Today’s Reading: Judges 6; Psalm 60

After Deborah and Barak led the Israelites to victory, there was peace in the land for forty years. But the Israelites began doing evil in the Lord’s sight, so he handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites found themselves hiding in caves and strongholds to protect themselves from the raiders, marauders, and enemy hoarders that were devastating their crops and stealing their flocks. Once the Israelites were reduced to starving, THEN they cried out to the Lord for help. They waited until they had no other options before they called on the God who had already shown them that He could rescue them from Egypt and drive out their enemies in Canaan.

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree of Ophrah…Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” – Judges 6:11-12

Gideon reminds me of Mighty Mouse. That’s right, the little mouse dressed in a red superhero costume with a yellow cape comes to my mind when I read the story of Gideon. According to Wikipedia, the creator of this small hero, Paul Terry, made this comment: “When a man is sick, or down, or hurt, you say, ‘There’s nothing more we can do. It’s in God’s hand.’ And he either survives or he doesn’t according to God’s plan. Right? So, ‘Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.’ So, taking that as a basis, I’d only have to get the mice in a tough spot and then say, ‘Isn’t there someone who can help?’ ‘Yes, there is someone; it’s Mighty Mouse!’ So, down from the heavens he’d come sailing down and lick the evil spirit, or whatever it was. And everything would be serene again.” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_Mouse]

MAN’S EXTREMITY IS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY

What a great statement! The people of Israel were in an extreme situation, they were on the edge of survival. They were starving while they hid from their enemies, protecting what little they had left from the marauders who were as thick as locusts with droves of camels too numerous to count (6:5). And out of everyone, God chose Gideon to lead His people in battle against their enemies.

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. — Judges 6:14-17

While the lovable cartoon character, Mighty Mouse, would have puffed out his chest and declared, “Here I am to save the day”, Gideon’s response was a little different. Before he stepped into this new leadership position, he wanted proof from God. Each time I read this dialogue between Gideon and the Lord in Judges 6, I am shocked by his bold accusations and his demand for proof from God.

“Where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? … The Lord has abandoned us…If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me…” — Judges 6:13, 17a

I find it crazy that Gideon would be so bold. Where is your display of power, God? Have you abandoned us? If you truly are faithful to keep your promises, show me a sign. I need proof; I need to feel your presence and hear your voice. Yet when I remember the times I have argued and negotiated with God, I begin to relate a little to this not-so-mighty hero.

God did give Gideon the proof he asked for and Gideon, humbly realizing what he had demanded of the Lord, built an altar and named it Yahweh-Shalom – which means “the Lord is peace” (6:24). Now Gideon had peace in his heart that he was truly being called by God, but he still struggled with fear as demonstrated in this next situation.

GOD GIVES US THE PEACE WE NEED TO OBEY HIM EVEN WHEN IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO US.

God told Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and break his Asherah pole. He told him to build an altar to the Lord and sacrifice one of his father’s bulls as a burnt offering, using the Asherah pole as kindling. Gideon obeyed, but he did it at night because he was afraid of the other members of the family. God protected Gideon from their angry response, and then something incredible happened in Gideon’s life — the Spirit of the Lord took possession of him (6:34a).

Now filled with the MIGHTY SPIRIT, Gideon blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms. He sent messengers out, calling all of Israel’s warriors to come together to fight the Midianites. Then Gideon went back to his natural tendency and spiritual weakness as he asked God, once again, for proof that He was truly going to use Gideon to rescue Israel as He had promised He would do.

A great lesson for Gideon and a good reminder for me today is that God ALWAYS keeps His promises. When He sends us to do something, He equips us with the strength to be obedient. There is no need for Him to repeat Himself or to prove His faithfulness, for God can be trusted. I want nothing more than to blindly follow Him wherever He leads.

MY EXTREMITY IS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY!

Father God, thank you for reminding me this morning that you are with me through all situations, even when I have delayed calling on you for help. When I am at the end of my rope and my circumstances are extreme, you are there to remind me that you are with me and that you will give me the strength to step forward in boldness. I ask for that kind of courageous faith today. Give me a humble spirit that responds in awe of you and a grateful heart that is thankful to hear from you. May I accept your commands with courage and may I receive your call with a willingness to do whatever you want me to do. So great is your faithfulness; so amazing is your love. Amen.

With God’s help we will do mighty things,
for he will trample down our foes. – Psalm 60:12