March 30th, 2018

Mighty Warrior

“The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.  When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”  Judges 6:11-13

God chose this least likely man, Gideon, to be His mighty warrior.  Gideon told God that he was the least (youngest) in his family, which was from the weakest clan in the tribe of Manasseh.  The tribe of Manasseh was considered as a forgettable tribe, derived from the meaning of Manasseh’s name.  We recall that when Joseph brought Manasseh and Ephraim before Jacob for their blessing, Jacob placed his right hand on Ephraim.  This was done despite the fact that Ephraim was the younger brother.  Jacob conferred the greater blessing upon the younger child.  Thus, even though Manasseh was the firstborn son, he did not receive the firstborn blessing.  He was, in a sense, forgettable. 

Gideon could relate to this, as he did not think much of himself, yet the Angel of the Lord said, “The Lord is with you.”  Gideon was exactly the person the Lord was looking to use!  He chose this cowardly appearing man to defeat the Midianites.  God saw greatness in Gideon and he was called forth as the valiant warrior.  Gideon went from coward to charismatic leader.  He came from the hidden place to prominence. 

God is rising up Gideons around the world.   There is a generation of Gideons hidden within the street gangs.  God wants to bring them from the hidden place to prominence in the Kingdom.  There are infants on the verge of dying – from AIDS, from hunger, from genocide.   There are Gideons in prisons, on street corners, and if we raise our voices in prayer and do what we see our heavenly Father doing, those Gideons shall be called by name and take their rightful places.