Judges 6:11-18
Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” Gideon answered him, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has cast us off and given us into the hand of Midian.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.” He responded, “But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.” Then he said to him, “If now I have found favor with you, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. Do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay until you return.” Judges 6:11-18 (NRSVUE)
I’m just guessing that all of us have felt like Gideon at more than one time in our lives. Gideon was just one man who felt trapped in a situation that seemed out of his control. When an angel of the Lord came and told him that God would be with him and that he had it in him to lead the people of Israel, he was filled with doubt. After all, it seemed like an extremely tall task. I 100% believe that I would have reacted the same as Gideon in that given situation. Disbelief, insecurity and fear are common emotions experienced by many of us, and transforming our thoughts into belief and confidence can be hard.
Take a moment and think about a time that you felt like Gideon. Did you find yourself feeling overwhelmed in a situation at your work? Were you or a family member given a shocking medical diagnosis? What about feeling trapped in a relationship that could be described as toxic? As an elementary teacher, I think of it in more simplistic terms, like how one of my students feels when they can’t figure out spelling words, math facts, or how to get along with a friend. You can be overrun with doubt, insecurity and blame no matter if you are a child, teenager or adult. Your moment can feel big and in turn make you feel small.
Turn to the Lord our God for clarity and understanding. As we allow our hearts and minds to believe in Him, we see that all things are possible. Your belief system in the Lord will reestablish a positive mindset and absolutely lead you through those difficult, dark and trying times. No matter if it’s figuring out the difference between to, too and two in grammar class, navigating a difficult coworker, employee or boss at work, dealing with a cancer diagnosis, or finding a way to safely remove yourself from a problematic relationship, our Lord will help you find a way. As verse 12 states, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” Amen
Questions for Reflection:
- When have you felt like you were in a situation you could not overcome?
- How does your belief in our Lord guide you in those trying times?
- If you are in one of those situations now, who has the Lord put into your life to help see you through?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, All of our lives are filled with challenges that we traverse through over the years. Even though the scope of each varies, the foundation to overcome is based in our Faith in you. Guide us, allow us to listen and have patience that in time Your Will be done.
Amen
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