Readings for today: Judges 6-9
One of my favorite tunes from John Mayer is “Waiting on the World to Change.” The song began running through my mind as I read the story from Judges this morning about Gideon. Here are the opening lines from first verse…
Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There's no way we ever could
Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it
So we keep waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Gideon clearly felt the same way. He could see all that was wrong in the world. He suffered alongside his people in grinding poverty under his Midianite oppressors. He felt small and weak and unable to do anything about it. He had no power. No position. No wealth. No army. What’s a man like him to do but keep on waiting for the world to change? But then the Lord shows up and Gideon is commissioned to actually become the change the world needs.
“One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said, “God is with you, O mighty warrior!” Gideon replied, “With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, ‘Didn’t God deliver us from Egypt?’ The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian.” But God faced him directly: “Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?” Gideon said to him, “Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh and I’m the runt of the litter.” God said to him, “I’ll be with you. Believe me, you’ll defeat Midian as one man.” (Judges 6:11-16 MSG)
Gideon wanted God to deliver Israel but God is quick to remind him that deliverance always comes through a deliverer. A leader God raises up from among His people with the courage and faith to trust God’s plan and provision and protection. Notice how God doesn’t promise Gideon a massive army. He doesn’t promise Gideon the road will be easy. He doesn’t promise Gideon will one day rule Israel. He simply promises to be with him. To defeat Midian through him. It’s the same promise God offered Noah and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Moses and Joshua. This is how God works and it is the only way our world changes for the good.
God has made us the same promise, friends. He is with us! All He asks is that we believe Him and become the change our world needs. Do the work He has called each one of us to. Advance His Kingdom and His righteousness and His justice here on earth in the name of Jesus. Wherever God has you today, He has a plan for you. Wherever God puts you today, He has something He wants to accomplish through you. Believe this! And trust in His grace, love, and power!
Readings for tomorrow: Judges 10-13