Scripture:
Judges 6:11-16 ESV
[11] Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. [12] And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” [13] And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” [14] And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” [15] And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” [16] And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
Observation:
I always love the story the story of Gideon. It’s really inspiring. Here is a man who is found hiding in a wine press preparing food for his family. He was hiding because the Midianites were bullying the Israelites every time it looked like the Israelites were getting ahead a little the Midianites would come take everything they had. Along comes the angel of the LORD to speak something into his life that he just did not see. I want to remind you that the angel of the LORD knew exactly the reason Gideon was hiding when he spoke to him. Oh, mighty man of valor. Gideon quickly tries to clear up the misconception by reminding this messenger of the LORD whom HE was talking. You see Gideon was from the weakest tribe of all of Israel and not only that he was in his eyes the weakest in his tribe. That’s not how GOD saw him. The LORD had built him to be a Warrior and that’s exactly what he would be. You see it’s true Gideon might not have been the strongest man in his tribe but he was smart enough to feed his family. Verse 14 makes a great point…go in the might that you have. GOD was looking for someone willing to be used by HIM, and although Gideon didn’t think much of himself GOD knew he was the man for the job
Application:
How do you see yourself? When you are in the face of hard times do you run and hide or do you put your armor on? GOD did not make us to be cowards. He made us to lead. The armor described in Ephesians chapter 6 has no back peace mentioned. We are not made to run from the fight we are made to advance. The LORD said HE was building a church that the gates of hell could not hole out. So the sooner we start seeing ourselves as the Warriors GOD created us to be, the sooner we will start seeing people delivered set free, and sanctified by the blood of the lamb. We are not and can not be defeated when GOD goes with us the gates of hell will not withstand against us. So I am telling you now stand up. You are a mighty man or woman of GOD start seeing yourself as GOD sees you and stop believing the lies of the enemy. You can, you will…because HE has already given you victory take it it’s yours
Prayer:
Father, we know that you did not make us to hide. You made us to stand. Help us to see ourselves the way you see us. Will life be hard…yes but you built us for adversity. As long as we keep you in our sight, no matter what we face we will not be defeated. You won the victory on the cross. Death no longer has a sting. So there is nothing to fear. I pray today that those reading this who are not truly in the fight would get in the fight and drop the fear. That not a spirit you gave us rise up an army father that will storm the gates and not let up. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray amen.