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Faith Beyond Our Insecurities

Scripture: Judges 6 and 7; Hebrews 11:32

The people of Hebrews 11 are sinners just like you and me. But you know what’s interesting about their accounts in Hebrews 11? You won’t find one single mention of any of their sins in this chapter. If you go back and read the accounts of these folks, there were most certainly sins—and in some cases, very serious ones. Yet in Hebrews 11, this retrospective on their lives, there isn’t a single mention of sin or humiliation or failure or disgrace. 

Why? Because they were forgiven and God gave them a second chance. 

Let’s look at another one of these heroes today: Gideon. Take a few minutes to read Gideon’s story in Judges 6 and 7.

Gideon was a frightened, intimidated farmer when the angel of the Lord appeared to him with a commission from Heaven. He had been in hiding, terrorized by the cruel and powerful Midianites who had been oppressing the people of Israel. The Bible says that Gideon was trying to thresh wheat while hunkered down inside a winepress. I’ve never tried that myself, but it doesn’t strike me as the stuff of legends. 

According to Judges 6:12, “The Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!’” 

Gideon must have thought this was a case of mistaken identity. Surely God didn’t look for heroes and champions crouching fearfully in dark places. We can imagine him looking up and saying, “Are you talking to me?” At that moment he didn’t resemble a mighty man of valor even remotely. He was timid, afraid, and discouraged. But God didn’t see Gideon for who he was in that moment. God saw him for who he could become. 

Then God gave Gideon a small task that still required a huge step of faith. And Gideon did it. He did have insecurities, but his faith in God was bigger than his doubts about himself. His amazing story reminds us that God will often use the unqualified to do the unexpected.

Listen carefully. He might be calling your name.

How are you most likely to hide when God is calling you to a big task? What might He be calling you to today, despite your insecurities?