Lessons From the Life of Gideon: Obedience

As we follow the life of Gideon today, we learn that God is the Initiator and the Provider for everything He calls His people to do.

“Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.” -Judges 6:34 

All of a sudden, Gideon found himself with all these people around him who were ready to follow him, yet he still questioned God’s promise.

God called Gideon a “mighty warrior,” consumed his sacrifice with fire, blew the trumpet through him in calling the men to fight, and more! But Gideon still wants to cut a deal with God. Even though he acknowledges that God gave him a promise, he is still not convinced that he is God’s man for the job.

Listen to Gideon’s words:

“Gideon said to God, ‘If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.’” -Judges 6:36-37, emphasis added

We are just like Gideon, aren’t we? God gives us His Word in so many things, His promise to us that cannot be taken away, and we still doubt Him. We often refuse to trust Him to do what He has said.

Never has any generation of Christians had so many resources—both financial and material—to get the job done, but we spend most of our lives questioning the trustworthiness of God’s promises.

We’ll say, “I know You said, ‘I will be with you.’ I know You told me to fear not. I believe Your commission is to go. It’s clear that You gave me the Holy Spirit for power. I believe people are lost as You said and will miss out on Heaven, but I’m just not sure.”

We’ve filled our Christian lives with the “but” of postponed obedience. We are always asking God to prove Himself to us and the result is we miss it and waste our lives all while God’s already given us the proof!

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8

Our Father’s loving grace, full of gentleness and patience, keeps knocking on our door, authenticating His presence and power to His people.

Whatever God is asking of you, my friends, do it. Today. Be willing to go and beg someone, if necessary, to be reconciled to Christ Jesus.

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