Gideons 2

Judges 6:11-16

This coming Sunday is “Gideon Sunday” for our church, so we will be looking at the story of Gideon from the Book of Judges. Gideons International is an organization of Christian businessmen. They are most noted for the Bibles they place in hotel rooms; however, their work goes so far beyond that. They derive their name from the story of Gideon.

The story of Gideon actually begins at the first verse of Judges 6. A tribe of people named the Midians have taken over Israel and are oppressing the people, ravishing the land with their presence and stealing crops and livestock from the Israelites.

Why was Gideon in the winepress? How does the angel address Gideon? Gideon challenges the angel in verse 13. What is the response in verse 14? How does Gideon describe himself? What is God’s response?

What we know about Gideon is that he is hiding when the angel arrives. He is working in a winepress so that the Midianites won’t see him and take his wheat. He also describes himself as “the least” in his family, and his tribe as “the least” of the tribes. In other words, Gideon considers himself a weakling and a nobody who is hiding from his enemies.

Yet, the angel greets him as a mighty warrior. The angel further instructs him to “Go in the strength you have and save Israel.” These words all seem to contradict Gideon’s perception of himself. God clearly sees Gideon as one who has the ability to accomplish what God wants done.

The same is so often true for all of us. We don’t see ourselves as a great servant of the Lord, a great preacher, a powerful missionary. But God knows us completely. God sees the potential in what we are able to do and be.

Like Gideon, we are called to trust in the Lord and obey His commands. In that way God can help us do the work God wants done.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What potential do you feel is waiting inside you?

You can learn more about Gideons International by visiting www.gideons.org