Untitled Sermon (2)

Judges 6:8–16 NRSV

8 the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites; and he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of slavery; 9 and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you, and gave you their land; 10 and I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not pay reverence to the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not given heed to my voice.” 11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” 13 Gideon answered him, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.” 15 He responded, “But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 16 The Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.”

Gideon’s insecurities:

Gideon was critical of God (Judges 6:12-13 “12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” 13 Gideon answered him, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.”” )

Gideon did not trust God’s presence (Judges 6:

Gideon trusted in the natural for victory

Bottom Line:

Neither of these insecurities disqualified Gideon from being used by God

Gideon was not questioning God’s ability, but God’s willingness.

When a person has a low view of God, they will have a low of God, that person will have a low view of self.

When God commissioned Gideon, he asked “how can I?” because he is under the assumption that he will do for the people what God has not done

The LORD told Gideon the same promise he gave Moses and Joshua. As I read scripture, my heart resonates with these words, and I hear God making the same promise to me.

The LORD send us as we are and with what we have. Like Gideon, we typically question if it is enough. We ask questions such as: “Do I have what it takes?” The LORD said go out in the strength you do have. This echoes the principle of Pauls encouragement to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:26-28.

When you need to hear God speak, He speaks. When you need God’s comfort, he

I think the root of Gideons insecurity is similar to Moses

Why would The LORD use me?

How am I going to accomplish what God is asking of me?

We do not have the vital resources. Therefore, what will I use to be successful?

Even the the angel of the LORD vanished from Gideons sight, He was still speaking to him. He was still with Gideon and did not leave him alone.

“my power is made perfect in weakness”

2 Corinthians 12:9 NRSV

9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.