Chased by God
Judges series wk 4
Today we look at one of the most famous and familiar Judges, Gideon.
Again Israel following their own desires and worshiping other gods
Illustration
You have an allotment and you work hard to plough, plant and tend it; then your neighbours steal the produce. How do you feel? You cannot do a thing about it.
Judges 6:1-6 (reading by )
The Midianites (Moses’ decedents) and Amalekites would come and steal from them
How many of us have felt robbed in life?
Each time things start to go right, something happens and it’s gone
Every time God has given me anything, I’ve had to give it up again
Abraham and Isaac on the alter
Gideon was busy working, threshing wheat, in a winepress!
God come to us when we are doing the everyday things in life
He came to me when I was being a mum to 2 young children, a barmaid, a woman of foul mouth and someone who was abused by family and her husband
He was hiding; I was hiding
He was fearful; I was fearful
He felt intimidated by the enemy without and perhaps angry as we see by his reaction to the message
Jud 6:11-15 (reading by )
Where are the miracles we read and hear about?
We feel intimidated by the enemy within; I did
Everybody else was better than I was
I constantly put myself down
I never achieved anything in life and didn’t think I ever would
How we have felt angry as we see others prosper and we have felt forgotten again
He believed he was the least in his father’s house
What it’s like to be the ‘black sheep’ of the family
No one believes in you
No one respects you
You have to strive for recognition
You have struggles with inferiority, self-worth and image
All the ‘rejected’ people I know are usually the most sensitive and caring
But many have inner strengths and beauty that have shaped by their circumstances
But what was God’s reply to him?
Jud 6:16
This is all we need. To know He is with us: singular you
I will never leave you or forsake you Deut 31:8 and Heb 13:5
You will defeat them as One man Jud 6:16
Gideon wasn’t the brightest or very quick to learn
God takes the foolish and the weakest to confound the wise
1 Cor 1:26-31 (reading by )
God works out His purpose in those whom seem weak
Gideon represented Israel, weak and low
If you feel weak and low, then this message is for you
Gideon needed:
· Comfort
· Confidence
· Challenge
· Conformation
Gideon needed comfort
Gideon had 4 doubts:
1. Does God really care? (6:1-13)
2. Does He know what He’s doing? (6:14-24)
3. Will He really take care of me? (6:25-32)
4. Does He keep His promises? (6:33-40)
Every time the people cried out He heard them and delivered them
How many people do you know cry out in time of distress?
How many times have you seen Him reach out to the needy?
He doesn’t always work out things the way we think or want
You think you can work God out?
Our times of testing challenge our character and develop us
When we are weak we are strong
Gideon’s personal struggles written to encourage us
He needed a sign (fleece)
God has given us a sign according to Isaiah; a virgin …..
The Jews seek a sign, but the Just shall live by faith
Illustration: My testimony of how God has taken care of me
He has fulfilled His promises
Individual and universal
He sent Jesus the promise of salvation to us
God sent us a judge, a leader and a king and He still rules!
Gideon needed confidence
God knew Gideon was a man with a brave spirit; He created him
When you were formed He knew you Ps 139
We don’t always know who we are until someone tells us
Encourage each other
Build confidence in each other
Especially people of low self-worth; they see very little in themselves
God inspired him by showing him he had all the qualifications needed
He assured him of success
He could nothing in himself, but with God everything is possible
When God calls He equips
Gideon had to strengthen himself in the words God gave him
Always remind yourself what God has said
Illustration: My testimony waiting for nearly 30 years
This can be enough to keep you going
You have to depend upon what you know in your heart despite what may be happening around you
God said, ‘I am with you’
That’s all that matters; you can go anywhere, do anything as long as He’s with you
Gideon was obedient to the heavenly call
Then God put His Spirit upon him
When God calls, he clothes you with the authority and the necessities needed; He qualifies you
Why would He ask you to do something He already knows you wouldn’t?
Illustration: Our friends who wouldn’t leave their home or jobs etc for God even if He appeared to them!
Gideon needed a Challenge
He gathered the army together; 32,000 vs 135,000 that’s 4:1 ratio
Not enough God!
Too many
What? Do you know how many there are God?
Too many; Israel will say they have won this battle
Tell the fearful to go
Deut 20:8
“The officers shall speak …….to the people, and say, ‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.
People have an effect on others
How many times have you doubted because someone has doubts themselves?
We need people of faith around us not doubters
So 22,000 left! Now the odds are 13:1
Still too many; God lessens them to exalt His own strength
Now God was really challenging him
Go and watch how they drink, choose the ones who lap
These were the ones who didn’t think about their own comforts; they managed on little; they could endure fatigue without complaining of thirst or weariness
But there are only 300! 440:1
When the odds are stacked against you, God moves
They preferred the service of God
But what did God do?
He changed their equipment and they were lesser now in power too!
No weapons, 300 men; now God can work
They were living from hand to mouth
Soldiers became trumpeters
All they had was the trumpet, a torch and an earthen jar
Gideon you fight with faith or with nothing at all!
This is our message today
God is either in complete control or we are
Now Gideon, you will see what your heart longed for:
· You wanted to see the miracles you had heard about?
· You wanted to see the God of Israel who with a shout destroyed the walls of Jericho?
· You wanted to meet with the God who overthrew the Egyptians?
Well here I AM!
You have no military skills, no weapons and only 300 inadequate men
God claims the glory
Everything we do must belong to Him
We cannot touch what belongs to Him
We dare not
Finally
Gideon needed conformation
Even after the previous signs: sacrifice burnt, the fleece x2 Gideon still needs God to confirm His word.
He sends him down into the enemy’s camp to hear what they say
He ends up at the right tent at the right time just in time to hear the dream
If we were to listen in to the enemy discussing us and our authority in Christ, what might we hear?
Ø “See how powerful they are because of Him!”
Ø “They don’t know who they really are!”
Ø “If they were to grasp God’s word we would be defeated!”
Ø “If only they knew their status and rights!”
Ø “Not even you death can overcome them!”
How much confirmation do we need?
Gideon went back and they broke the earthen jars, they shone the torches, and shouted
God has called us to:
· Break these earthen vessels
· To shine has lights
· To raise up our voice against the enemy
And the end result?
God gets the glory, it’s nothing of ourselves and the enemy runs away in confusion
Re-cap
Gideon needed:
· Comfort
· Confidence
· Challenge
· Conformation
