Hebrew 11:31, 32
Judges 6:1-16
"Why then" or “Where be”
Israel has been over ran by the invasion of the Midianites. This was not primarily a military invasion like that of an army invading a land. This invasion was more of a gypsy-type migration. The Midianites came into the land of Israel during harvest time and plunder the increase of the land. As a result, Israel was imprisoned and impoverished by the Midianites.
Israel cried out to God for deliverance, and an angel of the Lord appeared unto Gideon. The angel came with a proclamation of God’s care (12). However, the proclamation brought about a protest about God’s care. It was very hard for Gideon to reconcile that God was with him, and that God cares for him when providence has frowned long and hard upon him.
Less we be too hard on Gideon I have heard people say, "Why is all this happening to me? I read the Bible, pray, attend church, and tithe." This is exactly what Gideon was saying when he said, "Why then?"
Gideon’s faith is being challenged.
God often uses trials, trouble, and tribulation to challenge our faith.
I’ve never received anything by faith without it first being seriously challenged. Faith is the sole basis of all claims on anything God has provided. This is why the devil fights against faith.
Remember, God is for you when you faith is challenged. See Romans 8:28-34. Three times in four verses the words FOR US are seen.
God is FOR US.... FOR US ......FOR US. Often times we forget this, and when we do we get down, discouraged, and often defeated. Verse 31 states God is FOR US: God the Father is FOR US in verse 32, God the Son is FOR US in verse 34, and God the Holy Spirit is FOR US in verse 26.
See Psalm 56:9 and Psalm 118:6. God is FOR the believer! God is FOR you individually and FOR US collectively.
The Devil wants us to think God is against us, but the truth is God is FOR US. The believer is special to God.
However, from time to time in the Christian life there are situations and circumstances which raise questions in our minds. We wonder “why then ” or “where be.”
Now, if God be for me, why then is all this befallen me. The reason will vary from person to person and need to need, but there is always a purpose behind the problems God allows in our life.
I. God may allow trouble to happen to you to ENCOURAGE SOMEONE.
The stories of the Bible are there for us to lean upon for encouragement. See Romans 15:4.
God raised up a man by the name of Gideon to lead the people in battle against the Midianites. Now, Gideon is the most unlikely candidate for a national deliverer you could imagine. He was a farmer not a soldier. He had probably never been in a fight before. This encourages me. IT is not my ability but His ability. I am encourage by Gideon when I realize that God can use anybody (15).
Also, as we study the Bible, we observe how God helped others in their afflictions; asa result, we can take comfort knowing He will come through for us in our affliction.
We often face sickness, problems, and difficulties to encourage others. Trials and afflictions are allowed to come because we must be ground between the millstones of trials before we can be bread for the others.
See II Corinthians 1:3,4.
Trials increases usefulness in two ways:
A. First, there is a sympathy that you can now share with others
B. Second, there is a testimony that you can now share with others
II. God may allow trouble to happen to you to EXHIBIT SOVEREIGNTY.
If there had never been a lion’s den how could we know that He could lock the jaws of lions? If there had never been a fiery furnace, how could we know that He could cool the flame of the fire? If there had never been a Red Sea to cross, how could we know that He could divide waters and make a way for Israel to cross on dry ground? If there had never been a troubled sea on which the disciples found themselves, how could we know that He could the wind and the waves with just His word?
Trouble and trials provide a platform to manifest how great He is. Paul’s thorn in the flesh gave a platform for the evidence of God’s grace to be seen. Joseph in prison served as a platform whereby we could see that God works things for our good.
Man’s WEAKNESS IS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY. Our extremity
gives God an opportunity to show what He can do in our
situations. Our extremity gives God a chance to reveal His ability to us. Our problems are actually a platform upon which God can prove to the world how powerfully He provides for His people.
My problem is actually a platform upon which God can prove to the world (and me) how powerfully He provides for his people. The distressing and despairing times of life give God the opportunity to reveal Himself to us. They are the platform upon which God proves that there is nothing too hard for Him to do!
I love the little poem,I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chatted all the way,
But left me none the wiser,
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne’er a word said she,
But, oh, the things I learned from her,
When sorrow walked with me. See Daniel 3:15, 28,29. The fiery furnace into which three Hebrew children was thrown provided a stage in which one could see plainly that there God was able to deliver.
If there had been no death in the home of Mary and Martha, how could we know that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Jesus even said about Lazarus sickness, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified."
If there had been no Peter in prison, how could we know that our God responds wonderfully and powerfully to the prayers of His children?
If there had been no Midianite army, how could we know that our God could defeat a army with just lamp, a pitcher, and a horn.
III. God may allow trouble to happen so you could EXPERIENCE SUFFICIENCY.
No victory without conflict. There must be conflict if we are going to prevail. No conquest if there is no conflict.
What is it that makes a great football player? It is all the great opposing players he has faced. The same is true for every child of God.
We prove His grace sufficient with suffering. We prove God will provide with needs. We prove his strength inour weakness.
Lee Roberson founded Camp Joy after experiencing victory over the death of his daughter Joy. Bill and Cathy Rice established the Bill Rice Ranch and its ministry to the deaf after experiencing victory over their deaf daughter.
Gideon would not have known victory and the power of God if it had not been for the trouble he encounter with the Midianites.
Gideon would never had known God’s strength until he came to know his weakness. The secret of the Christian’s strength lies in maintaining a consciousness of his weakness. Many are too big for God to use but none are too small.
Hebrews 11 says “out of weakness were made strong”
2 Corinthians 12:9,10 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
One of the greatest hindrances of God’s people is their feelings of inadequacy and inability. We use our lack of education, lack of specific talents or skills, and fears as a reason why we cannot serve God or why He cannot use us. Such was the case of Gideon. He saw himself insufficient and incapable, yet God’s strength was made perfect in his weakness.
A. It is a Powerful Sufficiency
It is HIS sufficiency.
B. It is a Personal Sufficiency.
Grace sufficient for you in your need,
and grace sufficient for me in my need!
C. It is a a Present Sufficiency.
The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient . . .” not “will be.” The grace was already there for Paul to draw upon it. All he had to do was to appropriate, to take, to receive, to
experience, and to enjoy!
D. It is a Plentiful Sufficiency.
The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient . . .,” and as the need increases the grace will increase. In our Lord Jesus Christ is offered to us all the grace we need to make us the men and women He wants us
to be, to keep us doing God’s will and to enable us
to finish our course with joy and all we have to do
is to draw upon His plentiful supply!
E. It was a Practical Sufficiency.
The grace of the Lord became operative in Paul’s weakness; therefore the “thorn” became the channel of the power of God, for His strength was made perfect in weakness
Conclusion:
Gideon had to exercise faith in God:
In spite of what he saw
In spite of what he sensed
Whenever God calls us to a task that we think is beyond us, we must be careful to look to God in faith and not to ourselves.
