A Place Of Grace
8-23-26
  • We often think being ready means feeling ready. We expect readiness to come with confidence, clarity, resources, and a sense that we know exactly what we're doing. But Judges 6 gives us a very different picture.
    Gideon isn't confident—he's afraid. He doesn't have all the answers—he has questions. He isn't looking for an opportunity to lead—he's hiding in a winepress trying to save a little wheat.
    And yet, that is exactly where God meets him.
    God begins preparing Gideon long before Gideon feels prepared. And the process isn't comfortable. Before Gideon can face the Midianites, God will confront his thinking, expose the idols close to home, challenge his fears, and teach him that the strength he needs will never be found in himself.
    Maybe that's something we need to understand as well: God's preparation for what He wants to do through us often begins with what He wants to do in us.
    Judges 6 isn't the story of a mighty man who was ready for God to use him. It's the story of a weak, fearful man learning that readiness isn't having enough strength for what lies ahead—it's being willing to obey the God who says, “I will be with you.”
    And sometimes, getting us ready means God is going to make us uncomfortable.
    God is not waiting for us to become strong enough; He calls us to trust and obey Him in our weakness so that His strength can be seen.
    Judges 6 — God Prepares the Man
    Judges 7 — God Wins the Battle
    “God's preparation for what He wants to do through us often begins with what He wants to do in us.”

    A Heart With Expectations (6:1-10)

    I personally came with some preconceived ideas of application & challenge: church budget, leader resources, ministries in need…
    I wanted to challenge our church… God wanted to challenge your pastor… He needed to challenge me!
    Judges 6:1 States that then they did evil in the eyes of the Lord. This evil brought God’s judgment and they now had a difficult situation…
    Hide in caves… Food / Crops were being taken… Stress was very present
    Hunger / Fear / Oppression
    Over 135,000 Coming like locust!!!
    Our troubles often lead us to cry out to God!… How do we expect God to react?… “God Give us Victory!!!”
    Take over the situation and free us from trouble
    Take care of the physical thing that is troubling me
    In this narrative we see how God chooses to react…
    Sends a prophet, a messenger who speaks for Him!
    God reminds us of Who He is and What He has done
    God points out the real issue!!!
    Israel cries out because they want relief.
    God sends a prophet because they need repentance.
    They are thinking: “God, get rid of Midian.”
    God is essentially saying: “Before we talk about Midian, let's talk about you.”
    Often our real issue is our heart, not our situation.
    I find often we treat God like a vending machine: Often our real issue is our heart, and not the situation!
    Israel's greatest problem wasn't actually the Midianites. Their greatest problem was that they had forsaken the LORD. Midian was a consequence of the deeper spiritual problem.
    And then comes God’s grace: [CYCLE SLIDE]
    They disobeyed Him. He disciplined them. They cried out. He confronted their sin. And then—He came to rescue them anyway.
    God sees what we are capable of becoming through His strength not ours and that is how He addresses Gideon… “Mighty Warrior!”

    God’s Call to Act (6:11-24)

    Too often we make people in the Bible out to be some sort of heroes. We then go on to tell ourselves we could never do that or be that way…
    I’m not minimizing what they did...I’m just stating they were human too!
    Hurts… Fears… Doubts… Joys and sorrows
    There situations may have been like ours more often than we may think…
    The people of Israel, Gideon included, had become COMFORTABLE with the Status Quo, while feeling overwhelmed they just went along with things
    When the Angel of the Lord comes we see Gideon express Hesitancy and he has Questions… Judges 6:11-14
    Judges 6:11–14 NASB95
    Then the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?”
    Gideon has some questions for this visitor.
    The prophet had shared all God had done and Gideon ask WHY the troubles and WHERE is God and His miracles?
    It’s interesting that God addresses Gideon directly and Gideon addresses the nations situation. (we like to take focus off ourselves sometimes)
    Gideon recognizes God is in control but is perplexed at the situation.
    It is good for you and me to ask questions from time to time… it helps us think through the situations that come our way.
    God is talking about Gideon, while Gideon wants to talk about Israel's circumstances.
    The Angel says essentially, “The LORD is with you.”
    Gideon responds, “If the LORD is with us…”
    Then Gideon's question in v. 13 is painfully relatable:
    If God is with us, why is this happening? Where are the miracles we've heard about?
    But then notice what God does in v. 14
    God doesn't answer Gideon’s question of WHY… RATHER: He states what He wants Gideon to do.
    Sometimes God doesn't answer every question we have about our circumstances;
    instead, He tells us what obedience looks like in the middle of them.
    God doesn't need Gideon's strength. He wants Gideon's obedience.
    Gideon states he is the least (God I am weak!)
    Humility or Nervousness… or BOTH?!
    God does not do what so many self help books do these days… saying: “No, Gideon! Believe in yourself! You're stronger than you think!”
    Instead: God states “Surely I will be with you.” — Judges 6:16
    Judges 6:16 NASB95
    But the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.”
    God doesn't object to Gideon's statement … He just puts the emphasis on Himself and what He as God will do
    God doesn't need Gideon’s strength! He wants his obedience!
    The answer to Gideon's weakness isn't Gideon's hidden strength.
    The answer to Gideon's weakness is God's presence.
    The issue isn't how strong Gideon is. The issue is WHO is with Gideon.
    Gideon requested a sign /some proof?
    Doubt is common when we are fearful, we are often fearful because we doubt too!
    God is patient, and He waits.
    Once Gideon realizes it is God he has peace.
    God wants us to experience the peace He offers, even in the turmoil of our situation… God’s Word shows us GOD!!!

    Let’s Get Personal (6:25-32)

    While yes God is patient… He also doesn't waste time either! Before God uses Gideon publicly, He calls Gideon to obedience privately.
    Tonight Gideon… GO!!! there is something you need to do… now obey Me!
    Gideon was to confront his father’s god
    Let’s deal with the Baal in your own backyard
    The idols the nation of Israel had turned to
    Family Idols- God still calls us to get our homes and lives in order first
    Breaking wrong sinful traditions & patterns
    This would impact Gideon’s: friends… family… father… his own home…
    Some battles are not glamourous… but very necessary
    It is easy for us to look at situations and neglect to really take care of the heart issue in our personal lives.
    It is less intrusive to point to things AROUND US rather than the THINGS IN US!
    Don’t put Gideon down here for his approach… Gideon was scared scripture tells us… yet he obeyed God
    Timing is a crucial thing when dealing with personal matters (notice he doesn’t use timing as an excuse to put off what God directs him to do though)
    He had help, any time we can go through difficult times with someone else it is encouraging, and helpful.
    God gave us the church in those scary and difficult times!
    Courage isn't the absence of fear. Sometimes courage is obeying God while you're still afraid.
    Notice the response of his father… Judges 6:31 “… “Will you contend for Baal, or will you deliver him? Whoever will plead for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar.””
    Judges 6:31 NASB95
    But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal, or will you deliver him? Whoever will plead for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has torn down his altar.”
    Sometimes the parent is taught by the child. This is difficult
    Gideon essentially is saying to his father… remember, these are not the God we serve!
    His father learns a lesson here… and He defends his son
    He gives him the name “Let Baal Contend Against Him”
    Gideon tears down Baal's altar, and Baal can't do anything about it.
    Baal can't save Israel. Gideon can't save Israel. Only Yahweh can save Israel.
     Doing what is asked of us by God is not always easy but God was with him and He is with you and I as well.

    A Fleece?! (6:33-40)

    God is now calling Gideon to go up against a military force that is 135,000 strong with more camels than you can count! At best Gideon has 32,000 men who are not skilled or equipped soldiers.
    Gideon may be God’s servant, but he is FEARFUL and in this narrative of “Gideon’s Fleece” we see God:
    God’s Graciousness
    God’s Patience
    God Understands Our Weakness!
    Gideon is given this task and in order to be sure this is the Lord’s will he ask for another sign… Gideon does not want to do this on his own!
    Don’t be too quick to judge Gideon for his request of God for a test
    There are natural doubts he would have
    We find ourselves in situations where we have doubts as well… and for that God has given us something as well: The Word of God
    We can test God’s will with the completed scripture God has given us
    What has God said:
    But Gideon ask for the 1st test: Dry ground and a wet fleece
    He acknowledges God has instructed him but needs affirmation (God is still being credited)
    God soaked it!!! God is very clear when it comes to those things He wants us to do, we need to listen
    Gideon ask for a 2nd test: Wet ground dry fleece
    God is so patient with us isn’t He!
    God desires that we be assured of His presence
    God patiently assures Gideon TWICE… this reveals something so beautiful about our God!
    God knows where you are at and He is able to reassure you as you follow Him and do what He desires from you.
    LOK AT GOD THROUGH ALL OF THIS:
    1. God Confronts the Real Problem — 6:1–10 Israel wants relief; God addresses their heart.
    2. God Calls the Weak — 6:11–24 Gideon's weakness isn't the obstacle because God's presence is the answer.
    3. God Starts at Home — 6:25–32 Before the public battle comes there is private obedience.
    4. God Is Patient with Our Weakness — 6:33–40 The fleece reveals Gideon's fear, but also God's gracious patience.
    And all four reveal God: ...God confronts… God calls… God commands… God reassures.

    Are You Ready?

    When we started I shared God is CHALLENGING me. Currently in my life He is stretching me to trust Him, there is genuine fear, maybe even doubts, I feel weak to accomplish what He is asking, there is a new level of trust in Him that I have not embraced before…
    What is God confronting in YOU? Not someone else. Not society. Not around you BUT YOU!
    What am YOU afraid to obey God in? Where are YOU hiding because YOU feel inadequate?
    What has God already told YOU that YOU simply need to obey?
    Gideon says, “I'm the least.” God doesn't argue with him. God says, “I will be with you.”
    Gideon sees weakness. God sees what He can accomplish through a man or woman who will trust Him.
    And maybe the question isn't, “Am I strong enough for what God is asking me to do?”
    Maybe the question is, “Is the God who is calling me strong enough?”
    Because next week Gideon is going to discover something astonishing: 32,000 men are too many.
    God is going to make absolutely certain that when the battle is over, nobody can look around and say, “We did this.”
    Judges 6 and 7 together make a beautiful argument:
    Judges 6: God teaches Gideon that his weakness is not a problem Judges 7: God teaches Gideon that his strength actually can be a problem

      • Judges 6:11–14NASB95

      • Judges 6:16NASB95

      • Judges 6:31NASB95

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