11/05/2021
“The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty Hero, the Lord is with you!”
“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
“Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
“The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” - Judges 6:12-16 NLT
In Judges Chapter 6 - the Lord appears to Gideon and tells him to rescue Israel from the Midianites. All throughout Chapter 6 & 7, Gideon is in disbelief. God has called him to rescue Israel but he doesn’t believe he is capable of doing such a thing. In Chapter 6 Verse 15, Gideon questions the Lord and says “But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest and I am the least in my entire family?”
How often do we question God because we can not see our own worth. Why would God call on me? I can’t do that! I’m not good enough? Someone else is far more qualified than I am.
I’m sure we have all had those thoughts at some point in our lives. And we may even still have an on-going battle with those thoughts.
But what I love most about this story is Verse 12- before God ever makes his request known he appears and says to Gideon, “Mighty Hero” the Lord is with you!” (Jehovah- Shammah)
Mighty Hero! Now why would God open up his conversation with Gideon calling him a Mighty Hero? God knew what he wanted done and he knew Gideon was that person. God knew Gideon better than Gideon knew himself! When Gideon could only see Gideon - God saw a Mighty Hero!
When I only see me - God sees his daughter. His daughter who is covered in his love and worthy of all his truths.
God knows our own unique strengths and attributes and if you let him he will guide you in ways for you to use those strengths to glorify him. He will lead us in paths of righteousness, for his name sake.
And Although God saw Gideons strengths - Gideon still had doubt. We can be told our strengths but unless we truly belief them we will stay stuck in our thoughts. Not knowing our true value. Remember Gideon’s question- “How can I do this? I’m not strong enough!”
When we are questioning our value, our worth, questioning whether or not we are good enough - in those moments we need to remember Verse 16. Gideon said, How? And then Lord replied Because, “I will be with you”!
When we think we cannot do something just remember 4 simple but POWERFUL words: GOD IS WITH ME!
Psalm 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”