Do This When You Believe God Has Abandoned You.

​Judges 6:12-13 - The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." 13 Then Gideon said to him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."  NASU 

• Gideon's Confusion 

The angel of the LORD appears to Gideon and says, "O valiant warrior."  Gideon was probably looking around and thinking, "Is He talking to me."
 
Gideon was not valiant at this time. He was exactly the opposite.
 
He was hiding from the Midianites as he was threshing the wheat. The Lord tells him to tear down his father's idols. Gideon was afraid to tear down his father's idols so he tears them down at night in order to not be seen.
 
Gideon is told that the LORD is with him. Gideon says, "If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" 

• What Had Happened To The Israelites? 

The Israelites had been conquered by the Midianites on numerous occasions. They were living in fear at this very moment.
 
Why is it when we are trying to live for the LORD we find ourselves being conquered by something?
 
What is your Midianite? What keeps barging into your life and kicking down your strongholds? 

• Why Is This Happening To The Midianites? 

As you continue to read the story about Gideon you will see that the LORD was going to use him in a mighty way to conquer the Midianites much larger army.
 
There is the answer to why the Midianites had been conquering the Israelites. God was going to conquer them with Gideon and 300 soldiers, which He did and gave the Israelites 40 years of peace.
 
Why are we constantly being conquered by temptations?
 
God wants to use us in a mighty way to conquer them. Something that has defeated us in the past is going to be conquered by us when we allow God's Spirit to help us. 

• Avoid Giving God Lame Excuses 

Gideon is going to give God excuses why he believes he is not the right man for this job.
 
Look at what Gideon says to God "O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house."

Gideon is trying to tell God His plan is all wrong.
 
Gideon believes God has abandoned the Israelites. When you start to believe God has abandoned you, forget about it.
 
God doesn't abandon His children.
 
He hasn't abandoned you. He is preparing you for a special trial and when you conquer it you will know that God was there helping you the entire time. 

• Don't Use Any Of These Excuses 

Many times when God wants us to accomplish something we give Him a lot of excuses. Like I am too old. I am too young. I don't have enough money. I lack the education to conquer this trial. My family will disown me. I have other brothers and sisters more qualified to do this.
 
Whatever test God is allowing you to face remember this: If God brings you to it, God will get you through it. 

• Conclusion 

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God."
 
In other words, God wants us to relax and trust Him no matter what situation challenges us.
 
God is never wrong. God has faith in us that we can win by allowing His Spirit to help us.
 
God wants to use us in a "mighty way" exactly like He did Gideon.
 
Think On This:
 
There are thousands of ways of pleasing God, but none without trusting Him.
 
Stay Pumped, 

Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word

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