Scriptures: Judges 6; Romans 8 v 34 - 39.
We all admire a courageous man. One who goes against
impossible odds to outwit and destroy the enemy and protect and save the weak.
We connect with William Wallace in Braveheart and Liam Neeson in Taken; Jason
Bourne in the Bourne movies.
There are men in the Bible who have done brave and
outstanding deeds and been honoured in scripture. Moses the stutterer who
rebuked Pharoah and led Israel to freedom; King David who defeated the giant
Goliath and won the respect of a nation; Joshua who overcame the obstacles to
prevent Israel coming into the Promised Land.
In judges 6 we meet a man favoured by the Lord called
Gideon. In verse 12 we read "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him
(Gideon), and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour."
Gideon complained to the angel that the children of
Israel were under attack from the Midianites. He said also I am the youngest
child of a poor family how can I do anything. He must have wondered why the
angel saw any valour in him.
The angel said The Lord will fight for you and deliver
the Midianites into your hand. Gideon was not convinced and asked for a sign.
He got one when he was cooking food under the angel's direction and the angel
put forth his staff and the food was consumed by a flame of fire.
This caused the man of valour to panic because he had
seen an angel and would now die. God Himself reassured him that he would live
so Gideon immediately built an altar to worship the Lord. He was then
instructed to destroy the altar that had been built to Baal, which he and his
servants did.
This Baal worship CAUSED Israel to be victims of attack
because the Lord does not protect those who worship demons. The ones who had
built the altar now wanted to kill Gideon. His father, Joash, said let the god
speak and fight for himself.
After this the Midianites gathered to do battle and
Gideon blew a trumpet which summoned all the armies of the 3 tribes of Israel
nearest to him. He then laid a fleece of wool on the ground and asked the Lord
to show him if he really would win this battle through the power of God that He
would wet the fleece and the ground around it stay dry.
The fleece got wet the ground did not! If you want to
know the out come of the battle read chapter 7.
Gideon is like so many of us. Not really that brave when
it comes to trusting God when the chips are down and defeat is staring us in
the face. God can tell us face to face that we will win because He is with us
and we still seek a sign, a confirmation, a word from scripture or a prophecy
and we still panic. This is human nature but how our faith grows when we trust
the Lord and see that He is true to His Word. Not just once but every time,
every day, every battle He brings us through.
So don't tempt the Lord, don't fall prey to doubts and
fears, but believe and see that YOU are that mighty man or woman of valour and
you will triumph over all adversity because of the power of Jesus in your life.
Of all who have been born on this Earth He is the truest Man of Valour you will
ever know.
Prayer: Father God, You have made a way for us to be
Victorious in every situation. His name is Jesus Christ. When we are alive in
Him who can be against us? Show us how our faith can be strengthened, Father.
In Jesus' name. Amen.