Scripture: Judges 6:14-18
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.”
Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it really is the Lord speaking to me. Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.”
He answered, “I will stay here until you return.”
Observation:
God called Gideon to serve in a tailor-made assignment just for him. When He sent the angel to meet Gideon, Gideon was in hiding. But he could not hide in any place that God could not reach. Once the angel met Gideon, the angel gave him a specific assignment, followed by specific instructions.
“I will be with you.” God told Gideon, and God promised to give him the strength he needed to overcome the opposition. Despite this clear promise for strength, Gideon made excuses. Seeing only his limitations and weaknesses, he failed to see or believe God could work through him.
God’s willingness to engage in a back-and-forth conversation with Gideon shows the greatness of His grace and the length of His patience. Each time Gideon expresses seeds of doubt in God’s presence, promise, or ability to qualify him despite who he knew himself to be, God only responded with the call of who He said Gideon was.
Application:
It is natural to feel a sense of hesitation or fear when God calls us to do something. This is because He often calls us to things and places that conflict with what we’ve come to believe for one reason or another — whether due to comfort, discouraging memories, the strength of generational patterns, or the lack of knowledge of the “how.” We should be able to acknowledge these things and not stop there.
Like Gideon, you are called to serve God in very specific ways. Although God has already promised you all the tools and strength needed, you still may feel unprepared, unworthy, incomplete, or unable. You may have a “But (insert flaw/limitation here)..” of your own. As if He doesn’t already know this and He’s making a mistake. Only the enemy wants you to get caught up in your limitations. But God, knowing all there is about your character as it currently is, also knows who you have the capacity to become. He knew you even before He formed you. And He says that every flaw, limitation, or excuse is no obstacle for Him. In fact, it is the very element that will cement His glory and prove that you can trust Him. God says you are perfect for our assignment.
Take less account for the size of the limitation and more an account of the size of our God.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
You said your children will know you from their hearts. You will call, and they will have a desire to seek you, to live righteously, and to build your kingdom. We are children of yours, and from our hearts, we welcome your spirit to move us as you see fit for your plans. But honestly, God, we need your help. Help us to discern flesh from spirit. Help us to recognize the whispers of the enemies and the wicked in all of its tempting and self-crippling forms. We want to hear your voice and calling above all else. Like a sea being parted, separate your words from the counterfeits. See to it that our eyes see and our ears hear. And allow us your grace when we double and triple text you just to confirm what you’ve already told us. May you protect us from the divergence of our humanity and be the revelation that meets us in the middle, illuminating the next step. Provide us the clarity we need and affirm your presence.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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