Imagine being a farmer, like Gideon, out in the country having a nice peaceful time working on his land. The sun is shining and birds are chirping and all of a sudden a mighty Angel yells out at you “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:11) That would be startling. It would sound a bit insane as well, since you are just a farmer who quite cowardly is busy hiding his grain so that the enemy, the Midianites, won’t take it from you. However, God was getting ready to call Gideon to fight those same Midianites. God was ready to do something new.
Often in our lives we feel ill equipped for the task at hand. We are sure that someone else could do the job better. But then we find out God is not interested in someone else, He is interested in us. God sees into our hearts and knows that we are the right person at the right time.
Gideon looked to his flaws and answers God back. Would we dare do that? Maybe Gideon was valiant. However we should save our courage for facing the enemy and reserve our fear for when we face the almighty God. Gideon says “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:15)
While mighty men from great families have risen throughout history, God wanted to do something new. He lifted a humble man to greatness. We can be that humble man or woman God lifts up. Now God was about to get even more radical!
With God’s help Gideon was able to organize an army of 32,000 men. God decided that army was too big. Yeah you heard right, too big! God loves to try new things. Through Gideon God direct all the men that were fearful to just leave. (Judges 7:3) Apparently God likes to work with people of courage. Be brave! Now only 10,000 men were left. The army was still too big! Gideon must have been ready to lose his mind. We would be thinking “God have you ever fought a battle? Having more soldiers is a good thing.”
God caused 9,700 men to leave. (Judges 7: 4-7) God was just starting to get creative. He tells Gideon to give the remaining 300, trumpets, empty pitchers, and torches. (Judges 7:16) What happened to the swords?
Gideon now faced an army that the bible describes as follows
The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is on the seashore for multitude.(Judges 7:12)
Gideon did not run. He was not worried or scared. God had done something new. Listen to Gideon’s declaration to his brave 300, “Arise; for Yahweh has delivered the army of Midian into your hand!” (Judges 7:15) God had transformed him into a “mighty man of valor.”
The entire Midian/Amalekite army was defeated and sent running for their lives. God created so much confusion they actually killed themselves.(Judges 7:22)
In 2014 God is looking for a few brave men and women that He can lift up to take on the enemy. That problem or challenge can be defeated and God can turn us into “mighty men/women of valor!”
Another bibleaid article for the new year New things and the Yew Year
Related articles
- From insecurity to action (moretolifetoday.wordpress.com)
- The Sword of the LORD, and of Gideon (livinginlibertyblog.wordpress.com)
- Enough (happygostuckey.com)
- 300 Equals Victory (shawncornett.wordpress.com)
- Accept Who God Says You Are! (menofredemption.wordpress.com)
- #Faith Testing (expressionsbyacg.wordpress.com)
- Judges 7 (onethingonechapter.wordpress.com)
- The Grip of Fear (Part Two) (nataliemnieves.wordpress.com)
- Judges 6 (onethingonechapter.wordpress.com)
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