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You, Mighty Warrior?

Gideon isn’t the first tough guy that comes to mind when I think about the Bible. Honestly, I don’t know I ever thought a whole lot about him. But I kinda fell in love with him today.

The Israelites have screwed up. Again. This time they’d messed with the wrong crowd and oppression clung to them in every facet imaginable. So once they couldn’t take it anymore, THEN the cried out to God. Again.

So God sent another angel to appoint another person to get the Israelites out of this latest pickle they found themselves in. And the angel’s lead in statement is epic!

“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12)

Woah! I think flattery like that might get me to perk up and see what the Lord has for me!  But, that didn’t seem to be Gideon’s response. Nope, he said some of the most honest words anyone could say. He didn’t mince words. He tried to remain polite. But he had questions.

Here is how it went down with some of my editing 😉:

“Pardon me, my lord,”  (How amazing is that?! Let me just stop you right there. Flattery will get you no where.)  “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? (You ever ask that?! Ohmylanta, I have! But this guy goes straight for the jugular!) “Where are all of his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out if Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us...” (Sheesh, he seems a bit miffed with God here!) The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the  strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you? (God doesn’t flinch at Gideon’s honesty. Love that he can say what’s on his heart and not get turned to ashes - quite literally. Crazy stuff like that used to happen!)  “Pardon me, my Lord,” Gideon replied (Really?! Again, dude?!) but how can I save Israel? ...I am the least in my family.” (Boy, we’ve probably all felt like that a time or two, huh?)

Guess what? As the chapter continues, he asks for THREE signs just to know that he knows that he knows that the Lord was really who He said He was. There’s so much more to glean from this chapter, but, sheesh, why do I have to do all the work?! 😉😬 Check it out in Judges 6 & 7.

I kind of felt a kinship with Gideon today. God calls me to great things and small things. He calls you, too.   Do you have a “pardon me” moment sometimes when He talks to you?



Then do you rationalize and ask for a sign to be SURE He really meant you?! Do you ask for several signs???

Boy, I hope that’s not just me! I loved that he could get real, get honest with Lord. And I love that the Lord didn’t rain fire and brimstone down from the heavens and move on to someone else that might listen the first time. Nope, He knew who would be the right one for the job and He quietly waited for Gideon to wrap his head around what God was telling him.

God does that for us, too. What is the Lord telling you, Mighty Warrior?  Give Him a chance. I’ll bet it’s something life-changing!

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