From Wimp to Warrior
[2 Timothy 1:7 NLT]
When Gideon destroyed Baal's alter as God instructed him to do, the Midianites found out and were furious! They gathered a force of 135,000 men and prepared them for battle. Then "the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon" and he took his first step of faith (Judges 6:34). He blew a trumpet summoning allies to follow him, and sent messengers throughout the region, calling his people to arms.
But suddenly something changed, and Gideon's fear returned. Gideon asked if he could place a wool fleece on the threshing floor and for God to confirm His promise to save Israel by Gideon's hand by putting the morning dew only on the fleece and leaving the ground around it dry. Then Gideon would know that God would keep His promise.
And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day. He squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew, a bowlful of water. But. Was that enough? No.
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew." That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, all the ground was covered with dew. (V. 39-40)
I love Gideon because he's a lot like me. He's got such a back and forth faith. He longs for more assurance but he's also afraid God is going to be mad at him for asking for it. And I know just how he feels. I want to be confident forever and never struggle with doubt or fear again. But I'm human.
Still, many times I'm concerned that God is frustrated with me as I am. Then God shows me His amazing grace and patience in stories like Gideon's. He reminds me that faith is not about my performance but about rather my dependence on Him.
Gideon was afraid, but what mattered most is that he asked God to give him courage instead of trying to drum it up on his own. So, what did God do next? Well He didn't want to risk the Isaelities take credit for the victory He was going to give them, so He told Gideon:
"You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midianites into their hands, or Isael would boast against Me. 'My own strength has saved me.' Now announce to the army 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead'" So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. (7:2-3)
There were still too many men, so God pared them down again and Gideon ended up with only three hundred men. God told Gideon He would save him and give the Midianites into his hands with the help of these three hundred.
During the night the Lord said to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." (V 9-11)
So did Gideon take advantage of God's "if you are afraid" clause? You bet he did! He and Purah went down to the enemies camp, where they heard a man talking about his dream and how the Midianites were growing afraid of Gideon and his army. (V 13-14)
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped. He returned to the camp of Isael and called out, "Get up! The Lord has given the Midianit camp into your hands...watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp do exactly as I do" (V 15,17)
Can you hear the confidence in Gideon's voice? This was a man who had lived in fear, but now he was leading with courage!
Gideon's three hundred men followed his lead, doing everything he said to do. While they stood in their positions around the camp, everyone of the thousands of Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. God caused them to turn on each other with their swords.
The odds may have been agains Gideon, but God was for him!
By seeking to know and choosing to trust in his promise-keeping Lord, a wimp became a warrior.
When I say: I'm afraid to do what God is calling me to do.
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear.
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