As I have mentioned before I have committed to reading through the Bible this year beginning with books that I haven’t read in their entirety. Typically, I tend to stick with the New Testament, I am much more comfortable with loving my neighbor than “old law”. When I realized this, it convicted me. I often say the Bible is a complete work, it is bound together. Yet we often treat it as we would an al la carte menu, selecting what sounds good to us in the moment.
For some reason I have started with the book of Judges and I am really digging this guy Gideon. If you don’t know, Gideon lived in the time after Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt. I have realized that the Israelites were in modern terms repeat offenders, but really aren’t we all? I know I am! So, they started this cycle of worshiping pagan gods, embracing a life of sin and complete disobedience of the Lord. Each time the Lord gave them an opportunity and they did not take it, they turned away. He allowed them to be conquered by other nations, enslaved, starved and given over to their sin. When they cried out for Him and His help, He rescued them. A period of peace followed these instances, then they fell away again, and the cycle started all over. Each. And. Every. Time. Following one of these cycles the Lord speaks to Gideon and tells him to go and that he will save the Israelites.
‘“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.”’ Judges 6:15-16 NLT
I am guessing that I would have responded like Gideon did. In fact, if I am being completely honest, I do it frequently. How many times do I question God with, “but, Lord how can I”? I question my ability and knowledge even though God has called me to do something. I don’t see the forest through the trees y’all. I realized I forgot the most important part of these verses. The Lord’s response, “I will be with you.” How many times have I forgotten that? Too many to count! I pray that you will remember the Lord will be with you every time you ask, “But Lord, how can I?”. Also, that you will remember Gideon, the least in his family, from a weak clan, no one expected much from him. The Lord used Gideon; the Lord will use you. Let us commit to being like Gideon.
Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash
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