(Saturday)
Gideon still seems to me like an unlikely hero. He starts off afraid and hiding, looking for affirmation from God that he is doing the right things. Then with God controlling his actions, he begins to respond to a healthy balance between praising God and looking to God for guidance while at the same time, realizing that he is the leader God has called him to be. “For the Lord and for Gideon,” (7:18, 20) we hear him cry. But then by the end of his life, Gideon seems to be usurping the worship of God and replaces it with an ephod that he makes, which somehow becomes the object of worship. Now I’m not sure that Gideon didn’t start out with good intentions in regards to this ephod. But somewhere along the way, he either ignored what the people were doing or approved it. In either case, Gideon is not fulfilling his calling as God’s servant/leader.
What I do find most beneficial in the lesson of Gideon, is that God uses imperfect and flawed people. We see this throughout the scriptures with the people God has chosen to serve Him – like Abraham, Moses, David, Peter….. The basic requirement is not how wonderful or talented or intelligent we are, because if that were the case we will always fall flat on our face (pride goes before a fall) but truly it is just about our willingness to be used by God.
Are you letting God use you? Are you willing to take a step out in faith and follow where God wants to take you? One thing I know for sure is that God may give us periods of rest, but we cannot stand still in our faith journey. We must continue to listen (ask questions if you need to – probably should) and then go where He takes us.
Blessings on the day!
PK