Who? Me? Courageous?

March 4, 2022 by  
Filed under Daily Devotions

By Carin LeRoy –

Has someone ever said you were gifted at something? Maybe after speaking they said, “You are a wonderful teacher.” Perhaps, “You’re a visionary”, or “God has given you wisdom and discernment.” Many times others see in us what we can’t see in ourselves, but God has given each of us specific gifting.

In Judges 6, we read about the Israelites’ oppression under the dominating rule of the Midians. We find Gideon threshing wheat while hiding in a winepress—normally used for pressing grapes to make wine. He worked alone away from the watchful eyes of the Midianites—probably afraid they would take his wheat for their own use. Their tyranny had left the nation impoverished. While he was working, an angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, courageous warrior.”

Gideon probably thought, “Who? Me? A courageous warrior? I’m just trying to eke out a living to feed my family.”

“But sir,” he said, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

God said, “You have the strength. Deliver Israel from the power of the Midians. Have I not sent you?”

Gideon voiced several areas of concern: 1) “How can I deliver Israel?” 2) “My clan is the weakest in Israel.” 3) “I am the youngest in my family.”

Full of uncertainty, he wondered if he was the right man for such a job. Maybe he thought God would accept those excuses and ask someone else. But God chose him. After the Lord’s gentle coaching, Gideon set out to obey. The result? “The Israelites humiliated Midian; the Midianites fighting spirit was broken. The land had rest for 40 years during Gideon’s time,” (Judges 8: 28 NET). God gave Gideon the power to accomplish His purpose. Gideon progressed from doubt in his ability to trusting God and walking in obedience to Him. As a result, a nation was freed from oppression by one man’s faith in God.

Transitioning from doubt to faith takes courage. It takes trust in God’s word. Just as Gideon, we also have God’s assurance of “I will be with you.”

PRAYER: Lord, thank You that You equip us with gifts to accomplish Your purposes. Help me not to doubt. Give me confidence to believe and trust in Your power. Help me have faith to step out, like Gideon, and trust You.

QUOTE: “I believe that the happiest of all Christians and the truest of Christians are those who never dare to doubt God, but take His Word simply as it stands, believe it, and ask no questions, just feeling assured that if God has said it, it will be so.” C.H. Spurgeon.

About Carin LeRoy

Today's devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano, and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.
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