Gideon: For Such A Time As This
The story of Gideon is relevant for such a time as this. A time when people are facing oppression . A time when people are being impoverished. A time when many are questioning God’s goodness.
“But sir, ” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”
Judges 6:13 (NIV)
Perhaps you have said these exact words in this season, or a variation of the words. The words spoken when God seems to be silent and oblivious to the pain and heartache we go through for simply being alive. The words of despair when you have done all you know to do and nothing seems to work. The words you say when you have reached the end of yourself. The words of absent hope. And yet it was in that place of darkness that the call came.
I. The Call
The call was clear.
The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
Judges 6:14 (NIV)
☆ The call was to solve the problem.
☆ The call was to save the people.
☆ The call was given to one for the sake of many.
II. The Rebuttal
“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
Judges 6:15 (NIV)
☆ The rebuttal is the narrative we have about ourselves.
☆ The rebuttal is our excuse.
☆ The rebuttal is the reason for disobedience.
III. The Assurance
The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
Judges 6:16 (NIV)
☆ Assurance comes from the one who sends you.
☆ Who is sending you?
III. Fear
So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.
Judges 6:27 (NIV)
☆ Fear may appear, but it should not stop us.
IV. The Reassurances
Gideon replied, “If now I have found favour in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.
Judges 6:17 (NIV)
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised — look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand.
Judges 6:36-37 (NIV)
Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.”
Judges 6:39 (NIV)
If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterwards you will be encouraged to attack the camp […]When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshipped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”
Judges 7:9-15 (NIV)
☆ Reassurance is given by the one who sent you.
☆ Reassurance gives courage where fear exists.
☆ Reassurance results in action.
V. Action
The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands…
Judges 7:7 (NIV)
“Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.
Judges 7:17 (NIV)
When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah towards Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
Judges 7:22 (NIV)
Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”
Judges 7:24 (NIV)
☆ Act on the instructions.
☆ Action requires partnership with others.
☆ God moves in the actions He has instructed you to take.
VI. Criticism
Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they criticised him sharply.
Judges 8:1 (NIV)
But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.
Judges 8:2-3 (NIV)
☆ Criticism is inevitable.
☆ Face criticism with wisdom.
VII. Victory
They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites
and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.
Judges 7:25 (NIV)
Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping in pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it […] I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” […] Gideon stepped forward and killed them, and took the ornaments off their camels’ necks.
Judges 8: 4-21 (NIV)
☆ Victory occurs in stages
☆ Victory can be tiring
☆ Victory requires focus
Your Turn:
These are peculiar times. Yet, the times don’t determine who you are.
When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
Judges 6:12 (NIV)
Perhaps, these peculiar time may just reveal who you really are. Who knows…maybe like Gideon, it was for such a time as this that you were born!