I think often times we see God as this high being just floating on a cloud looking down at us and so disappointed by our mess ups and mistakes and ready to punish us.
I use to believe this when I first began my walk with the Lord. I literally felt like, "oh crap, darn, I got an attitude with Becky. God will definitely let me fail my college exam." And maybe this only applies to be, but "shoot, I know I shouldn't have been intimate with my little boyfriend, now something bad it going to happen to me now!"
Don't get me wrong, God is a God of principle. He does not love sin, but He definitely loves the sinner.
Romans 8:39 neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord
And to be honest, God is really more concerned about us living out our purpose--which is to impact souls, help others come to know Him as Lord and savior, and find out what our purpose is on the earth. Because frankly, the more we are connected with Him and living out our calling, the less the taste of sin is appealing to us. Our desires just change progressively to be in alignment with His.
So, to that point, I think about Gideon. And I don't know why this is what I picture him to be like, but here we are 🤣 Haha. Introducing Giiiidddeeeeoooonnn! 🎊🎊
In Judges 6 , we learn about Gideon. He was an Israelites; according to his self, he was part of the lowest class of people in his tribe. And all the Israelites were suffering from sins they committed, collectively. But God who is a loving God didn't let them sit in that state forever (remember he LOVES the sinner and hates the sin).
So, God called Gideon out to help change the narrative for His people. God didn't pick some strong powerful, tall dark and handsome superhero; he picked Gideon 🥴🥴.
Gideon was in a total bottom of the barrel state. Gideon was a coward and hiding from the enemy camp who was completely punking out all the Israelites. Even in that state, God sent an angle to speak to Gideon and said
"The Lord is with you, mighty warrior...Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you" Judges 6:12, 14.
So, if God was all worried about our sins, how weak we are, and how much we mess up, Gideon should not have been chosen. And if God uses the people or things that make sense in our logical minds then how does God get the glory?
"God choses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God choses the weak things of the world to shame the strong" 1 Corinthians 1:27.
A couple other cool things I noticed when I studied Judges 6 was:
When you cry out to God, He answers. "When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midianites, he sent them a prophet." Judges 6:7-8. And this was even after we knew that the Israelites were out here messing up and sinning. ("The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites" Judges 6:1)
God is worried about your heart, you reaching your potential and you living the full and abundant life He always planned for you! Stop focusing on your mistakes and mess ups and press in closer to God; he will take your less and make it more. I mean he used little wimpy ol' Gideon. LOL
God is not bothered by your questioning or need for clarifying your confusion. Gideon heard what the angel told him and he was scared. He wanted to be sure what He heard was correct, so he asked God to give him not one sign but TWO! Judges 6:37, 39 "look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said... Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew."
Let's fast forward to the end of the story. God used Gideon and 300 men to defeat 135,000 mighty warrior in metal chariots and innumerous camels. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
So friend, I am not sure what may be happening in your life right now, but if you are feeling down, if you don't like where you are in life right now, know that God can use your less and make it more! Gideon and his gang messed up. But God turned their story around using not a strong person, but an available person. Even in his questioning and his confusion God still came through and answered him and gave him reassurance. And Gideon continued to push and God gave him the victory just like He promised.
So don't give up. What God cannot do does not exist. He will do it in your life! That I know! And that I am believing for myself as well 🙏🏾!
XOXO,
Jenn
Fun Facts about Jenn Jenn
My hubby and I celebrated our 2nd year anniversary a couple weeks ago. We had an awesome photoshoot with our friend who was also our videographer for our wedding celebration.
If you are in Ghana check him out! 🇬🇭🇬🇭
