The background to this story is that Israel had been unfaithful to God. As a result, trouble came upon Israel, and the Midianites afflicted them. So, God withdraw His protections and blessings. Midianite kept stealing Israel's food. So, Israel was hungry and in trouble. Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you? Judges 6:14 GIDEON THEN GAVE A CALL TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD AND 32,000 RESPONDED.
It was starting to look promising, when the command came….But Judges 7:2 Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel brag against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Judges 7:3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. Imagine, two-thirds of those who identified themselves as Gideon’s men were found too fearful to go into battle. It is unfortunate that many go through life in an anxious state. When the going gets tough, they do not rise to the occasion but are the first to fall. Why is this? Fear and worry usually happen when we care too much about ourselves and not other people or even God. When we're too focused on our own safety and happiness, it shows that we don't trust the Lord enough.
1. ARE THERE FEARS OR WORRIES IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU NEED TO SURRENDER TO GOD, TRUSTING IN HIS STRENGTH AND GUIDANCE?
2. IS THERE A SITUATION IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU NEED TO STEP OUT IN FAITH AND TRUST GOD, EVEN WHEN YOU MAY FEEL AFRAID OR UNCERTAIN?
Mission is not possible when we are being preoccupied with ourselves and our own survival and well-being because this indicates a lack of trust in the Lord. The heroes of the Bible, though possibly afraid at times, overcame their fears by willingly moving forward in faith and following God anyway, trusting the results to Him.
SO TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND OF THE PEOPLE RETURNED…. Now, if the fearful depart, who is left? Two groups of people. The brave and those who think they are brave. Jdg 7:4 Yahweh said to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that those whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.” The word “try” comes from the Hebrew word tsaw-raf, and means to refine, such as gold is refined. Who were being tried? Those who remained behind, who were identified as the brave. Yet, bravery itself is not an indication of spiritual fitness for duty. The Lord was seeking those who are constantly looking away from themselves and ever-ready to do His bidding, to fulfill His will in the end. The Lord wanted people who always pay attention to His commands and are ready to do what He asks. They are willing to do His will in the end. The Lord tested Gideon's men by simple means way. If they took their time by the stream, knelt down to drink water, and didn't pay attention to their surroundings, it meant they weren't ready for the Lord's battle. They might seem brave, but in a real fight, their bravery would give in to their own desires. IMAGINE GIDEON ALONG WITH AN ARMY OF 10,000 REMAINING SOLDIERS MARCHING TOWARDS THEIR BATTLE LINES. IT WAS A HOT DAY AND THE SOLDIERS ARE VERY TIRED AND THIRSTY…..
Finally, after some time of marching in the hot sun, Gideon brings his soldiers down to a running stream of water. Oh, how nice it will be to refresh themselves, thought most of the group. For the majority, their minds had been focused on, when can I rest and when can we find some water, I am so thirsty. Coming to the inviting, cool stream, they dropped on their knees and oblivious to the world around them, indulged their craving for that life giving water. It felt so good to relax now.
3. HAVE YOU BEEN PREOCCUPIED WITH YOUR OWN NEEDS AND DESIRES, AND DO YOU FEEL THE CALL TO PRIORITIZE GOD'S WILL AND HIS GLORY IN YOUR LIFE?
In this story, a small number of these soldiers, even though they were very hot, tired, and thirsty, their tough situation didn't allow for relaxation. They were on a mission for the highest King, and despite being thirsty, they quickly scooped water with their hands and drank while keeping their eyes forward, always ready to move… Here we find that those who took their hands and scooped up the water, eyes looking straight ahead and ready for battle at any moment, are those who are tried and true and who will be loyal to God in any conflict, for they always put God first in everything. The test of faithfulness was about who cared more about their own needs compared to those who were more focused on meeting God's needs. It was a test of whether they put themselves first, their wants and desires, or if they put God first, His rights, His honor, and His glory. When Christ came to this world, He made His love for His Father the most important thing in His life and sacrificed Himself for us. He put our needs before His own. In return, our response should be to make our love for God the most important and prioritize His needs over our own. The Bible teaches us that if we value or love anything or anyone more than Christ, we are not worthy of Him. Gideon story is a message of putting God first, surrendering fears, and making a commitment to prioritize God's glory and service to others.
4. ARE THERE AREAS WHERE YOU'VE PUT SELF-INTEREST AHEAD OF SERVING GOD AND OTHERS, AND DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO CHANGE THIS PERSPECTIVE?
5. DO YOU DESIRE TO BE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE TRIED AND TRUE, ALWAYS READY TO PUT GOD FIRST IN EVERYTHING?
6. IS THERE A SPECIFIC COMMITMENT OR DECISION YOU NEED TO MAKE TODAY TO ALIGN YOUR LIFE MORE CLOSELY WITH GOD'S PURPOSE AND HIS WILL?
