Chico Alliance Church
November 10, 2002
Pastor David Welch
“Gideon”
Unlikely Heroes Part Three
Introduction
We have focused on the individuals listed in Hebrews chapter 11 as people who believed God in spite of the difficult circumstances they found themselves and who God used to bring about eternal impact in their circle of influence.
You see, all of us have a circle influence.
That circle is different froe everyone.
It may be larger or smaller.
Some will never leave the small community in which they live.
Scripture records many who impact only one or two people while they lived but whose faith and testimony has touched thousands.
Some think that because they do not have a world wide ministry they are not effective for God.
God wants me to tell you that he is not concerned about the size of your impact but your trust in Him.
God call all of us to impact our present circle of influence.
Don’t try to change your circle of influence or broaden it.
Be faithful where you are with what you have.
Then God will trust you with greater impact later.
"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? "And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luke 16:10-13
The only thing that pleases God is trust leading to obedience.
Trust and obey for there’s no other way.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Hebrews talks about those who demonstrated faith.
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Hebrews 11:32-34
We have looked at the circumstances of Barak and Deborah in the period of the judges.
We explored how God used Barak and acknowledged him even though he was reluctant at best and chicken at worst.
The point was he acted with trust and obedience.
We explored the five elements of the cycle of sin pointed out in judges so prominently but is true of everyone’s journey from the fleshly to the spiritual.
Slide
Sin -- Slavery -- Supplication -- Salvation -- Silence (rest)
Today we look at the cycle which begins in Judges 6 and continues through chapter 8 where God enlisted another unlikely hero to bring dramatic deliverance to the people of God.
Many of us will certainly be able to identify with Gideon in more ways than one.
May we not only be encouraged by the kind of people greatly used by God but also discover some insights along the way into His ways.
Read the whole passage
I. An impossible Situation
Sin
They again did evil in the sight of God.
Remember the issue is not whether it is evil in our eyes but what is evil in the sight of the Lord.
These people were perfectly comfortable with their life choices.
They were in bondage because they were doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
Slavery
C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, The Problem of Pain, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." God was shouting to His people, as He sometimes has to shout at us when we refuse to listen to His Word.
The Midianites were basically starving out the Israelites.
They would keep stealing their lunch and breaking their toys.
The people were so intimidated they continually hid in nearby caves.
The people were significantly outnumbered by the Midianites.
Supplication
So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD. Judges 6:6
The people were demoralized by their circumstances.
Salvation
God is the only true source of deliverance.
Through this passage we bumped into some important points regarding God’s part.
II. An unlimited God
• Self revealing God
We encountered a God who speaks and lets His plan and purpose be known.
• Early revelation of a Triunity
The Scriptures reveal that it was YAHWEH who spoke to Gideon but we also find that the visible messenger was the “ANGEL of the LORD.”
Later we read that the SPIRIT of the LORD came upon Gideon.
• God sees the potential while we see the problems
God saw beyond the instrument and looked to the promise.
God viewed Gideon as the “valiant warrior” he would become not the wimp he was.
• God of the supernatural
God chose to affirm his person and promise by supernatural means.
Fire and fleece
Military genius and divine deliverance.
• The God who is there
All through the encounter God affirmed His presence to Gideon as the source of his strength.
• Mighty Warrior
I will be with you.
I shall defeat them
It was God who defeated the Midianites in the face of insurmountable odds.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Not limited by numbers or impossible odds.
Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few." 1 Samuel 14:6
"How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had given them up? Deut. 32:30
Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You." 2 Chron. 14:11
Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. Zech. 4:6
And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
• Patient and merciful God who sometimes overlooks our imperfection to accomplish his purpose.
The whole fire and fleece thing was an accommodation by God to Gideon’s weakness.
The revelation of the enemy’s dream was God’s way of affirming His promise and encouraging Gideon’s soul.
• Holy God who is interested in fidelity among His people
God commanded Gideon to disinfect his house before delivering his people.
God commanded Gideon to remove the focus of devotion other than Him from the family.
III. An unparalleled victory
Often times before God delivers us from bondage we must clearly understand the reason we are in bondage in the first place.
’It was I who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of slavery. ’I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land, and I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not obeyed Me." ’ " Judges 6:7-10
He reminded them of His faithfulness to deliver them.
He reminded them of their failure to obey Him.
They were suffering under the hands of the Midianites because of their disobedience.
When God delivers a people he often chooses a single person to lead them.
God’s plan was to bring lasting deliverance from longtime domination.
By the time he is finished every promise comes to pass.
Who would He choose?
What kind of person does God choose to bring deliverance?
Warrior? Scholar? Mighty man? Famous? Good looking?
Let’s see who God picks to deliver His people from the hand of a devastating enemy.
IV. An unlikely hero
God appeared to Gideon and addressed him as who he would become not who he was.
“Valiant warrior”
Gideon was taken by surprise for in reality he struggled with great insecurity.
• Ignorance / bitterness
Gideon was first ignorant as to who he was talking to.
Gideon was unable to recognize the presence of God.
Gideon was ignorant of God’s faithfulness.
Gideon was ignorant of the source of their calamity.
Then Gideon said to him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ’Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." Judges 6:13
ILLUS
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal and a bottle of wine, they crawled into their tent and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, Holmes awoke and nudged his friend. “Watson, look up and tell me what you see.” Watson replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.” “What does that tell you, Watson?” Asked Holmes. Watson pondered a moment and then replied, “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is within the Leo constellation. Chronologically I observe it’s nighttime 3 a.m. on June 14th. Meteorologically, the air appears dry, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day. Why did you ask? What does it tell you?” Holmes says, “Watson, you idiot! Someone has stolen our tent!”
Gideon does not yet realize that the problem isn’t with God but with the people.
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you” (59:1-2
How many times have these questions popped into our heads but we were afraid to voice them?
Why did this happen to me?
Where are the miracles I read about in the Bible?
God helped in the past but is now absent or indifferent.
Ignorance breeds bitterness.
Truth inspires faith.
Gideon was at this point woefully ignorant of God and how He operates in His world.
Yet, God used Him anyway.
God did not rebuke him for his honest questions.
God simply looked at him and affirmed His confidence and commission.
The LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?" Judges 6:14
Even with this Gideon didn’t rush to the battle.
• Insignificance, obscurity and insecurity
He said to Him, "O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house." Judges 6:15
Youngest member of an insignificant family of an insignificant tribe in Israel
Paul told young Timothy to let no one look down on his youth.
Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 1 Tim. 4:12
• Doubt & hesitancy
Gideon needed a great deal of convincing.
He didn’t reject the proposal flat out but was looking for more affirmation.
So Gideon said to Him, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me. "Please do not depart from here, until I come back to You, and bring out my offering and lay it before You."
We are not sure just what Gideon was looking for in a sign but he was certainly trying to determine if this was God speaking or not.
It is not always easy to determine the voice of God.
I think it is mostly due to our ignorance and insensitivity to His presence and activity in our life.
And He said, "I will remain until you return." Judges 6:17-18
God graciously affirmed his anointing by a powerful display of fire.
The fire was not enough however, Gideon asked for more affirmation.
Don’t copy Gideon’s practice of the fleece to affirm what God has already promised.
Even Gideon at the time recognized the fleece thing wasn’t a good thing especially the second time.
Don’t doubt in the darkness what God has revealed in the light.
Don’t press God to confirm promises already made clear.
Don’t ask God to confirm whether or not you should lie or steal or commit adultery.
Fortunately God accommodated his doubt and insecurity.
Don’t cont on it always being the case.
In the case of Zechariah who doubted the promise of a son God chastised him by making him unable to speak until John the Baptist was born.
• Fear
Gideon’s fear is apparent all through this narrative.
He hid in the winepress from the Midianites
He was afraid to confront idolatry in the family (obeyed by night) afraid of the household.
He was especially afraid after God sent 31,700 of his army home.
• Unwise choices
Gideon made an unwise decision that lead to renewed idolatry.
Gideon’s son Abimelech by a concubine destroyed his 70 of his brothers in a fight for rule of the land.
Can you identify with any of these character struggles?
So what was it that made Gideon usable?
What earned Gideon a place in the Hebrews hall of faith?
What transformed a obscure farmer into a valiant warrior?
• Trust and obedience
Even though he was fearful he still obeyed.
• He was cautious.
Gideon wanted to make sure it was really the Lord talking to him and not something else.
• He was committed to serve the Lord. (built a place of devotion - altar)
• He understood the majesty and power of God (bowed in worship)
• Became willing to face the impossible odds because of the presence and promise of God
What were those odds?
32,000 men with Gideon against 135,000 Midianites. 4 to 1 odds
God reduced the odds to 300 men with Gideon and 135,000 Midianites.
Every Israelite must take on 450 Midianites.
• Unselfish and diplomatic (not looking to be famous)
Recognized the contribution of the other countrymen.
• God focused (I will not rule over you but God will rule over you)
• Courageous, valiant warrior.
I think a significant fundamental change came about when Gideon finally realized who it was that promised to use Him and give them victory over the Midianites.
It was when he even heard of God’s anointing from the mouth of the enemy that Gideon bowed in worship before God.
Courage comes from a vital encounter with God.
After this encounter with God, we don’t hear of fear.
In fact Gideon becomes quite courageous in the face of the enemy.
He became God’s “valiant warrior”
He chased the Midianites and their rulers.
He dealt with dissention from the other tribes.
He stood up to those who ridiculed his victory.
He refused to take the glory but directed the people to God’s rule over them.
To be committed is to be steadfast, not stubborn; unwavering, not unafraid.
In this commitment we finally encounter God in a significant way that forever changes our lives and overcome significant fears.
If God can use one as unlikely as Gideon, he can use you and me.
Leonard Ravenhill told of a group of tourists who were visiting a picturesque village. One person turned to an elderly man sitting nearby and asked, “Were there any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.”
V. Timeless lessons
• When we do evil in God’s sight, He allows the enemy to destroy our fruitfulness.
The enemy went after the fruit.
Satan is out to destroy your fruit.
God called us that we might bear fruit.
He purifies us, prunes us and props us up that we might bear more fruit and much fruit.
"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:8
Your impossible circumstances may be the result of doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
• God calls even the most minuscule to accomplish the monumental.
Worried about your heritage?
Concerned that you are too insignificant to count for anything?
Feel afraid and hesitant?
Feel like God has abandoned you?
Given up on God doing anything through your life?
God delights in using the weak things of this world to confound the strong.
Should we have any different mentality?
Who are we overlooking?
• Significant national motivation begins with initial family cleansing.
What household idols need to be torn down in your home?
What things divert devotion away form God?
What do we trust to deliver us that rob us of our trust in God?
• God doesn’t need vast numbers to achieve His purposes against impossible odds.
I sometimes wonder, as did Gideon, where are the miracles that our fathers told us about?
Where are the miracles we read in the Bible?
In the case of Israel, they were suffering the consequences of deliberate disobedience.
What are you facing today that seems impossible?
What are the promises of God concerning those things?
• Supernatural signs do not inspire faith.
Jesus said an evil generation seek for signs.
Israel had plenty of signs on their journey to the Promised Land.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Faith is the result of the promises and proclamations of God.
• Courage comes from a significant encounter with the person and promise of God.
This is a most significant point in all this.
As I said before I think it was the whole turning point in Gideon’s life.
Until we come face to face with the Almighty God and significantly come to grips with His magnificent promises that cause even the enemy of our soul to fear we will continually hide in caves and try to harvest whatever fruit we can under cover of darkness.
We will continue to allow the enemy to rob us of our rightful heritage as children of God.
We may sense the leading of God’s Spirit but until we encounter the presence and promise of the living God we will continue to struggle in our walk.
When we realize that even the enemy trembles before us because of the presence and promise of God, we can become God’s instrument to bring deliverance to his people against impossible odds.
• God rewards obedience even when everything in our life wasn’t perfect.
I must address this point because it is the heart of why I am doing this series on unlikely heroes.
There are some in Scripture who started badly and ended boldly.
There are others who started badly and ended badly but in between truly trusted God.
What does God count?
What does God see?
What is the basis for God’s recognition?
God rewards faith.
Wherever it applies in our life, God sees and rewards faith.
It is on the basis of one act of faith that God saves us.
It is this act of faith in Gideon that earns him a place in God’s hall of faith even though at the end of his life he made some unwise if not sinful choices.
On the basis of Gideon’s trust and obedience God blessed not only him but all of Israel and brought long-term deliverance.
God honored him for that faith even though he did not diminish the consequences of his bad choices during this life.
This is not to inspire you to discourage a lifelong pursuit of trust and obedience.
It is to reinforce the nature of God and the wonder of grace.
God does not miss any faithful act.
Which of these lessons applies to you today?
What does God what you to do or feel or think as a result of today’s message?
God uses the most unlikely to accomplish the unexpected.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, Ephes. 3:20
