Judges Chapter 6 Verse 1

• So it’s happening again. Israel in its prosperity and complacency has again turned from the Lord but I love this about God our Father, He doesn’t leave them alone. I mean, what would have been better? For Him to let them go? Of course not! This is why we do not despise the chastening of the Lord. Proverbs 3 11-12 says, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.” Hebrews 12 actually says that if God doesn’t chasten you then you are illegit and not a son! (But we so often get in the way of others chastening…)
• But here’s the kicker. You gotta respond. If you kick against God’s chastening with running, hiding, blaming, victim mentality then the only thing gained from the chastening is a bruised back side! There is great gain in correction from the Lord! Hebrews 12 goes on to say, (Hebrews 12:11), “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
• Follow the Lord. See it His way. See Him through. It takes humility and setting self aside. Turning from the hardness of heart in thinking you’re justified or right somehow and I promise you, peaceable fruit of righteousness will be yours and moreover, you will train man! Training speaks of strength! (Like training in a gym or training for a competition!) So the Lord again brings them back to Himself…because He is a good Father AND they are His…

Judges Chapter 6 Verses 2 – 6

• So check this out! So very practical and applicable. The result of their turning away from God? The same result for any of us…they became absolutely unprofitable! As soon as they make something good, do something good, produce something good with any sustenance, the world swoops in and robs them! They, like we can as well, become entirely profitless!

• And notice one other thing. The enemy again looks different! First it was mere men with Eglon. Then it was chariots with Jabbin. Now its camels with the Midianites! Ugly, spitting, groaning, foul beasts! HA! The point is that the enemy changes his approach but not his plan! He changes his tools but not his tactics! His strategy is to sucker, oppress and overcome the people of God! Always has been...(You have no relationship with Satan! He hates you!)

Judges Chapter 6 Verses 7 – 10

• This prophet is never named but notice this, the prophecy is not forward looking is it? He just simply brings truth and the truth is, God hasn’t changed, you have Israel…you are impoverished because you have not obeyed My voice says the Lord through His prophet but check this out, hidden in here is a truth that I can’t let pass…the Lord says, “Also, I said to you, do not fear the gods of the Amorites…” What’s happened? Well we will find out in a few verses…the Israelites had adopted the gods of the land…set up altars to Baal…why? Fear.

Judges Chapter 6 Verses 11 – 12

• Now I like this verse set for just what it says and I don’t want to read too far into it but just a quick observation, Gideon means “warrior” and yet we find him where…hiding. But I’m not going to be hard on him…this is the only way he could secure wheat for his family…so here we have a clever warrior, a responsible warror and yet also…a hiding warrior.
• And the Lord appears to him and says two awesome things. One, the Lord is with you and two, He calls him mighty!! HA! The hiding warrior, mighty. Two things to glean here. First, the call of God upon his life will bring him to his full potential. Here he is, warrior…clever and smart…and yet, hiding. God calls him to the open air and in heeding that call, Gideon will be the mighty warrior that he was made to be…Second, God sees Gideon’s potential and calls him not as he is but as he will be. I love that…it’s like this…God is for you! His desire and will is for you to succeed! Do you know that!?
• He’s not with you waiting for you to trip up to come down on you but rather He is rooting for you! Crafting details in your life such that you would be wildly successful and live to your full powerful potential! You must however Be-Live (or as you’ve probably heard – believe)!! He is for you! Not against you. He proved that on the cross and set it in stone upon the tomb! Our job is to walk by faith and agree with Him! Only way to do it…

Judges Chapter 6 Verse 13

• This is a fair question of Gideon. He is conversing with God. Relating to Him which is precisely what folks do when they have a relationship! This is totally ok and the Lord doesn’t rebuke him because he makes a good point. I can’t live off of the faith of my father! I love the honesty there. And the practical truth hidden in that statement…you can’t live off of the one or two meals a week at church…Bible studies prepared for you…you need to eat yourselves! You can’t survive off of the faith of momma, you need your own to find the strength to fight this good fight!!!
• And know this…God is with them…even in His correction…

Judges Chapter 6 Verses 14 – 18

• Gideon entreats the Lord. “Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight…” In other words, no is an acceptable answer. But if You will allow, may I build my own faith? It’s not out of the question to ask for and wait upon confirmation from the Lord but this situation is a little…well the Lord is standing there with him telling him exactly what to do! When we are in this situation…church, we need no sign. The ultimate sign was given to us 2,000 years ago when Jesus resurrected from the grave. We need now only to heed the Word of God.
• If we face decisions in life, we are to be anxious for nothing but pray about everything…and then decide. The will of God, I love how Jon Courson puts it, the will of God for your life is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength…and do what you want! Because in delighting in His Word, He will give you the desires of your heart. And what you want will be to bring Him glory in all you do! We need no sign. We need faithfulness to His Word and where His Word is silent, we need, guess what…faithfulness! To love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength!!