God's Strength in our weakness

For seven long years, Israel, God's chosen people, suffered at the hands of the Midianites and the Amalekites. These oppressors plundered the Israelites, stealing their crops and leaving them starved and desperate. This circumstance may remind some of us of our own situations, where we feel overwhelmed and helpless against seemingly bigger and stronger opponents.

The Israelites, out of their despair, cried out to the Lord for help. Are we not like them, crying out when we are pounded on, feeling as though we face insurmountable challenges? The Lord, in response to Israel's cries, sent a prophet to help them understand why they were facing such trials.

Before a rescuer or judge was sent, a sermon was delivered. Israel needed to understand their need for a rescuer. This prophet reminded Israel of their deliverance from the grip of mighty Egypt, affirming that the same Lord could rescue them from their current oppression. However, he also highlighted their idolatry - their worship of the Amorite's false gods - as the root cause of their suffering.

This led Israel from regret to repentance. As explained in 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death." The challenge for us is to discern whether we are living in regret or moving towards repentance.

Despite being weak, insecure, and filled with doubt, Gideon was chosen by God to rescue Israel. The Angel of the Lord - believed to be a pre-incarnation of Jesus Christ - appeared to Gideon, calling him a "mighty hero". Despite Gideon's doubts and protests, God reassured him that He would be with him, and he would be given the strength needed to rescue Israel.

When Gideon asked for a sign to affirm the truth of God's words, the Lord graciously provided it. In realizing he was in the presence of God Almighty, Gideon built an altar on the spot and dedicated it to the God of Peace. This teaches us that before we battle our enemies, we must ensure we are at peace with Jesus, having confessed our sins and donned the armor of God.

The story of Gideon offers us two key lessons.

1. Firstly, before we can represent God in public, we need to know God in a personal way.
   
2. Secondly, we must leave behind our old 'gods' and fully commit ourselves to Jehovah God. Despite his fears and doubts, Gideon acted in obedience, teaching us that courage does not mean the absence of fear but rather acting despite it.

Gideon's story reminds us of our own challenges and how we can find strength in our weaknesses. It encourages us to cry out to God in our trials, understand the root causes of our struggles, move from regret to repentance, and take courage in the Lord's promise of His presence and strength. In doing so, we too, like Gideon, can become "mighty heroes" through God's power.

- Adapted from the sermon preached at WLCC on 7/23/23.