Fear is the usual response when we are in trouble with no seeming escape. But there are things the follower of Christ must remember, and the remembering and response make all the difference.
The story of Gideon defeating the Midianites stands as an eternal testimony of what God can do with one man who will rely on Him. Here are eight truths you must remember when the odds are against you.
1. God sees you in greater ways than you will ever see yourself.
The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior." (Judges 6:12)
2. God can use you despite your weakness if you will admit your need for Him.
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?" He said to Him, "O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house." But the Lord said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man." (Judges 6:14-16)
3. Even if your faith is weak, God will meet you at the point of your faith if you'll look to Him.
So Gideon said to Him, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me." (Judges 6:17)
4. To follow Him, you must tear down false gods and honor the Lord as the one true God, even if others oppose you.
Now on the same night the Lord said to him, "Take your father's bull and a second bull seven years old and pull down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father and cut down the Asherah that is beside it; and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of this stronghold in an orderly manner. (Judges 6:25-26)
5. Sometimes God must increase the odds so you don't get proud.
The Lord said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, 'My own power has delivered me.'" (Judges 7:2)
6. When God is in the equation, the size of your army nor the opponent's makes absolutely no difference.
"The Lord said to Gideon, "I will deliver you with the 300 men." (Judges 7:7)
7. God will meet you repeatedly at the point of your fears to give you what you need to move forward in faith.
The Lord said to him, "Arise, go down against the camp ... you will hear what they said and afterward your hands will be strengthened." (Judges 7:9,11)
8. Great leaders simply follow God and invite others to follow him.
He said to them, "Look at me and do likewise. And behold, when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet, then you also blow the trumpets all around the camp and say, 'For the Lord and for Gideon.'" (Judges 7:17-18)
