Exposed

What are you afraid of?

I know this is a strange question. For some, you quickly told yourself something like, “I’m a Christian I not allowed to be afraid”? Or, “I don’t fear because of Jesus.” Both very true statements but may be what we say, think or try to live out in order to not have to answer this question.

Father’s Day may bring up some fears: fear of messing up your kids, fear of being too harsh, fear of having to have others over, fear of shame coming up because of “not being present” when kids where younger,

Our world is scared.

No we may not call it fear or being scared but the more I try to look at myself and the world around me the more I am convinced we are afraid, in general, as the world goes.

Some fear is valid.

This isn’t to say some of our fear is wrong or that fear in general is unhealthy. In fact, though Scripture says to not be afraid many times. It also consistently teaches we must have healthy fears: of God, Christ and His Word to put things very broadly.

The church may be afraid.

In some parts of the world it is because of persecution and the oppression of the church by others. I think of Africa, China, and especially Myanmar. In other areas we are scared of losing our power within our world and are afraid of what is going on around us. We need to allow our fear to be not controlling but revelatory. What is my fear indicating?

Judges 7 & 8 deal with fear.

This brings us to our text this morning. One of the major themes of the judgeship of Gideon is fear.

The fleece was not about God’s will.

The fleece was another manifestation of the fear of Gideon. Look at verse 36 carefully:

Judges 6:36 NIV

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—

Gideon already knew the will of God and was trying to get either reassurance or didn’t want to face his fears. Maybe a little of both.

God makes the situation worse.

Gideon was afraid and made the call for warriors and got around 30,000 men to come and fight. What a victory! Except God has other plans

What seems like a victory in our eyes, may be a liability in God’s eyes.

God will sometimes expose and magnify our fear.

This is what happens as God takes the victory Gideon thought he had and narrowed it down to 300 people. His fear was going to provide an opportunity for something greater and more vile to show up.

Pride is a symptom and result of fear.

In order to not feel weak or to come across more confident than we are we can easily shift towards pride and look at me. We may portray ourselves more confident than necessary so others will see the good because of other issues in our lives. We say “yes” when we want to say “no” because we want people to like us.

Gideon never seemed to overcome his fears, he just transferred them into something else: pride.

Pride allows revenge to be justified.

Gideon though he had his fear exposed and God was patient in his fear seeks revenge. God makes clear in his word,

Romans 12:19 NIV

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

This is a quote from Deuteronomy 32.35 as Moses extolls God’s faithfulness. What Gideon did was not as a result of God’s command but because of his own issues.

Our sin leads others into sin.

This is the tragic lesson of pride and fear of Gideon. He delivered them from the Midianites but then enslaved them with the golden ephod. His spiritual pride became the seed which would destroy his family. Father’s a message for us here: we must be careful how we lead our families and not just the word we say but the actions we take.

The remedy: focus on Christ.

Gideon throughout his life focused on other things besides of the Lord. The same is true of us. We may be saved but if the enemy can get us to focus on other things besides our Lord, we will become ineffective for the Kingdom.