The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Judges 7:1-11 (day four)

It is important who we surround ourselves with.  Even heroes rarely act by themselves.  Having an iron-sharpening-iron friend is vital to the success of every believer.  For Gideon, the person closest to him was Purah, his servant.  The name Purah means ‘fruitful branch.’  Purah’s name likely reveals his character.  For Gideon, Purah’s presence was enough to overcome his fear of visiting the Midianite’s camp.  Gideon was a better, obedient servant of God when accompanied by Purah.

Who is in your life that spurs you to serve God better and encourages you to walk uprightly before Him?  Is there a Purah in your life that gives courage and commitment to you to be a better servant of God?  Are you that person to someone else?  If the answer is ‘no one’, ask God to bring someone into your life that sharpens your walk with Him!  God never intended for us to face life alone…a strand of three cords is stronger!

Re:Verse passage – Judges 7:1-11 (day three)

“Let all the others go home.”

The Bible says, in various ways and repeatedly, “You have more resources than you think you do.” Elisha told his servant, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The Israelites in the desert learned that “the one who gathered little did not have too little.” A little money amounted to an extravagant gift. A shockingly low word count from a political prisoner signaled to Pilate that he was dealing with somebody who knew a different source of authority than he had ever encountered. These are some examples. There are many more. Gideon could discharge thousands of soldiers and yet grow stronger. The Bible is consistent: What you think is mighty hardly ever is, and what you think is weakness is stronger than you’ve realized.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 7:1-11 (day two)

The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ vs. 2

We don’t often get insight into what God is thinking when he commands or creates, but in this instance we have a glimpse into his perfect understanding of human nature. Think about it 300 men who lap water like a dog is generally not how you would advertise for a group about to overthrow your enemies. God also understands that we need nothing confusing our reading of the situation: we can do nothing apart from God. Has God surprised you lately? Has he done something that you would have done differently? Perfect, then you know that God is still in control. Trust him in all things.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:36-40 (day seven)

My initial reaction to this passage is to ridicule Gideon. How could he doubt God after everything God has already done? He has already asked God prove Himself by  performing a miracle (17-22) then Gideon asks for another miracle, not once, but twice! Isn’t this the type of mentality that Jesus  addressed in the Pharisees? “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” Matthew 16:4

Then my wife said to me, “Isn’t it cool how patient God is with Gideon?!”

I realized in that moment that I am Gideon. I may not demand signs, but time and time again I act as if God hasn’t miraculously provided for me. I continually doubt His plan and try to do it my own way. God is patient with me and waits for me to see His plan. Because of that patience I get to experience His love in a whole new way.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:36-40 (day six)

So, that night God did as Gideon asked. Judges 6:40

God doesn’t punish doubt, he nurtures faith. 

Gideon was on a hero’s journey, one that required a growing faith in God. Along the way, we see God graciously nurture his faith in midst of uncertainty and doubt. God could have ignored Gideon’s request, or chastised him for his lack of faith, but he didn’t. He profoundly and graciously did what Gideon asked.

Now, we know that doesn’t mean God will always do what we ask, but what it does mean is God is eager to nudge our faith along. We all are at different places on our journey of faith. Rest assured God wants to help you, not hurt you.

Jesus said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find…” (Matthew 7:7)

God’s answer to Gideon, is what I think Jesus meant. So, when facing doubt, don’t be hesitant to go to God out of fear you are disappointing him. He wants to reassure you and nudge you along your journey.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:36-40 (day five)

“Then Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken,”  

Can you see the trust and faith forming?  Gideon is understanding God’s word more and more. Now, he’s beginning to apply it to his life. Gideon is connecting the dots between understanding and application. And, he’s asking the Lord to help.

What have you learned recently from God’s word?  New direction, new insight, conviction, correction, new facet of God’s character?  Now, it’s time for application.  The hardest step- Where spiritual growth culminates.  Will you ask the Lord to help?

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:36-40 (day four)

God has initiated many of the biblical encounters we have in scripture.  Moses, Saul, Esther, Jeremiah…all were tasked with a seemingly impossible assignment.  Like Gideon, they initially questioned God whether they were really the one for the job.  Each recognized their inadequacies and failures and were amazed that God would actually choose them for His work.

Have you ever questioned God whether He really wanted you to be the one to carry out a task?  Maybe He prompted you to witness to a co-worker or a family member…or maybe He wanted you to go on a mission trip…or maybe He confronted you with an opportunity to teach His Word!  Were you looking around for a fleece to lay out to confirm that God really meant what He said?  Truth be told, we are just like Gideon.  When we are uncomfortable with our instructions, we question God, hoping for a different answer when He sees it from our perspective!  Learn to recognize God’s voice and learn to obey without question.  God does not need our input!

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:36-40 (day three)

“And it was so.”

Why would God have responded any other way to a humble request? One might view God as working up against our limitations, but the witness of the Bible is instead that God works with our limitations – especially when it comes to doubt. We give doubt a pretty hard time. And though it is possible for doubt to harden into a default posture for dealing with the world, doubt is really just a function of our limitations. We understand that our senses have limits, that we can’t always trust that what we think we understand is the way things actually are. Gideon was not acting from a place of hardened skepticism, but rather from a place of honest doubt. We might even say that he was “doubting in good faith.” God will work with that all day long.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 6:36-40 (day two)

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more…vs. 39a

To be clear, Gideon had been in conversation with the Lord for quite some time. It was evident that the Lord was dealing with Gideon’s uncertainty and fear. This was not the first exchange between them. It is easy to look at this story and think that we can bargain with God. “Lord, I know you have given me a task to fulfill, and if you give me ten million dollars I will know that you really mean it.” That kind of logic will fail every time. Take your assignments from the Lord seriously, and seriously be in dialogue with him at all times. You will never regret seeking God in all matters. That is where to begin discerning how God wants you to proceed, not giving outlandish parameters for your begrudging obedience.