Back in 2015, I had been reading the story of Gideon when a startling thought came to mind: Could it be that God wants to use the few of us that call my church home just like He used Gideon’s 300 all those hundreds of years ago?

After all, He turned the world upside down using 12 disciples. I believe He has great things in store for small churches. They can be as effective as mega-churches can be.

GIDEON: A MAN FACING IMPOSSIBLE ODDS

I decided to study the story of Gideon, and when I did, I became encouraged. You see, God can take a timid person and turn him into a leader facing impossible odds and use him to win a battle using unconventional means.

Join me as we study Gideon’s story in depth. Because there is so much to be found in Gideon’s story, I’m breaking it down into parts. I’m also going to insert a link for each scripture for each section. All you will have to do is click on the scripture and it will take you to Bible Gateway to read that portion.

You remember the story of Gideon, right? You can find him in chapters 6-7 of Judges.

Here is the backstory:  Basically, Israel had 40 years rest from fighting off their enemies and what happened?  They got complacent and “did evil in the sight of the Lord.”

Same old story …

Judges 6:1-6  ENEMIES WITHOUT NUMBER

• In order to get their attention and turn their hearts toward Him, God allowed the Midianites to come against them. A horde of enemies that were without number.
• The Midianites would swoop down during harvest time and ravage Israel so that their hard work came to nothing. They were deprived of the basic necessities of life.
• THEN the Israelites cried out to the Lord. Why is it we always wait until we are desperate to ask for help? I was dismayed to realize that I often act like an Israelite!

Judges 6:7-10  HERE’S YOUR PROBLEM

• And God sent an un-named prophet to tell them the problem was not because the Midianites were so evil, it’s because the Israelites were so disobedient. (Have you ever went through a struggle brought on by your own disobedience?)

Judges 6:11-13  GIDEON:  A MAN OF QUESTIONS

• In answer to the Israelite’s prayer, He sends a delivering judge – a very unlikely one!
• Most scholars agree the Angel of the Lord was the pre-incarnate Jesus who finds Gideon threshing wheat, not on top of a hill or high place so the wind could blow away the chaff, but hiding in a low place, both literally and spiritually.
• The Lord called Gideon a man of valor, but all Gideon could do is question God. (Isn’t this just like us?) 
• Gideon thought God had forsaken His people. Are we guilty of thinking God has forsaken us when experiencing hard times?

Judges 6:14-16 GIDEON:  A MAN OF DOUBTS

• Gideon thought of himself as the least of his family. 
• God told him “Surely, I will be with you.” 
• No matter what we are facing, we can be sure that God has not forsaken us, He is with us. God told Moses the same thing in Exodus 3:12, and Jesus told all believers He would be with them ALWAYS, UNTIL THE END OF THE AGE, in Matthew 28:20.

Have you ever asked God for a sign to help you decide what to do? Gideon did. Part 2 of our devotional will ask, and answer the question, “Is it okay to ask for a sign.”

See you next next week.

Post adapted from an earlier post. All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy. 

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