The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” Judges 6:14 NIV

Have you ever noticed that when you begin a conversation with God, He has totally different talking points. One time I wanted to “prayer complain” to God about Pam, my wife, it didn’t take very long (like the next pause in my complaining) before God was addressing my insensitivity and callousness toward her. He was right.

Recap – Israel has sinned by worshipping idols, so the Midianites were oppressing the nation. An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and told him that he was favored and a mighty warrior. Gideon responded that he felt abandoned by God because of the oppression. Today’s verse is the response to Gideon’s complaint.

The Text

  • Go in the strength you have – God recognized the vigor and character necessary to do the task within Gideon. God’s acknowledgment of this trait of hardiness to follow and obey would become Gideon’s legacy
  • Save Israel – The end goal was clearly defined for Gideon by God. He was to deliver Israel from the Midianites. 
  • Am I not sending you – God’s commissioning of His presence and power toward Gideon would clear the path for victory. If God be for us, who can be against us.

Devotionary

  • Go in the strength you have – God does not wait for you to achieve perfection from your viewpoint before He asks you to follow Him in obedience. Each follower of Jesus is given a measure of faith to steward. All have weaknesses and frailties. God says “use what you got”.
  • Save Israel – Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. As His disciples we are to follow in His footsteps. If the harvest is plentiful as Jesus indicated, then there is fruit leading to salvation that we need to harvest. When was the last time you shared the plan of salvation to someone? Keep the main thing of eternal life, the main thing.
  • Am I not sending you – Everything God asks of us, falls within His power and authority. Just the mere abiding of the Holy Spirit is God’s seal and guarantee to fulfill that which He has started within you. 

Just another thought – I believe that Jesus grew into His understanding of who He was and what He needed to do through the Spirit revealing the plan to Him. As Jesus would read or hear the OT readings, the Spirit would breathe over the words and declare that these are true of Jesus. For example, Ezekiel called himself Son of Man which is a title that Jesus incorporated most often of Himself. (this is just my idea of how the Spirit works in believers). 

Is it possible that the Spirit would speak to Jesus from the words to Gideon?Look how the Spirit may have breathed life over this verse for Jesus. Go in the strength you have. Not as God, but as a man follow Me in obedience. Save Israel. The word save is the root for Yashua – which means savior. This is the Hebrew root for the name Jesus. His ministry remained focused on finding and helping the lost sheep of Israel. Am I not sending you – Jesus declared often that He was busy doing His father’s business. The unity and oneness of the Father and Jesus was so strong that Jesus prayed for the rest of the followers to experience that oneness of presence.

Do you know how God is speaking to you from His word? Do you know that He is offering an opportunity for you to journey with Him when He speaks to you? If He asks you to forgive, He will empower you to be able to forgive. If He asks you to pray for healing, He will help you pray the prayer of faith. If He invites you, He will supply what is needed for your tasks. 

Let the Spirit breathe over your Bible readings, and then follow in obedience. The abundant and meaningful life in the Spirit awaits your engagement.

Blessing Love y’all