DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: August 16 Topic: Angelic visitation to Gideon. Scriptures: Judges 6: 1 – 24; 7: 10 – 15
Israel prevailed in the past against enemies they never could have faced alone as God gave them victories. Now it came to a period in Israel’s history in which they are cowering behind rocks and in caves to protect themselves from the Midianites. Israel has suffered for seven (7) years in the hands of the Midianites, who raided their crops and livestock. “The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and He caused them to suffer oppression under the Midianites”. Midianites cover the land like ants, and “Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites “.The children of Israel cried unto the Lord. Starvation eventually brought Israel out of their hiding places, and they sought God’s help.
God has many ways in which He discipline His children. There are times when He allows us to wallow in our sins that drag us down to a most shameful place. Sin is never simple and always serious. Sin brings separation between God and man. When a man forsakes God, He turns His back on the man. When a man sets his course to follow anything other than God, he is heading for doom. God told the Israelites not to worship the god of the Amorites, but they refused to obey Him. Disobedience leaves us on our own to suffer the consequences of our actions. Our disobedience doesn’t just affect us, there are consequences for everyone around us.
An angel of the Lord sat under a juniper tree near Gideon. Gideon was threshing wheat by a winepress hiding from the Midianites. “The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valor”, the angel said to Gideon. Gideon asked how it could be that the Lord was with Israel, and yet the people lived in such misery. Why didn’t God work miracles as He usually does? He doubted God would help the people. Today in our Nation, history has repeated itself. We are suffering from the consequences of our actions just like the Israelites suffered in the hands of the Midianites. Only genuine repentance and prayer of mercy can bail us out.
The Lord told Gideon that He will use him to free Israel from the oppression of the Midianites, and Gideon doubted how God could use someone like him to bring about the deliverance of Israel? Gideon had a deep inferiority complex. His family is poor and he considered himself least in his father’s house (6:15). When he was reluctant to venture against the Midianites, the angel granted him special signs, and finally sent him to the enemy’s camp to hear for himself certain things that will give him confidence. It is clear that without the angelic visitation and the supernatural confirmation, Gideon would not have had the courage to attack the Midianites. It was as Gideon knew that he had re-enforcement from heaven that he changed from a fearful man to a hero.
God is looking for a Gideon in our Nation today. We are tired of cowering behind rocks and caves to hide from our enemies. You are never inferior for the anointing that God is about to release, you are qualified, and you are the one! Stop doubting, just obey and follow His instructions.
Prayer point:
Oh God, I am willing, send me. I make myself available for your use.
Confession:
I am not inferior, the Lord has qualified me, therefore; I will go for Him.
CONTACT US? You can contact us for prayer requests or discussion through ubasimon341@gmail.com
revmrsudenyi@hopealivechurch
