God’s dealing with Gideon has spoken so clearly to me today. I’ve been so encouraged to continue the course of faith. At the first calling of Gideon to accomplish a great work for YHWH, his faith was small and shaking. YHWH did not chasten Him or rebuke, but was kind in answering him and granting his request for proof. He knew that what He was asking of Gideon was something frightening for him, so when Gideon asked for a reminder of God’s strength and sovereignty, he received it from the gracious outstretched arm of his Master.
But God’s encouragement toward Gideon didn’t end when Gideon stopped asking for it. When God required Gideon to allow all but 300 men to go home, He spoke clearly to Gideon saying, “I will deliver you with … 300 men … and hand the Midianites over to you.” Yet YHWY’s encouragement didn’t even stop there. After Gideon was obedient in sending all but 300 home, he was commanded by His Master to go down personally into the enemy camp to receive a special word. Gideon obeyed and overheard one soldier share a dream, and another soldier an interpretation, that predicted Gideon’s victory over their army. Wow! God did NOT have to do that. He had already encouraged Gideon so much!
This point in the story seems to be the climax to me, where Gideon, fully inspired by YHWH (His strength and sovereignty), inspires the men around him. He not only leads a victory over this army of over 1,000,000,000, but also finds time to chastise two cities that were unwilling to support his troops with food. The wisdom that Gideon received along the way was clearly flowing through the inspiration that he had received from YHWH. And after all this, Gideon refuses to take any credit for the victory and refuses to rule over Israel (despite the fact that they asked him to).
The Lord also leads us through times similar to Gideon’s story if we do not reject His initial calling. He will open door; we will walk through. But we will not necessarily find a victory on the other side. Instead, we find the process of purification. YHWH knows our hearts better than we do. He knows that we put our strength in many things apart from Him! It can be money, human ‘wisdom’, personal achievements, physical strength, other people in our lives, books (other than the Scriptures), etc. And before He takes us to the battle and the victory, He leads us to a place where we start seeing all those other things that we really trust in start to dwindle. Our money starts to fly away, friends and family desert us, our own intelligence proves to be useless, our physical strength – not enough.
At this point in time we have two choices: 1) Abandon the original calling, or 2) Listen for the voice of YHWH as Elijah did at the mouth of the cave (1 Kings 19:11-13). If we are on the path that He has set our feet on, He will whisper again, and affirm the fact that He has indeed set our feet upon a Rock!
The story of Gideon can be found in the book of Judges, chapters 6-9.
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May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice.
SelahMay He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.
Save, LORD!
May the King answer us when we call.Psalms 20:1–9
