God Himself Initiates our Destiny
God has a plan and a purpose for each one of us. We were created with purpose. Gideon’s purpose was to save the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites. As New Testament believers, we all have a general purpose to fulfil the Great Commission, making disciples and delivering people from the oppression of the enemy. Within that general purpose God has a specific plan for each of our individual lives, a tactic, a direction, specific works which He is wanting to reveal to us.
For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
God stepped into Gideon’s life by sending an angel to announce the path God wanted him to follow. For us, as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, God will reveal His plan and direct our paths.
It’s Our Choice to Obey
What would the outcome have been if Gideon had chosen not to obey God? There are two possibilities: (1) there would have been no deliverance for the people of Israel or (2) God would have chosen someone else. It is our choice to obey the calling of God. If we don’t either the work won’t get done or God will find someone else to do it!
Gideon Felt Inadequate Gideon responded to the angel of the Lord with the words, “Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:15 He felt inadequate and unable to accomplish that which God had called him to do. Yet God Himself encouraged Gideon. Even right before the battle He said “…if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, and you shall hear what they said; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Judges 7:10-11. Gideon needed signs and words and lots of encouragement. If you feel inadequate for the call God has placed on your life, know that He Himself will strengthen and encourage you. In fact, God often uses the weak to confound the wise. The more you recognise your own inabilities the more God can use you with His abilities. Gideon liked to hide – first in the winepress to hide the wheat from the Midianites, then he destroyed the altar to Baal at night and finally he overcame the Midianites in their camp at night. There was no arrogance or overconfidence about Gideon but God used him mightily!
It Often Takes Someone Else to See the Potential in Us
The angel of the Lord saw in Gideon much more than Gideon saw in himself. “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!” What a greeting for a man hiding from the enemy in a winepress! The angel saw into the depths of Gideon’s heart and saw something that Gideon didn’t yet know about himself – that he was capable of being a mighty man of valour. Often others see in us what we don’t yet see in ourselves. Don’t reject that prophetic word just because you can’t see it just yet – store it up in your heart and wait for God to reveal the plan and the timing.
God Given Vision and Opportunities
Gideon was well aware of the situation between his nation and the Midianites, which is why he was threshing wheat in the winepress. When the angel of the Lord appeared, he questioned whether God was really with them. We often find ourselves in situations where we can question whether God is really with us and we have a choice to either murmur and complain, or to see things from God’s perspective. When you see things that are wrong or need changing, instead of complaining, seek God about whether it is an opportunity for you to make a difference.
He Turns Our Weakness into His Strengths
God had told Gideon to tear down the altar to Baal, but when he did so the people gathered to kill him (Judges 6:33-34). His father stood up for him and then the Holy Spirit came upon him. It is often in our weakness that God will demonstrate His glory and power through us.
Choose the Company You Keep Wisely Gideon was commanded to send the fearful home. “Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.” Judges 7:3. The company you keep is very important. The Lord said to Gideon, if you are afraid go down to be with Purah your servant and you be strengthened (Judges 7:10). Being around others who strengthen you is very important so that fear, discouragement and distraction don’t hinder you.
It Takes an Intimate Relationship with God to Fulfil our Destiny and Stay on Track
During this account of Gideon’s life, we see his relationship with the Lord develop. Initially he started talking with God through an angel of the Lord but as he accepted and stepped into his destiny he was soon talking directly to God. He was used mightily to deliver the nation but sadly he went on to fall short of his full potential and instead led the nation into idolatry (Judges 8:22-27). Success can get in the way of continued dependence on God and it is important to always maintain an intimate relationship with Jesus.