Judges 6: 12
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
The story of Gideon has become one of my favorite Bible stories in recent times. Oftentimes, when we refer to the God who sees, Hagar comes to mind. But the God who sees is reflected throughout Scripture, and I find Him to be so evident in the story of Gideon.
In life, each individual has had their own share of struggles, traumas, and insecurities. These come about as a result of how we were raised and the things we were exposed to and have experienced throughout life. These experiences often help shape our character and our worldview. We therefore start to take on identities that are outside of the identity given to us by Christ.
When we think of the story of Gideon, for many of us what pops up is – “You mighty man of valor,” not focusing on the words that came before that – “The Lord is with you.” Gideon considered himself one of the very least of the least because he agreed with what society thought about him. To be quite honest, the odds really weren’t in Gideon’s favor if one looked at him through the lens of the world.
This was what Gideon had to say in Judges 6: 15: “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
For many of us, we believe that we are the very least. We believe what society has classified us as, what family members have classified us as, and we count ourselves out. We strike ourselves out because we feel unworthy and undeserving, not able to be used by God. We don’t see ourselves as mighty men and women of valor. But I’m here to tell you that, just like Gideon – The Lord is with you.
What made Gideon a mighty man of valor with the ability to be used by the Lord to deliver Israel from the hands of Midian was not because he was mighty in his capabilities; it was not because he was born into a family of prestige with warriors – NO.
Gideon was considered to be a mighty man of valor simply because the Lord was with him, and the Lord met Gideon right where he was at, in the midst of his insecurities and uncertainties. He met Gideon. He is also able to meet you in the midst of your insecurities and uncertainties that have been brought about because of life circumstances. He saw Gideon, and He sees you. Gideon doubted his valor, but God walked with him in the midst of his doubt and strengthened Gideon’s faith. Judges 6:36-40 demonstrates this beautifully.
Judges 6: 36 -40
“36 So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said, 37 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.”
Wow, I continue to be amazed by the heart of God for us, His people, His ability to meet us in the midst of uncertainty and insecurity, brought about as a result of life circumstances. If He did it for Gideon, He is more than able to do it for you.
The Lord is with you, you mighty man or woman of valor. Life happens, seasons come and go, but when you know that the Lord is with you, every Midian in your midst has to bow. I pray that the truth of the word will bear much fruit in your life as you walk it out in faith.
The Lord is with you.
Petal Perry Motivates.
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