Christians often include Gideon as one of the heroes of the Bible, but his story serves as a stark reminder that God, not heroic people, brings victory and does the saving. God chose to work through Gideon to defeat the Midianites, not despite his weaknesses, but because of them. Gideon’s family was the weakest in Manasseh, and Gideon was the youngest in his father’s family. Gideon had nothing to boast about, no temptation to believe that he had brought about the victory himself. God made it obvious that He won the battle, not the small, weak army Gideon led.
Gideon’s story was not the first or last time God worked this way. Throughout Scripture, we see God repeatedly use unlikely people to fulfill His plans. David was a youngest son and was still out tending sheep, not even considered a prospect among his family, when Samuel went to anoint the new king (1 Samuel 16:5-13). Moses was a fugitive with a speech impediment when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3-4). Rahab was a woman with questionable morals when God used her to protect the Israelite spies (Joshua 2). Mary was a young, unmarried woman of modest means when God blessed her with the miraculous pregnancy of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).
God is the hero throughout the Bible, and He is still the hero today. When He works through you, despite your weakness, how do you respond? Are you tempted to commend yourself for your spiritual maturity and strength, or do you recognize that it is God at work within you, and that anything good in you comes from Him?
As you pray this week, ask God to give you the strength to trust Him instead of yourself. Ask Him to help refocus your mind to always give God the glory for the battles He wins.
