The LORD’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
–Judges 6:12
Gideon was afraid.
For the past seven years, his people, the Israelites, had been oppressed by the Midianites. The Midianites occupied Israel’s country. They slaughtered or stole all the livestock and ruined the crops. Judges 6:5 says “[The Midianites] and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.”
When the Angel of the Lord appeared to tell Gideon that God had heard Israel’s pleas for help, Gideon was hiding in a winepress, hoping to keep his pitiful little bit of wheat out of the Midianites’ hands.
Gideon had never led an army or been to war. He was hardly a “mighty man of valor.” But that’s what the Angel called him. God knew Gideon had untapped potential.
God calls us, not because of what we’ve done on our own, but for what we can do with His help. It doesn’t matter if we are currently hiding from our enemies, timid and untried.
In God’s eyes, we are mighty and valorous if we are willing to follow where He leads.
Prayer
My dear Lord, Thank You for seeing me as I could be: mighty in faith and willing to follow You anywhere. Please continue to work in my life until I become everything You envision. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Amen.
Reflection
How far am I willing to follow God when He calls me?
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