Mighty hero? Me?

Judges 6 - 13

True to it's name, I encountered many deliverers in this book.  Deliverers that God called, "judges".  I won't write about all of them but there were a few that stood out, mostly because their stories were fun to read!

Ehud - This guy was left handed, like me!  He delivered tax money to King Eglon and one day he  brought the king a secret message - a dagger to the belly!  I especially found it amusing that God felt the need to mention that the king was so fat that Ehus lost his dagger! 

Deborah - a great story!  She believed God, NEVER doubting.  She brought Israel to victory over Sisra, who had 900 chariots!  Deborah, like Moses wrote a song for the Israelites so they would never forget all that God has done for them. 

Those are just a two of the many judges that God used, but there is another man, one whose story reminds me that God always sees what we can become, not what we really are.

Gideon.

The angel refers to him as, "Mighty hero", when he first calls on him.  He sure didn't think of himself that way.  In fact, I think the last thing Gideon felt like was a mighty hero!

He reminded the Lord "my clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!" (6:15)

Now, I don't don't know if "least" means youngest, or smallest or even weakest but one thing is for sure...Gideon did not have the confidence to be "a mighty hero."

And isn't it just like God to use him anyway?

God's response to him was, "I will be with you."  (vs 16)

The treasure I loved in this story was -- Gideon was not the obvious choice. 

He was cynical

...or sincere if you will.  Raw.  Sometimes we need to tell God exactly how we feel.  I think God appreciates that.  I believe it brings us to a deeper level with Him.  Gideon had NO problem doing that, "if God's with us, why has all this happened to us?  Where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?  The Lord has abandoned us." (6:13) Sarcasm much?

He was skeptic

He needed a sign from God - not just once - but three times! He asked God, "please don't be angry with me but if you are truly going to use me...I need proof". (6:39) Fighting against the Midians could possibly mean life or death!  He wanted to be absolutely sure that THIS WAS GOD! 

He was scared

God asked him to tear down his father's alter that he had build for Baal, an idol.  Although Gideon obeyed....he did it at night because "he was afraid of the other members of his father's household and the people of the town." (6:27) 

Finally believing that God is behind him, Gideon watches as God removes all of the props in which he might have trusted.  His army was reduced from 32,000 to 300!  His weapons were reduced to pitches, torches and trumpets and his strategy was but a single command, "Stand still!" 

God's a pretty awesome multi-tasker. He was increasing Gideon's faith but at the same time, He also wanted to be sure that the Israelites couldn't boast, saying they saved themselves, by their own strength. 

God saw the ending.  He knew that Gideon would be a mighty hero.  He also knew that Gideon would give all the glory to God. 

Israel asked him to be their ruler.  His response? 

"The Lord will rule over you!" (8:23)

There was peace for 40 years - during the rest of Gideon's life.

I'm so glad that God loves us for who we are...but sees us for what we can be! 

Is seeing the ONLY way to believe?

Joshua 1-3

The book of Joshua was only 24 chapters so I read them over a couple of days.  Most of the book is an account of the wars that were fought and what land was given to which tribe. 

I found myself skimming through a lot of Joshua.  However, when I went back to begin journaling what I had underlined, I realized there were quite a few things that touched my heart and lessons to be learned in this great book. 

First, I loved the little "pep talk" God gave, directly, to Joshua.  He tells him three times "be strong and courageous!"  He also tells him not to be discouraged, or afraid, and to keep His laws.  He promises to be with him just as He was with Moses!

"I will not fail you or abandon you."  (1:5)

That must have meant a lot to Joshua because I'm sure he questioned his ability to follow in the steps of Moses. 

The people even assured him that they would "do what he commanded and go where he sends them" and mimicked the words of their God - "be strong and courageous!" 

I imagine people were tempted to "compare" Joshua's leadership to that of Moses.  In fact, the bible records moments when they said to him, "the Lord instructed Moses...."

Joshua could have fallen into a trap of self doubt but instead he marched on knowing that God was with him and that he had a very specific purpose! 

Both he and Moses had their own part to play and Joshua must have been able to recognize that.  He understood that the nation's true leader was God and THAT never changed.

Only the instrument He used.

True to his word (was there any doubt?) God went ahead and showed them favor long before the Israelites took their first step into battle.

Joshua sent two spies into the promise land much the way Moses did, to "size up" the competition.  However, this time...the outcome was very different.  They ran into a prostitute and this is what she told them:

1.  I know the Lord has given you this land.
2.  We are all afraid.  EVERYONE is living in terror.
3.  We have heard the Lord has made a dry path for you.
4.  Our hearts are melted in fear!
5.  NO ONE has the courage to fight.
6.  Your God, is the supreme God.
7.  Jericho will be conquered.

Imagine!!!  Knowing you are going to war and the opposition is scared to death of you!  They do not have the courage to fight!  

God HAS gone before you! 

Just as God said, waaaaay back in Exodus, people are hearing the great things He has done for them! 

In chapter 2 verse 24 the spies went back to the people and told them, "the Lord is going to give us the whole land for sure!  All of the people in the land are terrified of our people!!" 

Um, yeah.  Hasn't God been telling them that all along? 

Why is we have to see for ourselves or even hear it from someone else before we believe that what God says is true?

Grasshoppers vs. Giants

Numbers 13-16

Whoa!  God is MAD!  Moses sends twelve guys to go and check out the land God is giving them and they come back and say, "No way are we going to conquer them!  They are giants!  We are like little grasshoppers compared to them!"

There are just 2 out of the 12 that try to encourage the people to move on into the land that God is handing over to them - Joshua and Caleb.

What surprises me is that these ten guys were able to convince 600,000 soldiers that they will be swallowed up if they go there!  God has already promised them!!! It's their word versus God's!  ....and yet they believed the men. 

How often do I listen to my friends advise or lies from the enemy over God's promises?   Imagine the victory I would have conquering the "giants" in my life if I would just learn to turn to God and trust what He has to say. 

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Like Joyce Meyer says, "Instead of turning to the phone, we need to turn to the throne."  *smile*  I like that one.
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But, really now...how many more miracles do they need to witness first hand before they will finally trust that what God says is truth?  

So, they start weeping and wailing, complaining and making rash decisions - like going back to Egypt!  

...and God was MAD!  He asked Moses, "How long will they reject me?  I've done so many miracles for them!" 

Imagine how God must have felt.  When I read statements like that - God feeling regected, or God is grieved, or He's please -it makes me feel that much closer to knowing who He is. 

I love it.  Although, it makes me sad that He felt feels rejection from those He loves sooo much.     

I can relate.  I'm the mother of a teenager.  

At any rate, He's had enough and so He decides to destroy them...

...and Moses changed His mind. 

Moses reminded God that he made a promise.  He pleads with God to show His power once again so that generations to come will not be able to say, "The Lord was not able to bring them into the land He swore to give them." (14:16)

He even went so far as to quote God's very own words, saying, "Remember God??  You even said, 'The Lord is slow to anger and rich in unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion.'"(14:18)

However, he also recognized that He does not leave sin unpunished and told God as much.  

So, God pardons them.  But...(as a result of their rejection), He goes on to say, "Those living today, will NEVER see the promised land."   It is the next generation that He will lead into the promised land.

He declares the people of Israel, 20 years or older, will wander in the wilderness for 40 years and die there.  He also strikes dead the ten leaders that didn't have faith in the first place and convinced Israel to feel the same. 

Another lesson in this passage - My actions shouldn't be based on my feelings!  I need to learn, understand and live by God's promises and not my feelings!  Because my feelings and emotions change every minute of every day - as opposed to   God's promises.  They stand true.  Day after day.

You know, this is is the 3rd time I recall someone convincing God to change His mind which brings me to my third lesson in this passage of scripture - prayer.  

I think I have a lot to learn about my prayer life, and the manner in which I can and should approach God, from Moses in chapter 14: 5:19)  

• Have faith - "...he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us! ...They (the giants) have no protection, but the Lord is with US!  Don't be afraid of them!"
• Obey - "Do not rebel against the Lord..."
• Know His promises and what He's already done  - "...the power you displayed in rescuing these people from Egypt."
• Acknowledge His power  - "Please, Lord prove that you power is as great as you have claimed it to be."
• Quote scripture - "For you have said...".

This passage has been filled with some great lessons and revealing truths about who God is.  There are days that feel "extra" blessed to have access to His wonderfully amazing, living, Word, and today is one of them!