Why Me, Why Us

God works with small to accomplish BIG

Judges 6:11–16 ESV

11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” 16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 6

One day the angel of GOD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of GOD appeared to him and said, “GOD is with you, O mighty warrior!”

13  Gideon replied, “With me, my master? If GOD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, ‘Didn’t GOD deliver us from Egypt?’ The fact is, GOD has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian.”

14  But GOD faced him directly: “Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?”

15  Gideon said to him, “Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.”

16  GOD said to him, “I’ll be with you. Believe me, you’ll defeat Midian as one man.

the people of God always find themselves in a bad situation, The Lord said to worship Him alone and the worship the idols . . bringing forth punishment and desolation. This would take place from the hands of other nations.. Our text speaks specifically, the Midianites.

Many of you Old testament scholars k ow that its seems strange that God would use distant relatives to raise hell in the life of His people.

From gen 25 we see the relational ups and downs of the Midianites. Abraham’s second wife Keturah was a midianite. all is well

teh medianites were credited for the the purchase and enslavement of Joseph gen37.

everything was ok until the israelites left Sinai . . The medianites began pulling israel into idol worship. . and because of this, it was suggested to not fool with this group.

The people of God are surrounded by ungodliness. they are being taken advantage of. 7 years of terror . . crops eaten, all of the goods and services Gone !

this sucked the life out of the people Israel. . to the point they became impoverished and Small. They have been emotionally and economically impaired.

GOD WORKS WITH SMALL {6:15}

judges 6:15 “15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.””

With everything happening-God selects someone to lead the people and make His name great. To move people out from the shackles of bondage.

He calls out during chaos. . . He calls out during struggle and strife. . . He calls out when all around is crashing in! SOunds familiar

He sees Gideon and says: you come here! I am going to use all of you Gideon to save the people. I can imagine Gideon looking around like who me?!

Do you see me.. . i’m small. . my family is small. . our resources are small… Why Me, Why Us?

With all that was/is happening in whitehaven and this city? God said i need someone to go and to glorify my name.

Joplin got a burden to come to the haven Delivering Word

He uses small all the time

small keys turn on the ignition of cars

a small knife is used to cut people open in surgery

God works with the small

GOD STRENGTHENS (SMALL) SERVANTS {6:27}

JUDGEs 6:27 “27 So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.”

God uses a few good men to cause disruption. They go out at night to teardown the idols of Baal and Asherah.

A few can cause holy disruption.

Small groups and movements

MLK and others

GOD SENDS (SMALL) SIGNS OF SALVATIONS {6:36-40}

judges 6:36-40 “36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” 38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.”

The fact that DWBC is still here is a sign of salvation