From Strength to Strength

Judges 8:23, “ But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.” 

In  Judges chapter 6, we see a frail, timid and fearful Gideon. But we see a strong, courageous and bold Gideon in Judges chapter 8. The journey from a weak, frail and timid Gideon to a strong and courageous Gideon is worth pondering upon.

Faith journey is in fact all about growing in God’s strength. The greater is one’s faith , the stronger is that person. And this is often a life long course. Its challenged by various trials time to time, just like hurdles of various heights kept in the lane of a runner. A person once strong in faith can fall next time,  just like a student scoring good marks in 1^st exam can flunk in the next. It all depends on one’s preparation for same. There is no prescribed syllabus other than the Word of God. The daily intimate walk with the Lord in His Word prepares us for every exam lying ahead. Faith life often has surprise tests with no prior notifications. But none of them is a surprise for God.

Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, fearing the attacks of Midianites. The Israelites were impoverished since long time, because of these ongoing attacks and Gideon was fearful. One’s situations has a major role in making a person strong or weak. Continuous and long times of adversity can make a person timid and weak, for situations of their life knowingly and unknowingly become their focus.

Gideon did not seek God’s strength. Instead, the angel of the Lord sought Gideon and  came and sat under an oak, where he was threshing the wheat. The Lord comes down to the place and situation where one is weak. He bows down to the level where we  are and pulls us out by the power of His strong arm.

The angel of the Lord called Gideon, ‘a mighty man of valour”. While Gideon was still a fearful and timid person, God called him ‘a mighty man’. The Lord hooked the weak and trembling heart of Gideon with strong unchanging spoken Word and anchored him to the Rock of Salvation. Till then, Gideon was being carried away by every wave of fear and uncertainty which had plagued their lives. But now, his focus was shifted from the situation to the One who rules the situation.

God ordained Gideon to go and save Israelites from the hands of Midianites. The appointed time of deliverance had come for He heard the cry of Israelites’. Judges 6:14, “ 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?”  When God appoints and ordains a person, He empowers him or her with His mighty power, for none can do His work with the power of flesh and blood. His Spirit fills the person with extraordinary strength to start and finish the divine assignment faithfully. When God said, “ Have I not sent you’?, it meant that Gideon would represent God Himself, His strength and power to deliver His people.

Next we see a series of doubts and confusions arising in Gideon’s heart, which tried to block his way ahead. But each time it came up, he turned to the Lord, who patiently and lovingly did all he asked for to confirm and assure of His presence and calling.  It’s quite natural to have doubts and confusions. But  turning to the world and people around to clear and confirm will make it all the more worse. Instead, turn to God each time, for He knows that we are dust . He knows our weakness. Only God could do all that Gideon asked for and hence left no room in his heart for doubts and confusion to lurk and weaken him.

Gideon obeyed the series of commandments of the Lord, though they sounded strange. God asked Gideon to cut the number of the army of Israelites to mere 300 to fight a multitude  of Midianites and Amalekites. He gave him unique directions as to how to select the 300 and to send away the rest. At every step, Gideon obeyed willingly and completely without questioning. Growing in obedience causes one to grow in faith and strength of the Lord. He knew that the Lord had taken over the complete war scene. Gideon had nothing to do except to move as per His directions. God fights for us  when one’s submissions and obedience is complete.

God delivered Israelites through Gideon. Later the people of Israel requested Gideon and his sons to rule over them. Judges 8:23, “ But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.”  Gideon was now a strong man of valor. But he refused to rule the Israelite, for he knew that his strength was only from God. He knew from where the Lord had brought him to this position. Israelites needed His strength and presence.

Today, we are His people. We need His grace and presence to overcome every attack of the evil. Instead of being weak and frail in Spirit, let us seek His strength time and again and grow from strength to strength. 2 Tim.1: 7, “For He has given us not the spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind “  Fear gripped lives loose their sound mind i.e the ability to discern the right and wrong and often become victims of the snares of unwise decisions of life. Our Lord is ever ready to deliver us and assure us of His presence. Let’s seek His strength and presence more than anything else to live a victorious Christian life.

GOD bless us all.
(thebrokenbread)