This week took us on a journey which looked at battles and worship …

1. Our view of God matters greatly. Gideon viewed himself as coming from the weakest clan. As God promises to be with him and give him victory, he is infused with courage. Darcy Wiley reminds us, “A proper view of God’s glory and power shows us our God-given strengths and our enemy’s weakness.”
2. Our actions affect our family. Gideon faces the hard task of tearing down idolatrous altars built by his father. in so doing, it strengthened his family and brought unity, as his father came to his defense. Two altars cannot stand side by side, bringing the reminder from Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, you will be devoted to one and despise the other.”
3. Numbers do not have the final say in God’s Kingdom. God whittles Gideon’s army to a mere 100 men is to make it clear: the battle was won by God and not by the power of a vast army of Israelites.  I once read this quote, “God’s part is to put forth power; our part is to put forth faith.” (Andrew A. Bonar) Each one of us can make a difference as God releases His power into us and into our situations.
4. We need wisdom in handling difficult people. Even in victory, tempers flared as the men who did not participate began to resent being omitted. Gideon responds with wisdom and a gentleness which calmed their anger.
5. Worship belongs to God alone. After the victory, the people wanted Gideon to become their new leader. Gideon’s response, to form a golden ephod, soon became a snare to himself, his family, and the entire nation as they again became entrapped by idolatry.

We can express gratitude for the leaders God blesses us with, but worship should be reserved for God alone.

Today I am joining … Playdates With God and #SmallWonder and Sharing His Beauty .