Scripture: Judges 5-6.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Judges 6:13-16 (NLT)

13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I know that it is very easy for us to beat up on ourselves when we feel like our faith is so weak, but as I read the Word I can see where this is an issue that God has dealt with all along. I know that this is partly due to the fact that we are only human, and compared to the awesome power of the Almighty, we just can’t fathom how some things could actually occur the way that God may tell us it will. Gideon was this way, for he needed proof that this was truly God telling him to do such an impossible task (using as small clan such as his to save the nation of Israel). I believe that deep inside Gideon was convinced that this was an angel of God, because he followed the commands that seemed possible in his own eyes and heart, then as he built his confidence he continued with the command that seemed only possible in God’s eye. I believe that so often we sell short the mighty hand of God. So often we limit what He wants to do, to only what we think He can do. For example, if I felt impressed by God that He would send us a new family for our church to minister to, I would go out early to open the doors and welcome that family in. If, on the other hand, I heard God say that He will be using our little church to minister to and win the whole town of Avon Park, I would question my hearing, or my understanding of what God really meant. Like Gideon, I still have so little faith when it comes to seeing beyond the realm of my possibilities, and this comes even after studying what God did through Moses, Joshua, Gideon and many other prophets and warriors of the Bible. It is no wonder God declared in His Word later on, “O ye of little faith”. He is God alone, and we have every reason to listen to and obey His every command!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I thank You for Your patience with me, for You have been good to me in spite of my weaknesses and lack of faith, especially when it comes to the awesome things that You could accomplish through even me, or even through a church body that I consider small when compared to many around. You alone can do the things that seem impossible to me, but please touch my life and help me to overcome my doubt and fear. Please help me instead to truly believe that You are God alone and that ALL things are possible in and through You. In anticipation of You choosing to use even me to accomplish things in Your name, I pray that I will first be blessed with the faith to believe so strongly in You that I will willingly obey Your commands, even those that seem impossible to me. Please use me, and use Your church as instruments to grow Your kingdom here in this city and here on this earth. Thank You for using weak vessels such as us to reveal Your kingdom work, and thanks for considering even us for You to work through to accomplish that work!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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