Read Judges 7:19-25
2. Gideon’s Conquest(Continuation). Gideon and the 300 hundred blew their trumpets, shouted, and held their torches in this chapter of Judges. The Lord caused the enemy to turn on each other. There was a great defeat of the enemy. In fact, the heads of two of the leaders were brought to Gideon, after the victory.
- Before the victory. Notice in vss. 19-21 that following leadership was essentially to winning this victory. They had never did it this way before. There was no chapter and verse to be cited as a proof text.
On one hand, it is good to see that when we trust God enough to follow the leader that He sends, God can give us the victory. On the other hand, it is disheartening to see how difficult it is for us to follow the leader that God has sent us.
Think about how few leaders and members have registered their support for our 2020 vision, the resistance to the growth group efforts, and how difficult it is to get our members to come to worship regularly and to worship. Let’s work on following the leadership that God has sent, so we can experience more victories.
- For God and the one He sent. Notice in vs. 20 that the soldiers shouted out “for God and Gideon.” There are some who would rather lose the battle than to shout for God and any human being, even when the human being is sent by God.
Our resistance to such may explain why there are so few victories to report. When we follow leadership, as long as it doesn’t contradict God’s word (which is not the same, as follow as long as he is in the word. Everything doesn’t have a chapter and verse to support it.), we don’t have to worry about being misled.
God has a way of intervening and making sure that those who
trust Him are taken care of. Following human leadership is an indication of how
well we follow God’s invisible leadership. Let’s
work on trusting God enough to follow who He has sent.
First, we need to make sure that we have followed God’s instructions, before we expect Him to do His part. Think about God’s instructions (e.g., being registered reachers, tithers, enthusiastic worshippers, and people who live by His principles with our family and in our work lives).
Second, we should be thankful that God can be trusted to handle His part. Sometimes He does it in strange ways, but God can be trusted to take care of His own.
Let’s work on following God’s instructions, as if we trust that He will do His part. This includes obedience, joy, and expectation.
- The privilege of service. Notice in vs. 24 of this chapter of Judges that those who were not included in the 300 and perhaps many who had been cut are now engaged in the battle. Unfortunately, there are many people who will withhold their support of the work because they felt as if they should have been asked first or should have been included earlier.
Because they were not treated importantly enough, they hold their cooperation hostage. This is such an ungodly spirit. We should all be happy to give our best, whenever we can. Serving the Lord is a high privilege, not a right nor a chore.
Let’s work on serving the Lord, as if it is a high privilege. This includes having a spirit of humility, joy, and cooperation.
- God’s wrath. Notice in vs. 25 that this is a bloody victory for the people of God. There is a part of us that wants to ask, “How can God be a part of so much violence”? However, a better question may be, “Are we on the right side of God’s wrath”?
The way to be right with God is to make sure that you have accepted Jesus as your savior by faith and that you are striving to live a life that is focused on loving God and others, as you love yourself. Let’s make sure that we are on the right side of God’s wrath.
Conclusion: Let’s work on being obedient, instead of disobedient. God has much for those who obey His will.Please click here to let us know, if this has been quality and helpful information for you (i.e., make sure you let us know the name of the article). Feel free to share your questions and comments about the article as well.