I Will Be with You

God Instructs the People of God

Listening for God in Changing Times:

Let God Rule

Judges 6:11-16

The Message

 ^11-12 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!"
 ¹³ 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."
 ¹⁴ But God faced him directly: "Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven't I just sent you?"
 ¹⁵ 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."
 ¹⁶ God said to him, "I'll be with you. Believe me, you'll defeat Midian as one man."

For Reflection
God seems to always select those who are not aware of their strength in Him.  No one would appear weaker that Gideon.  And yet God has selected Him.  Isn't there a clue here about how God shares His strength and about the level of trust we should give Him?

Pray
that you never underestimate your value in the Kingdom of God.  Pray for those in God's service.