The Midianites had been oppressing God's Old Testament people, the Israelites, for seven years. The Midianites ravaged the Israelites' crops and killed all their animals. Judges 6:3 in the Old Testament tells us, "Because the power of Midian was go oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves, and strongholds."
One day and angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." (Judges 6:12b). The Lord is with us also even in the darkest and most difficult times of our lives. Even and especially in the very difficult times in our lives we can be used as "mighty warriors" for the cause of Christ and for His glory. We can be used for the Lord's glory, because the Lord's strength is residing in us.
After the angel spoke to Gideon he replied to the angel in Judges 6:13, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?" Sometimes it is difficult to understand why we have to go through some of the trials that we experience in this life. We have to trust that the Lord is in control in all situations, however. God weaves both the "bad" and "good" circumstances of our lives together for our ultimate good. Often trials help us grow spiritually and cause us to lean more heavily on the Lord.
Romans 5:3-4 tells us that difficult times in our lives helps to produce perseverance. Perseverance in turn produces Christ-like character in us. This Christ-like character in us produces hope. The word "hope" in Scripture means something we are absolutely certain about but have not yet received. We have absolute certainty about our eternal futures with the Lord.
The Lord turned to Gideon and said to him in Judges 6:14, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" God was calling Gideon, a timid and fearful man with no real ability, to lead the Israelites against the Midianites, Gideon did not have to go in his own strength, however, because it was the Lord who was sending Gideon. Since the Lord called Gideon to this task, the Lord would also supply Gideon with His supernatural grace and strength.
In spite of this fact Gideon began to make excuses for not following God's calling. The Lord once again reassured Gideon in Judges 6:16 by saying, "I will be with you." In spite of his own weaknesses and inadequacies Gideon would be be able to do great things in the name and strength of the Lord! When the Lord calls us to a task we also must not make excuses. We must not say that the task is too great for us. The Lord always gives us His strength for whatever tasks He assigns in this life. We simply have to trust in Him and in His strength. We may be weak, untalented, and ill-equipped; but the Lord's strength in us is all-sufficient.
In II Corinthians 12:9 the Lord says to us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." God delights in using people who feel inadequate in themselves, because such people will lean more heavily on the Lord and on His strength. Our human weaknesses provides the perfect opportunity for God to display His awesome power and all-sufficiency. In ourselves we can do nothing. but with Christ's strength in us we can do whatever task He asks of us. Paul said in Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."
Gideon undertook the task assigned to him by the Lord, and he was able to accomplish great things in the Lord's strength. Continue to read in the book of Judges about the exciting defeat of the Midianites by God's people. The Lord can use us also to do great things for Him. We just need to be willing to follow the Lord's leading and rest and trust in His all-sufficient strength! The Lord promises to always be with us with His presence and strength!
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