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May 15 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” Judges 6:11,12. The continually present Midianites, who would ravage their land and steal their food and possessions, frightened Gideon and his family. Many of them would hide in the rocks and caves. One day Gideon was trying to thresh some wheat and hide it. He was using a wine press, for it is likely that their grain mill had already been stolen. He was not known as a mighty warrior, but God knows the potential that lies within us. That potential is realized when the Lord is with us! It will not matter what the world thinks, or even what limitations we heap upon ourselves. The important thing is for us to believe what God says about us. We know the story. Gideon has a number of questions, and God patiently waits while Gideon offers one condition after another under which he will believe God—one fleece situation after another. Are we not like that? Given time to analyze what God has told us, we can come with all kinds of conditions that must be met to satisfy us about trusting God. But God can wait. He alone knows our heart. Gideon’s story shows the miracles that only God can produce. He calls for Gideon to reduce the size of his army—32,000 men is too many, but 300 will suffice. Any larger number would tend for us to give the credit to man, not God. I am reminded of how often I attempt to weigh the outcome of my efforts to please God, all the while I am not allowing God to be God. I often fancy that any victory must be won by my skills, not His. But let us focus on the outcome. Gideon trusts the Lord and victory is won—even over a Midianite army that cannot even be numbered. If only we could serve God in the same way. It is the way of faith, clearly marked out for us by the love of God. Father, we give all praise to You. We are so prone to trust only in ourselves. Place us in situations that will require us to see Your hand upon us. Teach us to realize that only You can win the victory. In the precious name of Jesus, amen. |
