The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Judges 7:12-22 (day five)  His friend replied, “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given Midian and all the camp into his hand.”

It was an “aha moment”. All the pieces had been put in place. Gideon had just heard a Midianite solder say the same thing God had told him way back in chapter 6.  But the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.”  God had kept His promise.
Then comes a flood of emotions- amazement, joy, hope, certainty, courage.  Yet, in the middle of receiving divine assurance and now beginning the task of formulating a strategy for battle, Gideon worships. Maybe that was the best gift God have him that night. A time of worship. An honest response, thanking God for who He is and what He’s done (kept His promise to Gideon).

Are there promises from God (that you are grateful for) He has kept?  As the Lord brings them to mind this morning, will you pause and praise Him, thank Him, and worship Him?  Might be the best gift He gives you today.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 7:12-22 (day four)

Can God use a man in His kingdom work if he is not a child of God?  The answer is a resounding yes!  God can use anyone He chooses to accomplish His work.  When Israel rebelled against God, He often used pagan kings and nations to deliver His judgment upon them.  Here in our Re:Verse passage, God uses a pagan warrior to deliver a message to Gideon.

Just because a person does a lot of good things in their life, does not mean they have a relationship with God.  Matthew 7:22-23 says, “Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”  You cannot trust in works to gain salvation, only through Jesus Christ can you receive forgiveness of sin and life eternal in heaven!  Ask God for discernment to know the difference between works and faith.  (Luke 21:8)

Re:Verse passage – Judges 7:12-22 (day three)

“This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash.”

Within the span of just a few moments, it all became spectacularly clear to Gideon: he was living rent-free in the heads of Midian’s fighting forces. They had already lost. For an army this spooked, it would only require a small push to tip them over into complete chaos. Gideon’s 300 was that small push. With this last-minute reconnaissance mission, God afforded Gideon a heaven’s-eye view of reality. From that point on, Gideon possessed the confidence to meet the task at hand. A very Gideon-inspired prayer is one which asks God, “What is the larger perspective in this situation?” That perspective won’t show you what’s easy, but it will show you what’s possible.

Re:Verse passage – Judges 7:12-22 (day two) His friend replied, “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given Midian and all the camp into his hand.” vs. 14

From 32,000 warriors to 300 trumpet players, God prevailed. From the show of Israel’s might, to a trusting leader and men willing to obey an outlandish military tactic, this victory had the hand of the Lord all over it. It didn’t start with the trumpets, however. The Lord had been at work in the hearts of the Midianites. Gideon’s greatest action was to move forward in obedience and allow the Lord to work. Just those marching around the walls of Jericho, God was before them. Do you struggle with trying to figure out how it will all work out? If it doesn’t seem possible, does that inhibit your ability to act in faith? God clearly demonstrated his ability to defeat overwhelming forces with seemingly inadequate resources. He still can.

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

Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained. – Judges 7:3

This was actually Law. Deuteronomy 20:8 ordered the officers to give permission for men to leave the battlefield if they were afraid “so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.” Not only was God dwindling the army so that He may be glorified, but He was strengthening the mental health of this group. God knew that fear can become toxic. The spiritual enemy uses fear as a weapon to derail the plans that God puts on our heart. By making the group smaller, God purged the camp of toxicity so that the group that was left would trust Him and obey with confidence. 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” 

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

By the numbers there simply is no way. We look at the odds, we realize the deck is stacked against us, and we wilt in the face of the enemy.

And the Lord says,

I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters,
    making a dry path through the sea. Isaiah 43:16

As God whittled down Gideon’s number of warriors, God’s victory was never  in question. Deliverance was as certain as the rising sun. It didn’t matter the number of warriors, one or a million, God’s victory was sure. He is the way maker; he makes a dry path through the sea.

What did Jesus say?

I am the way…

Take heart, I have already overcome the world.

Christian, your victory is sure.

 

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

“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.’”

Israel seems to be in a place (spiritually) where they have humbly surrendered to the Lord and His strength and power. After all, 32,000 of them were willing (albeit most with fear and trembling) to gather in the army to fight against a formidable enemy. God is keenly aware of the tendency of the human heart to rob Him of His glory- selfish, greedy, insecure. He will confront it and expose it. Otherwise, even the most spiritually mature and humble hearted of us, will fall into this trap.

Praise God, for His wisdom and patience with us all. We need Him more than we even know. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians‬ ‭2

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.