June 9, 2004

Reading: Judges 6:11-16

“Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man" (16)

 

For seven years Israel had been under the domination of the Midianites, descendants of Abraham’s son (Gen 25:1-2). Israel had been brought to their knees as the invaders perpetually stole their crops and livestock. They were forced to live in caves and were “greatly impoverished (6). Their plight was so bad that they cried to the Lord for deliverance. God had a young Israelite man whom He had chosen to deliver Israel—his name was Gideon. While he was busy threshing wheat in an attempt to hide it from the Midianites, the Lord appeared to him. During the brief conversation that followed, the Lord told him He was sending him to deliver Israel. Gideon proceeded to question the Lord, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house” (15). Sort of reminds you of Moses, doesn’t it? Exod 3:10-4:14. Jonah, when God told him to go to Ninevah, didn’t argue, he ran!

That which catches my attention is God’s answer to Gideon, “Surely, I will be with you” (16). That, one would think, would be enough. I, the God of your fathers, your God who delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt and brought you through the wilderness into the promised land, even I will be with you. God expected His answer to be sufficient to quell this young man’s fear, but it wasn’t. Gideon continued to question God and ask for signs just to make sure that God would keep His promise and that this indeed was the Lord with whom he was speaking. Would it have been easier if the Lord had pointed to a scroll resting in the branches of the oak tree upon which was written specific and detailed plans?

I sit here at my computer in my arrogance thinking, “If God spoke to me that way I would not question Him.” But, as much as I say I trust God implicitly, I find myself asking Him questions, asking Him to prove to me that this is His voice I am hearing. Before I set out to conquer Midian, I would like to know how it will be accomplished. Lord, give me details!

Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” Matt 16:18. He did not, at that time, give any details. In His last words to His disciples He commissioned them to “Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” Matt 28:19-20. Once again, He did not lay out the blueprint giving the specifics of how this was to be accomplished. He gave the disciples the same assurance He gave Gideon and Moses, “I am with you.”

The questions beg to be asked, How well do you know the Lord? How much do you trust His word? Is the promise of His continued, uninterrupted presence sufficient to calm any fear? Those who truly know the Lord and enjoy a personal relationship with Him, are so much better off than Moses and Gideon—we have God living in us. We have His promise that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. He will be our Teacher and Counselor. He has promised to never leave or forsake us. This is the promise of the God who created the heavens and the earth, the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Sovereign Lord. It is impossible for Him to break His promise. No matter what task He tells us to do, His assuring words will accompany His command, “Be assured and confident, I will be with you.” May we go forward in the assurance that He not only knows the details but designed them.