Day 12

“The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hands. Am I not sending you?’ ‘But Lord’, Gideon asked, ‘how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together’.” — Judges 6:14-16

There are many heroes in the Bible who faced an ongoing crisis and Gideon was one of them. For seven years the Jewish people were overpowered by an enemy who refused to slacken their tirade. At every onslaught of the Midianites, they were forced into hiding, their land ravaged, and crops and herds destroyed.

Oppressed and defeated, the people cried out to the Lord and having heard their cries, an angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon. “The LORD is with you mighty warrior,” He said. (Judges 6:12). Gideon was unimpressed. “If the LORD is with us,” he asked, “then why is all this happening?” Judges 6:10 tells us that God’s people had fallen away from Him and were worshipping the gods of the Amorites. Nevertheless, God took compassion and said to Gideon, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand.” Another revelation to Gideon. What strength did he have? He asked the obvious question, “How can I save Israel?” God answered, “I will be with you.”

This, of course, was the explanation. God, Himself, would be his strength, and Gideon was soon to make a great discovery. He already knew God, and though he doubted and feared, all along he had the power he needed, but failed to recognize it. Instead, he evaluated his own ability and resources or lack of them, while completely discounting the supernatural power of God. But then Gideon exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” (Judges 6:22) One translation gives an alternative comment in the margin of the expression “the LORD came upon Gideon”, stating most beautifully that “The Lord clothed Himself with Gideon.”

One of the most profound discoveries a Christian can make is that God, Himself, is our strength. It’s not that He gives us more strength, nor does He teach us foolproof methods and techniques for producing results, but He literally gives us Himself! In whatever hardships we are facing or any task He has called us to do, Christ is sufficient. Everything we need is met in Him.

In the Christian life, victory is never won but received. By the hand of God, Gideon triumphed over the Midianites, and Israel enjoyed peace under his reign for forty years. Gideon trusted God and obeyed Him, two essential ingredients in experiencing a God-given victory that is just as true for us today!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being my strength. no matter what I face, no matter how insignificant or ill-prepared I may feel in my flesh, I know it’s you who sees me through.

To reflect upon: When called to act, do I focus on my short-comings rather than God’s provision of Himself? Has there been a time when God’s strength prevailed in a situation where I doubted my own ability?