Gideon

Judges 6:11-18 (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? 

Don't let what's going on outside of us influence what's going on within 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.”

Don't be content knowing about God.  Pursue God until you have experienced Him for yourself (Jeremiah 29:13).    

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.” 

God is attracted to people who realize that without Him they can do nothing, but with Him you can do anything.   

Don't suffer with comparison.  Don't doubt God's call upon your life.  Doubting only leads to more doubting.  

  

16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” 

17 And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. 

Don't do life alone.  Stay with fellowship with God and other believers.  Take a step toward God, and He'll take a step towards you.  

18 Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.”

When life's plan is unclear, let God's promises be your God.  When God's promises take the lead, He is your banner of victory.  

Matt Betz, Church of the Highlands