are accomplished, not by any great works we can do.
I marvel at how many times God has shown me that what I do or have done for Him is not by my strength or ability, but only my obedience.
I hope that you will continue to grow in your relationship with Christ so that when He speaks to you, you will know without a doubt it is God. And you will know that there is nothing you can’t do or accomplish when you have God on your side.
Blessings
Pastor Kathy