Mighty man of valour
Today's focusWhile Gideon secretly threshes wheat in hiding, the angel of the LORD calls him a mighty man of valour; Gideon voices his doubts and weakness, and God promises, 'Surely I will be with thee.'
Read
11And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. 16And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Reflection
You may find yourself, like Gideon, doing your work in a place of hiding or fear. He was trying to "hide" his wheat from enemies when the angel of the LORD appeared. Though Gideon felt overlooked and afraid, God spoke a surprising identity over him, calling him a "mighty man of valour." God does not see you only as you are in your moments of distress; He sees who you are when He is by your side.
Gideon responded with honest questions about why hardship had "befallen" his people and where the "miracles" of old had gone. He felt small, noting that his "family is poor" and he was the "least" in his house. Perhaps you also feel that your resources are too few or your background too humble for God to use you.
The LORD does not argue with Gideon’s feelings of weakness. Instead, He gives a promise that changes everything: "Surely I will be with thee." Your strength does not come from your status or your courage, but from the presence of the one who says, "have not I sent thee?" When God is with you, your perceived weakness becomes the place where His power begins.
AI-written reflection on the passage above. Let Scripture itself be the main thing.
Reflect
What honest questions or feelings of weakness could you bring to God, and how does his promise to Gideon answer them?
Pray
Lord, you see me as I am, hiding and unsure. Thank you that you listen to my questions. Help me believe that you will be with me.