REDISCOVERING THE REAL YOU-3 Judges 6:11-16
‘And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.’ (Judges 6:11-16)
Preamble
The story of Gideon, though well-known and fascinating, is a classic example of a life that was initially lost but was later rediscovered, and it went on to achieve spectacular results. I’m inspired to share his life story and go ahead to draw practical lessons for our consumption in our quest for rediscovering of our real selves.
The Story Line
Gideon lived at a time the Midianites were masters over the Israelites. As a result of the Israelites’ sins, God used Midian to discipline Israel. The Midianites oppressed the Israelites by allowing their livestock to graze the entire farm land of the Israelites during harvesting. It was so devastating for the nation of Israel. The Israelites cried bitterly to the LORD, but God refused to rescue them.
Later on, God sent a top angel to a small town called Ophrah and to the house of Mr Joash. The Angel went straight to meet a young man called Gideon. Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in a corner so as to hide his harvest from the Midianites. The harvest was a small quantity because he wasn’t using the customary treading of wheat.
The Angel said to Gideon: “The LORD is with you; you mighty man of valor!’ The way God addressed Gideon is quite instructive. This is who Gideon truly was. That’s who God sees him to be. In verse 13, Gideon responded by gushing out some rubbish which revealed his very low self-esteem and sheer ignorance of his real self. In verse 14, the LORD went on to reveal to Gideon his life mission: Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you? Here, God showed him that the might in him is to be used to save Israel from her current oppressors. God seems to say to Gideon: I have got your back as you fulfill your destiny. How God created a man is a pointer to what he should accomplish in life. Who you are points to what you are ordained to do.
Application of the Truths in Judge 6:11-16
- Lay hold on who God says you are; not what situations say.
Though Israel was in abject poverty and greatly impoverished, God still saw Gideon as a mighty man. The prevailing situation of our nation can’t make God to see you other than the way He created you. The economy may be unfriendly, but you are still a blessed person. That economy can’t stop you from being a blessing. See yourself the way God sees you even in the midst of unpleasant circumstances. Always address yourself in line with God’s original intent.
- You are the solution to the prevailing situation(s) around you.
Always see yourself as a solution. Everywhere God has placed you, you have a huge role to play there. Rise to the occasion. There’s a deposit of God in you to proffer solution to the difficulties around you. Don’t join the naysayers. Don’t be part of the grumbling and murmuring around you. God has got your back. Go in this your might!
Conclusion
I see you as a Gideon. You are the ordained being to salvage the mess in our nation, state, city, institution, organization, or church. That’s your calling. Forget about the crowd around. God’s beaming light is on you. He’s come around for you. I plead with you to rise to the occasion even if what God is driving at is strange to you. God is got your back!