Wondered by the Word — The Bible in a YearSample

For the Good and the Glory

Key Verse: Judges 6:12-13

“Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.’ Gideon said to him, ‘Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.’” 

The book of Judges is all about God using imperfect people in the midst of a nation’s cycles of disobedience, repentance, and deliverance. In Judges 6, the Lord calls Gideon in the midst of a dark and oppressive time for Israel to be the deliverer of His people from Midian. Gideon continues to question God’s call by asking, “… Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the youngest in my father’s family” (Judges 6:15). 

Aren’t you glad that we serve a God who is not intimidated by our questions? God responds to Gideon’s feelings of inadequacy with this simple phrase, “I will be with you.” 

Eventually, Gideon begins preparation to attack the Midianite camp. He mobilizes thousands of troops only for God to let him know there were too many, decreasing his troops to 300. He did not want Gideon to ever think this deliverance came from his own strength. 

Have you ever had a door open in your life that you immediately felt unqualified for? Have you found yourself stating every reason as to why you shouldn’t have that opportunity? Maybe you don’t think you come from the right background, look the part, or have all of the credentials needed?  

Gideon, like many of us, experienced a moment of “Imposter Syndrome.” This means we constantly questioning the door God opens or the opportunities He’s given us. Not only do we question Him but we begin to exclude Him by attempting to walk out what He’s called us to do in our own strength. 

Ultimately, this happens because we are trusting in ourselves more than God. The story of Gideon reminds us of these truths: We cannot do what God calls us to do apart from a consistent reliance upon Him. God is sovereign, using whom He wills as He wills for the good of others and for His glory. No matter how dire things appear, His purposes will be accomplished in the earth. And He continues to use imperfect people to do so. 

(Written by Jennifer Lucy Tyler)