Called to What Action

Scripture: Gideon replied, “With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, ‘Didn’t God deliver us from Egypt?’ The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian.” But God faced him directly: “Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven’t I just sent you?” Judges 6:13-14

Observation: The angel of God appears to Gideon - a man hiding from the enemy while he secretly farms wheat - and says that the Lord is with him, a mighty warrior. When Gideon questions the greetings, explicitly wondering if God is with Israel at all, this is the Lord's response ... that of course the Lord is with Israel, because he just now called Gideon to action.

In other words, the Lord doesn't just sit there in heaven and hurl lightening bolts down on "bad" people, while the "good" people cower faithlessly hoping for it to happen. In fact, that is likely the situation that creates the problem ... the good people doing nothing, or worse yet, worshipping other gods and thus being faithless and bad in their relationship with the Lord. Instead, the Lord looks for those who will be faithful and who do and will worship only him, and calls them to action.

For Gideon, the action to which he would be called was clear ... a military response against the Midianites. It would begin when Gideon first addressed the worship issues of his people, as his first action isn't even to gather an army, let alone fight, but to destroy the Baal and Ashira monuments. With that battle engaged, Gideon is ready to follow the Lord's call to action.

Application: As I continue to lament issues within our country, here is an interesting way of considering the proper actions of the Church. First, we need to understand that the Lord has, in fact, called us to act. He could just change the world, but more likely he wants us to step out in the call he has given us to change the world. Second, we need to address the first and real issue, which is the coldness of love and abandoning of faith by society, and we need to do all we can to show others the love of Jesus. With that, we can then address the policies and issues that seem most obvious in the world (in fact, by then, we may not even need to, as that is when the Lord would likely engage).

Prayer: Lord, may I find what you would like me to do today to aid in this battle. I know you have called me and your entire church. While so many of us, myself included, wonder what you are doing, you respond that what you are doing is sending us. May I 'go' today and every day with the love of Jesus. Amen.