Judges 6:11-22.
One day an angel of the Lord appeared to a young man named Gideon who was threshing wheat by a winepress. In spite of all the destruction the Midianites had brought about, here was one who valued the wheat of the land, and he had the energy to thresh it in a hidden place. The winepress would figure to us that there is joy to be found in gathering and “threshing out” our precious portion of spiritual food from God’s Word. Do we value this as we should? Do we put ourselves out to get our portion each day, not only reading it, but feeding upon Christ in the Scriptures like Jeremiah of old, who said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jeremiah 15:16.
Gideon was one whom God could use; not because he came from a very influential family, or anything of that, for it was the very opposite: but he was feeding upon the Word. God can only use those who are willing to listen and obey. And so the Lord said to Gideon, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.” What encouging words! Gideon immediately associated himself with all the people of God and said, “If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” This is the heart of the true servant. He takes his part with others of God’s children and is concerned about all they pass through. Divine love is always unselfish and thinks of the needs of the people of God. Are you and I seeking the good of all the household of faith? Alas, how easily we become narrow and self-centered in our thoughts!
How different with Gideon, and because of this, the Lord turned and looked upon him, saying, “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” The Lord looked upon him, the Lord said He would use him to save Israel, and the Lord sent him. What fine qualifications! What more was needed than those three things? Surely this was enough.
But poor Gideon began to think of himself. His family was poor and he was the least of his father’s house. And so the Lord said, “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.” When the Lord sends one out to serve Him there is always a sense of one’s own insufficiency, but when accompanied with the knowledge that the Lord is with us, all is well. Before God can use any of us, He must empty us of self, for it is His work and He must have all the glory. He takes empty vessels and fills them with Himself.
Gideon then asked the angel of the Lord who had appeared to him, to remain while he prepared a present—an offering to the Lord. Gideon then prepared a kid and unleavened cakes, with the broth, and brought them out to the angel who was sitting under the oak tree. The angel told him to put the flesh and unleavened cakes on a rock and to pour out the broth. Then the angel put forth the end of his staff and fire came out of the rock and consumed the offering.
This undoubtedly strengthened Gideon’s faith, for now he knew that it was really the Lord who had appeared to him. At the same time it made him feel afresh his own nothingness, and so he said, “Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.”
ML 09/06/1953