Gideon - God is always sufficient

Again we find another person that God, through his weakness, was able to do extraordinary things. And in a lot of ways, we can relate to Gideon. When living in our weaknesses we overlook the power of God that is with us. I think we all can relate to asking God, "Where are you?", "You want me to do what?", "Are you sure, I can do this?", etc. As we read Gideon's story we can see how God built his faith through the signs, that enabled him to do what God called him to do. I think we can find comfort and strength in Gideon's story.

Humble beginnings

• Judges 6:11-12
  • Israel was living in fear of the raids by the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east.
  • Gideon was a farmer who was threshing grain to provide food for his family.
  • Then the angle greeted him with "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you".
• Judges 6:13-16
  • Gideon starts by asking God, where are you while we are all suffering.
    • Bold questions from someone that perceives himself weak.
  • His response to Gods direction was one of self-doubt.
  • Anything plus God is always more than sufficient.

Building Faith

• Judges 6:17-21
  • Round One, Fight!
  • Gideon asked for proof of ID.
    • How often do we find ourselves in the same boat today?
    • They did not yet have the Holy Spirit in the Lives as we do after Christ's death.
• Judges 6:25-27
  • First task
  • Gideon was asked by God to tear down Baal's alter
  • He did so at night so that no one would know who did it
• Judges 6:28-31
  • But it ended with Him boldly stating "if Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who broke down his alter!"
  • Would he have been so bold if he had not been strengthen in his faith by asking for Proof of ID?

Growing in Faith

• Judges 6:36-38
  • Round Two, Fight!
  • Gideon asks for God for another sign to show him that he is really the one to save Israel
• Judges 6:39-40
  • Round Three, Fight!
  • Gideon asks again for another sign
    • You really want to use me?
  • How often do we find ourselves feeling the same way asking God, "Really you want, me, to do this?" "Are you sure?"

Game Day

• Judges 7:2-7
  • At first, I would imagine that Gideon felt strong in his faith and seeing an army of men numbering 32,000 men ready to fight the Midianites.
  • However, God wanted no one to saw that they did this with their own strength, that He was the one who was going to give them the victory.
    • Sometimes we find ourselves facing difficult burdens that we have to bear and wonder where is God in all of this. Could it be that he is waiting for us to acknowledge our weakness or need for His assistance? How many times have we struggled with something that we were trying to do with our own strength?
• Judges 7:8-11
  • Pre-Game jitters
  • Ben there and done that.
  • God acknowledged that Gideon or the others may be still afraid of the army before them.
  • God provided a way to continue to strength Gideon, so he could finish what he was called to do.
• Judges 7:15-25
  • We see Gideon take the 300 men he had and make the most of it.
  • He took the men and divided them up into three groups of 100.
    • I believe this was an example of the faith that God had built in him.
    • He didn't fear that the 100 men would be over powered, but used what God said was enough.
  • Then we see God delivering the victory that was promised to Gideon.

God always gave Gideon what he needed, when he needed it. But Gideon had to bring himself, his faith in God, and his faith based actions to the table. God again and again uses weak men to do extraordinary things, so that others will know that He was at work. He uses the humble hearted to build up and grow into great things. I think that we can all see things in our lives that we can relate with Gideon. And I think that it is easy for us to focus on the battle and what we need to do, instead realizing the battle is God's. We are not alone in the battle, but we have the power of the Lord with us every step of the way. He realizes our weakness and fears, but he can use them to strength us, if we have faith in him.

What battles are you facing, and what is God doing to prepare you?