Judges 6:1-6
Do you know people who go in and out of their relationship with God and yet are angry at the difficulties they face?
How often do we let problems pile up until they are unbearable before we cry out to God?
Judges 6:7-40
Life Lesson #1
God will respond to the cry of His children but are we willing to listen. It is easy to complain, point fingers, and even blame God Himself but how about saying God use me to bring change.
God now chooses Gideon a "least likely" to become Israel's deliverer. The problem though despite the angel of the Lord speaking to Gideon "God is with you, mighty warrior,"Gideon had a hard time believing it.
What excuse have we made for God not being able to use us? We can believe Him for salvation but why not as His deliverer.
Blaming others for the problems we face comes easy. Making excuses comes just as easy to those who are blamed.
Leaders get bombarded with people who want to complain yet won't volunteer themselves.
Life Lesson #2
What God is looking for are people who move beyond making excuses and blaming others and start taking ownership of the land by becoming change agents through Christ.
Life Lesson #3
God is okay with us seeking a sign from Him before we step out for at least we are attempting to believe, what He is not okay with is unbelief.
I have always been a big dreamer but sometimes when a dream is about to become a reality it is hard to believe that God the creator of the Universe would use me despite my shortcomings!
Despite our doubts God continues in His mercy and long suffering to reveal His plan to us in one way and another until we finally say, yes Lord, I believe, and fear turns to faith, and anxiety turns to peace as we submit ourself to Him as a living sacrifice to follow His will.
Life Lesson #4
It will always cost something to obey God. Have we counted the cost? Are we willing to surrender all, even if it means our life?
In the midst of confrontation God's Spirit will empower us as it did with Gideon to stand strong for the Lord.
Chapter 7
vs. 1-7
Why do we to face such adversity in life? Why does every step forward come with such a fight? Why do battles that seem easy become so difficult?
We see these questions answered in Judges 7:2.
Life Lesson #5
If things were so easy we would become proud. The glory goes to God when man cannot boast in that which only God can do. (vs. 2)
Life Lesson #6
We should rather walk forward with a few, who are filled with faith, than many who are full of fear. What pleases God is not numbers but faith. If people are growing in faith God is pleased, for faith moves mountains not crowds (vs.3)
Life Lesson #7
Some people mix faith and foolishness together. They say they are walking by faith but they are blind from lack of understanding. Wisdom and faith need to go hand in hand.
If we don't have a proper balanced Kingdom perspective of the Word of God, our so called faith will turn out to be nothing but foolishness. Man may promote us because of our gift but God promotes us when we have been made truly ready by the word of God.
God tested the men of Israel and only 300 out of 20,000 had faith mixed with intelligence. Yet God only needs the few who are truly ready to take down a multitude of enemies (vs. 4-7)
Life Lesson #8
As long as we have the desire to believe, God has away of erasing our doubts (vs. 9-15)
Life Lesson #9
When the Word of the Lord directs our steps the sword of the Lord goes before us and defeats all our enemies (vs.17-25).
Chapter 8
Vs. 1-3
Have you ever expected peers to celebrate victory with you but rather they responded with animosity?
Life Lesson #10
People's criticism often comes from jealousy, to avoid unnecessary conflict, the best response (like Gideon when he returned from victory over the Midianites), is to remind them of their own great accomplishments (which caused their anger to reside).
Vs. 4-21
Jesus said in Mark 9:40 "that those who are not against us are for us," therefore those who are against us are not for us. Gideon reached out for help when his men were tired and was refused, in which Gideon promised punishment would follow. This did not steer Gideon away from his original objection to catch and destroy Zebah and Zalmunna. Though tired they continued on and met their objection and later returned and punished those who refused to help.
Life Lesson #11
We must be about our Father's business not allowing disappointments to move us out of His perfect will. People who we expect to support us may reject us when in need, but God will still carry us through, we don't need to take it personal for "vengeance is mine says the Lord."
Vs. 22-35
Why would we rather be ruled by man than God? Is it that we prefer a lower standard. We would rather not lose total control.
Life Lesson #12
When the people of Israel finally recognized the value of Gideon and admonished him to rule them, he said no, that the Lord alone would rule over them.
This is why God uses the least likely, for in their broken state, they serve God in humility.
Man may promote us because of our ability but God promotes us because of our humility.
Godly humility recognizes that one is nothing without God for He alone therefore is exalted.
Many people start well but don't finish well. Gideon created a sacred ephod made from gold as a memorial to honor God. People prefer idols because they do not require one's life in return. They have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. They are merely symbolic, just mere images, not the authentic real thing.
Life Lesson #13
As leaders we must understand that what we think may be right because it comes from a pure heart may not be wise because of those around us who may use it with wrong intentions. What Gideon thought was honorable to God became a stumbling block for idol worship. We must be wise what is the condition of the hearts of the people we serve so that what we implement instead of drawing closer God drives them further away.
