There Is Strength In Weakness

There is Strength in Weakness

-God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things-

Judges 6-7

In the life and mission of Gideon we see that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. In the person of Gideon we see there is strength in weakness. When you see how God used Gideon you realize that God also can use you for His purposes.

Judges chapter 6 we find the children of Israel under the oppression of the Midianites and Amalekites. The Hebrews fled to the mountains and were hiding in caves and strongholds. The Hebrews tried to provide for themselves by sowing seed for harvest, but when the harvest was ready the Midianites and Amalekites moved in and seized their harvest.

The children of Israel were brought low and cried out to the lord in desperation. God send a prophet who reminded them of their disobedience and God’s faithfulness. The prophet reminded them that they were suffering the consequences of their disobedience to God because of their worship of false gods and idols.

The primary focus of Judges chapter 6 and 7 is on Gideon. God called and commissioned Gideon to bring deliverance and freedom to Israel.

Gideon is working his harvest in a secluded area to hide from the Medianites. Judges 6:12, The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and gave Him God’s message. We see unfolded in Judges 6-7 some truths and principles for successful Christian Living.

I. The Lord Sees Positive Potential in Every Person.

6:12 The Angel of the Lord addresses Gideon: “The Lord is with you mighty warrior.”

The angel of the Lord didn’t see Gideon in his present situation. The angel of the Lord saw what Gideon could become. “The Lord is with you mighty warrior.”

The fact was that Gideon was in hiding, not what any mighty warrior would be doing. He was working in secret to keep form losing his harvest to the enemy…prowling bands of Midianite vandals.

6:13 Gideon had an honest response to the angel of the Lord. “I’m not so sure God is with us, look at all that has happened to us. Yes God has delivered us from bondage in Egypt just to turn us over to the Midianites.”

6:14 The Lord responded with a calling and commission. The angel now speaks as the Lord, God. (Many Bible Scholars believe the Angel of the Lord to be the person of Jesus, the Son of God, at work in O.T. times). The scripture says: “God faced him directly, “Go in the strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?”

6:15 Gideon questioned the commission: “But Lord how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I’m the least of my family.” V. 16. The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

Here is a great principle for personal and family success. Put a 10 on every member of your family. Look at the potential in every member of your family. By your words and actions you encourage and empower people to be all that God wants them to be. In your own way you can say to your children or your spouse: “God is with you O mighty warrior!” You can be an encourager. You can be positive. Look at their potential. You can be supportive and caring.

# One of the dynamic preachers in America is Dr. E.V. Hill, an African American Pastor in Los Angeles. A few years ago he lost his wife after many years of marriage to cancer. He describes his wife as a partner that made him a better man.

In their early years of marriage he was a struggling preacher and had trouble earning a living. He decided to invest their family’s scarce resources over his wife’s objection in a service station. His wife was right and eventually the station went broke.

It was a critical time in the life of E.V. Hill and his wife would been justified in saying: “I told you so.” But when E.V. Hill told his wife what hap happened she just replied; “All right.” When he came home he was expecting his wife to give him the business. Instead she said: “I’ve been doing some figuring. I figure that you don’t smoke and you don’t drink. If you smoked and drank, you would have lost as much as you lost in the service station. So it’s six in one hand and a half-dozen in the other. Let’s forget it.”

She could have shattered her husband’s confidence, but she told her husband what he needed to hear: “I still believe in you.”

A few nights later E.V. Hill came home and his wife had prepared a candlelight dinner. She said, “We’re going to eat by candlelight tonight.” He went to the bathroom to wash his hands and the light would not turn on. He felt his way to the bedroom and flipped another switch. Darkness prevailed. He went back to the dinning room and asked his wife why the electricity was off. She began to cry. She said, “You’re working so hard and we’re trying, but I didn’t have enough money to pay the light bill. I didn’t want you to know about it, so I thought we would eat by candlelight.”