Grow Series #28

I Am Weak But He Is Strong

Israel Sinned against God

God allowed the Midianites to come against them.

The Israelites were hiding in dens, caves and strongholds which they made in the mountains.

Whenever harvest time would come the Midianites and the Amalekites would come up to destroy their harvest.

The Israelites began to cry out to God

Notice their cry must have been different then at other times.

While the enemy was destroying the peoples harvest there was an Angel of the Lord setting under a Terebinth tree to hide an man named Gideon’s harvest from the enemy.

records Gideon’s first encounter with this angel.

Judges 6:12 NKJV

12 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

Let’s look at how Gideon responded:

Judges 6:

Judges 6:13–17 NKJV

13 Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” 15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” 16 And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.” 17 Then he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me.

Gideon destroys the altar of Baal and the wooden images at night.

The enemy came up against them so it must have been close to time for harvest. tells us that there were 120,000 soldiers who drew their swords in this battle.

Gideon blew the trumpet and took a stand

He sent for help and help came

He prayed for confirmation of his calling by using a fleece of wool.

The Lord told Gideon his army was too big

Judges 7:2 NKJV

2 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

Judges 7:2–4 NKJV

2 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”

Judges 7:2-

Why was his army too big?

Because they could claim the glory if they went into battle.

Gideon started with 32,000 men. He sent home those who were afraid and remained with 10,000 men courageous men. He separated those who lapped water like dog’s from their hands and those who got on all four and drank water straight from the stream. He was left with 300 men.

32,000 men

32,000 men

10,000 men

The Apostle Paul teaches us to take pleasure in our weaknesses.

300 men

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 NKJV

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s thorn wasn’t sin as many would like to assume.

His thorn in his flesh was weakness.

He actually defines this weakness in verse 10

Infirmity - the condition of being feeble : FRAILTY, weak

Reproaches - the expression of disapproval or disappointment.

Needs - something that is essential or very important.

Persecutions - hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs

Distresses - cause (someone) anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.