Nevertheless – Gideon

I love the conversation the Lord has with Gideon in Judges 6. Because Israel had turned from the Lord, the Midianites were brutally oppressing them, stealing all their crops. Gideon, in total fear, is threshing wheat hiding in a wine press, trying desperately to hide his precious wheat from the Midianites.

He was trapped. Israel was trapped. Gideon was slogging through the day doing the little he could. living in fear in the middle of an oppressive situation he could do nothing about. And then God shows up. Please forgive my paraphrase:

God: The Lord is with you, Might Man of Valor!

When God shows up, he sees you like you will be, like he wants to make you, not like you currently are, or how you see yourself.

Gideon: Are you talking to me? If the Lord is with us, then why'd all this happen? The Midianites are starving us to death!

Notice he said, “If the Lord is with US...” He couldn't believe the Lord would specifically be with him.

God: About that. Go take out the Midianites. I am with you.

Gideon: Are you talking to me? My clan is the weakest in Israel, and I'm the weakest in my clan!

His homies probably called him, “Lil Gid.”

God: Nevertheless, I am with you. You will defat the Midianites.

God doesn't argue with Gideon about Gideon's excuses. He does something much ruder. He completely ignores them. Nevertheless... None of our excuses matter when God is with us.

Are you trapped in the slog? God has a calling for you; it's on your heart right now. It's beyond your ability, but your weaknesses and inabilities don't matter. God is with you. If you will take the step that's on your heart, God will make it work.

Leave a comment and tell me about it.

Note 1: God's calling never contradicts his word the Bible, and never hurts another person.

Note 2: It's ok to test the calling. Gideon did, twice with a fleece. God passed the test both times. It's ok to say, “Ok God, if you're calling me to do this, I need this situation to work out.” Maybe this situation refers to finances, or relationships, or job, etc. Asking God to confirm his calling won't eliminate the risk, but it'll convince you that it's really God to the point where you can go for it.