Once again, Israel is under siege; they are being ravaged.
A local farm boy is trying to secretly take care of his crop, threshing wheat in a wine press.
Life has been made more difficult. Everything is displaced. Normal activities must make a shift. People feel like aliens on their own land. It's time to hide in the bunker and hope the stored food and bottled water doesn't run out.
In the midst of all this confusion, an angel appears and speaks what seems to be "crazy talk."
"The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior."
Gideon looks around to see if there is someone else in the room to whom this address is made. "Who, me? Sorry, you must have dialed the wrong number. You definitely have the wrong guy."
Sometimes, in the midst of the most chaotic times of our lives, God bursts in to our hiding places and calls us into the center of the battle, the center of the storm raging around us. This is such a shock to us. We can't believe this game plan. We want proof if we are going to risk pulling our heads out of the sand to confront the very thing we fear the most.
For some reason, God is very patient during the transition. Instead of wiping Gideon out for unbelief and a need for proof, God willingly proves God's self and God's call to Gideon. All along the proving period, God woos Gideon with some very loving, strong promises.
The LORD is with you.
I will be with you.
We will do this together.
I will wait for you.
Peace! Do not be afraid.
You are not going to die.
With very few men, I am going to give you victory.
What I love about this story is this. A farmer, who loved the land is called to be a warrior. But what are the weapons in this warrior's arsenal?
Humility before his Creator.
Courage to knock down idols.
Dreams which inspire a people.
A trumpet, a clay pot and a lit torch.
And one more "weapon."
Worshipping the true God...
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