Serving in ministry these days feels more difficult than ever. I connect with pastors and their spouses every week who are weary, discouraged, and struggling. Many of these dear servants of the Lord are beleaguered by the culture in which we live. They wonder where God is these days, as more and more people, especially younger generations are leaving the church. What is He doing while so many are less committed to biblical values and following Jesus in our modern world?
I have held this discouragement in tension as I have been impacted by the story of Gideon lately. While teaching about his life and calling as a Judge in the early days of Israel, several encouraging and hopeful realities have been a blessing to me.
Gideon and The Reality of Your Calling
Gideon’s call may seem far more like your own than you realize! Throughout the book of Judges and culminating in the last verse of the book we see that “everyone did as they saw fit.” (Judges 21:25) Sound familiar? We still live in a world where most people are more committed to doing what is right in their own eyes rather than seeking a higher wisdom, let alone follow the Way of Jesus.
Yet, Gideon was visited under the oak as he was threshing wheat and the angel of the Lord said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12) He responded as you and I might—in the middle of our pastoral duties, hard work trying to make ends meet, and/or family trials and challenges… “Pardon me, my Lord… but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” (Judges 6:13)
Part of me wonders if Gideon was just blind… After all, the chapter starts with the author noting that his people were doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. Idol worship was rampant (including Gideon’s family!) and the Lord’s judgment had come upon the Israelites. Rather than pointing out all of these obvious reasons for the current situation, the Lord didn’t really give him a direct answer (reminds me a bit of Job…). Instead, He simply says, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14)
Maybe the text just doesn’t record some non-verbals from the angel—a shrug of the shoulders or a nod of the head acknowledging the tragic decline of Israel’s prosperity. Regardless, the response makes it clear that Gideon needed to “be the change you wish to see in the world” (attributed to Gandhi, but uncertain whether he ever said it…). We see that the Lord intended to be merciful to His people and Gideon would be the conduit of His grace.
That is you and me, friend! We are called by the Lord into a culture that is more idol-infested than ever. The worship of false gods in the form of consuming things, using people, and experiencing anything we want is greater than ever. When I face these challenges in ministry on a daily basis I’m tempted to respond like Gideon and ask “Why me? I’m the weakest of the weak!” And the Lord simply responds again, “I will be with you.” (Judges 6:16)
God Wants to Use You
Gideon would choose to trust the Lord, to worship Him, and to obey (hesitantly, at first—remember the fleece?) by putting his faith into action. God was truly with him, whittling the army he had amassed down to three hundred men. So, few would prevail against an enemy army as think as locust and vast as the sand on the seashore (Judges 7:12). All this so that Israel would not boast and say, “My own strength has saved me.”
What if the Lord wants to use just you and me and a few others to impact this world today? Why do we think we need massive numbers of people or power in our groups to accomplish His plans? I am more convinced than ever that our faithfulness in the small things will unlock the plans of the Lord upon His world.
How Will You Respond to God’s Calling?
The Gospel has not changed. God is still good. He so loved the world that He gave His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I am committed today to begin where Gideon began, worship. Worship the Lord and respond to His call upon me. He will provide and I invite you to do the same. Trust Him for all that we need today for the work, the witness, and the with-ness He has called us to observe. Now more than ever, I pray that we can “live and move and have our being” in Him. (Acts 17:28)
