Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

31 March 2024

Reading From Judges 6-7

The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

–Judges 6:11-16

     I think we can all identify with Gideon in some way.  The Midianites and other enemies of Israel kept raiding and invading Israelite lands.  Just when Israel’s crops began to produce, their attackers would swoop in like locusts and devour everything.  They were in such dire straits that they began calling on the Name of Yahweh, even though they were cheating on Him with Baal and Asherah.  It’s always very telling that when the going gets tough, people come out of the woodwork to call on God even though they struggle with unbelief or worship other idols.  An example of this in our modern era would be 9/11.  Churches all over the United States were packed with people calling on the Name of the Lord in prayer.

     When the Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon, he isn’t sharpening a massive sword or polishing his armor.  He’s hiding from the bad guys in a wine press. I think it’s interesting that the angel sits down under the oak while Gideon is doing something very active.  I usually imagine angels standing or floating imposingly. From outward appearances Gideon is not a mighty warrior, but God sees in him something that he doesn’t even realize himself.  God sees potential for His power and glory to be displayed through this fearful, humble man who doesn’t have particularly strong faith.  God sees potential in you and I regardless of where we’re at in our lives.

     Gideon makes an argument that is all too common today.  If God is so good and so loving, why is there so much suffering?  If God is so powerful, why doesn’t He just work His miracles and fix everthing that is so tragically wrong? For Israel, as with us, suffering comes directly from disobedience and indirectly from dwelling in a fallen world. God leads us through our circumstances to teach us while refining and strengthening our faith.  Back in 6:10 the Lord had recounted a similar narrative reminding them of all that He had done but Gideon left this part out of his reasoning, “I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”  This is an important part of the equation resulting in Israel’s oppressed condition.

     There are times when the obstacles, opposition and circumstances seem too overwhelming to overcome.  In our own strength, they are.  But God said to Gideon to obey Him in the strength that he presently has and the Lord will work through Gideon to accomplish His will. Even though Gideon’s faith was weak at this moment in time, God can work with even mustard seed sized faith.  The Holy Spirit lives within the heart of every true believer in Jesus and as we yield to Him, He flows through us and into the lives of those around us.  Through us, weak and afraid as we are sometimes, God’s power is displayed for His glory and our good.  It matters not to Him how weak or powerless you think you are, He looks at you and sees a mighty warrior.

“God thank You for seeing potential for greatness in me even when I don’t see it myself.  Even when situations seem hopeless, You are my Hope.  Even when I feel weak, You are strong and Your power is made perfect in my weakness.  Take me as I am and use me for Your glory.  Help me to yield to the movement of Your Spirit.  Guide me to surrender all that I am to You.  Fill me to overflowing with Your power and wisdom.  Thank You Jesus.  Amen.”

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. 

–Zechariah 4:6

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 –Ephesians 3:20-21

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

 –II Timothy 1:7