God is willing to wait. Judges 6:19-24 Gideon's excuses and awareness of his limitations were all laid bare before the Lord as if He didn't already know about them. The Lord understands our doubts and fears. He knows our situations personally and is fully aware of what is happening around us. After all, everything is under His sovereign authority. Moreover, He does not expect us to go beyond our own experiences alone. He said to Gideon, "I will be with thee." The same is true for us today. We are not left "to go a warfare" on our own. We are not asked by the Lord to do what we cannot possibly do. When we follow Him by faith, He opens the way before us and gives us the power to accomplish the service He has for us to fulfill.
The offering Gideon wanted to present to the Lord was not just a desire for reassurance of God's call but also an act of faith. For people in desperate circumstances, giving an ephah of scarce flour was a costly gift, as was one of the small goats he had hidden from the Midianites and the broth that could feed the family. The display of God's power in consuming the meat and bread with fire coming from the rock was meant to assure Gideon of God's strength. His worship was not a casual activity; he offered the best he had, and God clearly accepted it through a visible, extraordinary sign. Fire came from the rock as God accepted the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the drink offerings Gideon presented.
The flesh of the kid of the goats speaks to us of the burnt offering - and of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was "obedient unto death." The unleavened cakes in the meal offering teach us of Christ's humility and lowliness. As a drink offering, the poured-out broth takes us to the place in our minds where our Lord "poured out His soul." Even though he didn't see the angel after the offering was accepted, the Lord plainly spoke to him and assured him of the peace that was between them.
When we offer what we have to God and He uses it for His glory, our faith is greatly strengthened. A holy fear of God arises when we recognize that He has worked through our weak efforts. Gideon knew that anyone who looked at God would die, so it's no surprise he was afraid. After the angel of the Lord left, the Lord spoke to him without any visible form, offering reassurance and peace to His timid servant. We experience peace because of God's approval of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. There's no need to wait for overwhelming feelings before moving forward with God's call. Accept what the Lord says, act on His commands, and trust Him to fulfill His promises.
Coming face to face with the "angel of the Lord," Gideon was transformed. He was never the same afterward. That experience during a difficult time taught him lessons that would never have been learned if times had been easy. We come to understand God in ways that are indelibly shaped by hardships we face. "My strength is made perfect in weakness." When we experience God's grace in tough times, our character, humility, and ability to connect spiritually with others are greatly strengthened. We become more aware of God and less self-conscious. It is inevitable that we become more aware of God's presence when we worship and know that our worship is accepted.
At the moment of our new birth, we come to know God and the Lord Jesus Christ. "This is life eternal." Usually, at that time, we have very little awareness of who He is and His holiness, greatness, and majesty because we are mainly focused on having been saved by His grace. In the subsequent events, we learn what the "peace of God" is like when we are under stress of one kind or another. Our Lord reveals to us in many different ways the aspects of His being when "we walk in the light as He is in the light." The walk of faith gives us an understanding of what "Jehovah-Shalom, the God of Peace" means. "The peace of God which passes all understanding" keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The doubts pass; repentance and faith become real; disobedience is confessed and forsaken; obedience takes priority in our lives.
God, willing to wait for the results of genuine repentance and faith, forgives us for our doubting ways and provides us with the promises of His presence and power. The evidence of our return to faith will be reflected in the facts and acts of true worship when we turn away from ourselves and our own ways and submit to His gracious ways. Our vision then becomes sanctified and aligned with Scripture. We are willing to act under divine authority because the Lord enables us to see by faith what we would normally miss due to our fleshly and worldly limitations.
Some principles related to leadership in the story of Gideon are that we need initiative: the first step in making something happen. Initiative requires... 1. A call to action: Judg. 6:14 "Go in this thy might." That is a strong command, a divine order from the highest Authority. "I sent thee." The Lord's strength enables us to answer this urgent call. The challenge to awaken and motivate comes from the Lord despite our fears, hesitations, doubts, and worries. Gideon's life was touched from above, just like Deborah, Paul, Abraham, and Mordecai. 2. Availability: Judg. 6:25. When we realize what needs to be done, we must be available, obedient, and brave. Sometimes, we hesitate because of fear of errors, but the false gods that cause trouble must be removed. Esther, Rebekah, Hannah, David, and Samuel all had to act despite their fears. 3. Loyalty: Judg. 6:26. The challenge for those loyal to the Lord is always high. Gideon's first moment of glory was when the false gods were torn down, trees were cut down, and a sacrifice was offered. Nicodemus, Elisha, and Jonathan all had to go against the crowd. The initiative requires... 4. Leadership: Judg. 6:27. He blew a trumpet, and through his action, he inspired others to follow, like Moses, Joshua, and Deborah. 5. Facing doubts: Judg. 6:36-40 is never easy for anyone aware of their limits. Gideon handled doubts by using the fleece on the ground, the same place where he first encountered God. The first time, he used the fleece; the second, Israel would be blessed. John, Thomas, and Sarah experienced doubts too, yet God was able to use them to bring blessings. 6. Sense of timing: Judg. 7:1 is crucial once a plan is clear. He didn't delay or hesitate but moved forward in faith, like Jael, Bartimaeus, Philip, and Zaccheus. 7. Worship as a real act: Judg. 7:15. Later, by a Midianite tent with only Purah (fruitful) as a witness, he worshipped. God grants faith, courage, strength, and peace in His presence when we are willing to obey what we are told. Abraham didn't know where he was going, and Simeon didn't know when he would see the Lord Jesus. They trusted God and worshipped at the right time and place. 8. Responsibility: Judg. 7:17. Once victory was assured, Gideon wasted no time taking action. When he stepped into leadership, he was responsible for everyone who followed. Timothy, Gaius, Priscilla/Aquila, and Esther all understood that much depended on their responsibility.
When our vision is heightened to see things around us as God sees them, our initiative prompts us to move forward in faith and dedicate ourselves to what God has called us to do. An initiative alone can be risky if we do not follow divine guidance. That’s why vision must come first. Steps taken in faith with confidence from God enable us to see as He sees, and our entire perspective shifts. Once Gideon received a vision from the Lord, the circumstances around him no longer seemed impossible to change. He saw through God's eyes. When God provided direction, he acted with initiative, and the Lord began to work through His chosen judge. This resulted in a proper understanding of what was happening and why. Corrective measures were implemented, and in His own time and manner, God brought about the actions necessary for His people to be delivered from the destructive power of strife.
There are examples of perspective in Jn. 13:2-17 and 21:15-1. Perspective is a point of view in understanding or judging things or events, especially one that reveals their true relationship to each other. Judg. 6-8; 2 Cor. 3:6-11; Hab. 1:1-4; 3:17-19. Essential to perspective is balance. It is one thing to envision dreams and conquests; it is another to carry them out. Recognition of needs, when brought to our attention and when given a job to do, often dredges up a host of excuses for why it can’t be done. We must depend on divine intervention for success.
The quietness of the soul is essential for perspective. Often, the most significant achievements for God happen in the silence of our inner lives. Here, out of sight, we fulfill our private and personal commitments given to us by the Lord. When we realize our influence on others, our behavior and character inevitably impact those around us for better or worse. Perspective is the dynamic force that transforms us, guides others' faith, stirs dormant spirits, and awakens sleeping souls.
Godliness distinguishes people. Any change must be better than what was lost because, when someone knows God, they become a channel through which courage and strength flow to others, serving as a blessing and inspiration to touch, revive, and refresh. Focus is essential. Timid men tend to focus on the enemy, not on the One who leads them to victory. The water test was more about Gideon’s faith in God than for the men. The combat ratio of 1 to 450 was the same as Elijah’s.
Usefulness correlates with our willingness to be little. The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves; He understands our strengths and weaknesses and deals with us with great integrity. Self-importance can disrupt God's ongoing plans. Believing ourselves to be of little importance in our own eyes and abilities makes us truly useful. Perspective helps us see the bigger picture. When looking at the whole scene, Gideon gently, humorously, and humbly diffused the Ephraimites' complaints.
The Lord waited, knowing the man and understanding his fears. He understood his need for a physical sign to appear and confirm his actions of faith, so he could move forward by faith. Gideon needed to be confident that the Lord was in control in order to bring about deliverance. Walking by faith at our first encounter with God’s call is challenging. One fears the consequences that might unexpectedly fall on those who stand against strife, not realizing the lasting effects that can make or break a life. So, the Lord waits, and then the man of faith returns with arms full of what cost him much. God, with holy fire, burns away what is a sweet aroma to Him from a man's full heart. Now, he can begin with God's power and grace.
When the eyes of faith rise above the natural to spiritual vision, and when the work and word of God are applied to the present situation, those whose vision guides them to solve difficulties move forward confidently in the Lord. Plans are made, and God's honor inspires initiative. Leaving complacency behind, holy vision provides motivation, and actions replace merely ideas and distant dreams. Faith drives us forward, transforming schemes into reality. As we move ahead by faith, our perspective develops. There is great joy as we experience the victories. Living in God becomes clear, and we understand our purpose. God's plans for us and our reason for being alive and serving Him become evident.