SS Judes 6:25-40

God calls us to be faithful, but He has given us a brain as well. Gideon followed the Lord’s commands, but he did it under the cover of night as to keep his head. Had he done it during the day, people might have taken grave offense and sought to kill Gideon or at least do him grave harm. We must live bold, we must be brave, and we must trust our Lord, but we must also use the brain that He has place within our heads.

“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into work” Peter Ducker

Good intentions are truly nothing. You may have intended on telling someone happy birthday, but unless you actually tell them, did you wish them a happy birthday?

You may have good intentions to work on a paper and turn it into your professors, but unless you actually type out your thoughts and submit it online then what will your grade reflect?

Goals demand actions to be accomplished. God called Gideon to free the Israelites, and Gideon had to take action. But he was nervous. You would be too if you were the smallest man of the tribe and God called you to lead an army against your greatest adversaries.

It began by tearing down the altars to the false god’s that the people had thrown themselves into idolatry with, Baal and Asherah, the goddess of fertility. Baal symbolized reproductive powers in both nature and human beings. He was also viewed as the one who brought rain. Gideon’s family had undoubtedly worshipped them for a while to have an entire altar erected for them in their front yard. But we cannot lead others in the right pathway for the Lord if they are actively following other things in their own hearts. To follow the Lord you must choose who’s side you will be on and there are only two sides: God’s side, and His enemy’s.

By obeying the Lord, Gideon chose a side. This act of courage set in motion the acts that would lead to the liberation of Israel. Though he made people angry, Gideon obeyed the Lord and it caused others to feel empowered around him, but not all. When Gideon destroyed his fathers alter, he made a lot of people angry. Angry enough to kill him. when you make decisions for the Lord, expect resistance. Even from those you may not think it would come from.

But God was looking out for him. Also, his name was changed to Jerubbaal which means “let baal contend.” This was a mockery on the non-existent, mute god.

Now the enemy had gathered in the valley of Jezreel which was fertile and would be the prime place to ransack villages and cities for their crops and goods.

God empowers Gideon to gather his forces and attack. Gideon calls his armies of Asher, Zebulun, Naphtali, and Manasseh, but he hesitates in the moment. Though he has already sent for the troops, it is going down, Gideon wants some confirmation. We have the instance with the fleece. He asks God to make the fleece wet while the rest of the areas remain dry, then the opposite that the fleece would remain dry while the world would be soaked with dew.

God had patience with Gideon as even Gideon knew he was exhibiting a weak faith (Judges 6:39 “Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more…)

Following the Lord can be tricky sometimes. Even to the point that we want to force God’s hand at showing us His will. We are not to test God. We should not doubt God. He has never failed anyone, and He will not start now. But be patient with yourself, as God was patient with Gideon. Big decisions are difficult, and they are scary, but God knows the plans and He has established the steps. We only need to be faithful and follow.