“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon….” Hebrews 11:32
This summer, our pastor has been preaching a series of messages from the Book of Judges and the past two have been on Gideon. His story is interesting and teaches us some valuable lessons on faith and trust.
Gideon was not a soldier or great leader; he was a farmer. So, he was surprised when the Lord appeared to him with a strange request in Judges 6:14 to go and save Israel from the Midianites. We will not go into all the details here, but eventually, Gideon obeyed the Lord and gathered an army to go and fight the enemy.
In Chapter 7, God once again appears with a strange message for Gideon, “You have too many soldiers, send some home.” After those who were fearful and afraid had left, God again told Gideon there were too many. He took them down to a brook to drink. The majority bowed down on their knees to quench their thirst, not paying any attention to what was going on around them. But there was a group of three hundred who dipped their hands in the water and brought it to their mouths, all the time alert to what was going on around them. These were the ones God had chosen, and Gideon sent the rest home.
Because Gideon was willing to listen to the voice of God, and step out in faith, this small army was able to defeat their enemy and win a great victory. Little is much when God is in it.
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
How easy it is to let things creep into our hearts that weigh us down and keep us from being at our best for God? It is important that we examine our hearts and ask the Lord for daily cleansing from sin. The Lord may ask us to lay aside some things that are not sinful but are holding us back from what He desires. It may seem like a strange request, but God knows what is best for us, He sees our potential, and is daily working on us to make us what He wants us to be. Faith and obedience will give us victory.
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus that you are continually working on us, to make us into the vessel you desire, and prepare us for our place in your kingdom. Help us to sensitive to the leading of your Holy Spirit.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
2 Comments
Thank you so much for this devotion. God has been dealing with me about laying aside something that is really insignificant. But has caused me some consternation. I needed to hear this and it has helped me to make the right choice.
Thank you, Linda. I am happy that this was a blessing to you.