“‘But Lord’, Gideon asked, ‘how can I
save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my
family.’”
Judges 6:15
It
is remarkable to consider what attributes mankind associates with success and
stature: charisma, wealth, prosperity, physical strength, external beauty,
vocational placement, and societal connections. But such lifestyle
characteristics communicate very little about a person’s inner disposition or
temperament. And they say virtually nothing about one’s hopes, dreams,
priorities, or the state of the heart. The human struggle to define a person’s
worth by cultural norms is a fleshly weakness that God has long sought to
overcome. Numerous biblical examples display the Lord’s ability to use the weak
(in the eyes of the public) to make known His supernatural power. Each instance
is another attempt to draw man’s gaze away from self and fix it on God. And so
it is that we find this God-initiated desire to work through the seemingly
insignificant in the account of Gideon in Judges 6.
But
before we briefly review God’s call to Gideon let us reflect on what had
transpired with Israel shortly after their occupation of the Promised Land. God
told His covenantal followers to rid the land of the spiritual debauchery and
wicked indigenous tribes. But eventually the Hebrew people stopped warring evilness
and allowed the Canaanite presence and influence to remain. In the process, the
Israelites began to compromise their monogamous spiritual relationship with God
and slowly, but surely, allowed sin and false worship to creep into their
religious practices. One short generation after Joshua had nobly led the band
of farmers into military conquest the Hebrews were ignoring and forgetting
God’s lordship.
At
this point in history, the people of Israel generally did not take much stock
in family-centric authentic worship. They relied on making one man (like Moses
or Joshua) responsible for setting the spiritual standard for the entire nation.
But God seeks for relational faith to be displayed primarily in the home, not
in the civic or governmental arenas. Allowing the spiritual influence to rest
on the shoulders of one individual is very dangerous and irresponsible. All of
God’s followers need to keep themselves accountable to the Lord, and not
transfer that right or responsibility to others because they personally lack
conviction or integrity.
In
order to keep the Hebrew people safe from oppression and military casualty in
the Promised Land, God raised up and called out heroes, also known as judges.
These people directed the Israelites in battle and beckoned them to repent of
their self-centered living and return to the singular focus of knowing,
following, and praising God. Gideon was one such hero that the mantle of
leadership was placed upon. But it is Gideon’s reaction to the Lord’s call that
is fascinating for this short study. The young man questioned the legitimacy of
his choosing for God’s service by pointing out that his clan was not a highly
favored one, and that his position in his family lineage was lowly. But
Gideon’s doubt would be overcome by God’s decree. The Lord had determined to
make this seemingly insignificant person significant by using Gideon as a
vessel to demonstrate God’s unmatchable might.
There
is something remarkable about God using the “unknowns” to reveal His holy self.
Through Gideon, God would come to open up His heavenly resources and easily
defeat Israel’s enemies. Clearly, God does not require grand stature or success
to accomplish His will; He requires surrender. God does not require human
power; He requires human participation. The Lord chooses to include us in His
ongoing, splendid work. Therefore, may we not doubt God’s ability to use people
from all backgrounds and walks to broadcast life-altering truth. May we accept
our lot and await God’s movement. May we recognize the splendor of seemingly
insignificant and let it pour over us like a refreshing fall rain. To God be the
glory forever and ever.
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