When God Repositions Us
1And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, 8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; 9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice. 11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. 16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Judges 6:1, 7-16
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The book of Judges is a powerful narrative in the Old Testament depicting a period after the death of Joshua where a crisis of leadership and a crisis of inconsistent faith, existed among the Israelites after they had settled in Canaan. There were 12 judges who came about during this period. The Bible says that there was no King, that every man did what he thought was right. The Israelites had turned away from God; they did evil in the eyes of God and so they were forced to reap the consequences of their sin.
For seven years the Israelites suffered under the wrath of the Midianites who ravaged the land – took all the livestock and the crops – they left the Israelites destitute and impoverished. The power of the Midianites was so great that ultimately the Israelites, who had turned away from God – turned back to ask God for help. And being a compassionate God, being a God of grace and mercy, He sent the Israelites a leader, a man named Gideon to deliver the Israelites out of bondage and defeat the armies of the Midianites.
And the story goes that an army was raised and God whittled that army from 22,000 to 300. The 300, led by Gideon, who defeated a Midianite army of over one hundred thousand men.
We see throughout the Bible, the powerful work of God moving - often illustrated through the triumphs of men and women who have demonstrated great courage, bravery, and faithfulness – standing steadfast through the test as people of God. Moses and David, Job and Paul, Deborah and Sarah. And Gideon’s leadership in defeating the Midianites is one of those triumphs . . . Would we even know Gideon had he not commanded a small army to victory over a much larger enemy?
Gideon’s status was elevated as an exemplar of a courageous man. But the question we ought to ask on this Men’s Day – the story that is often untold is not about who Gideon became . . .but who was Gideon before? What was his story before God intervened?
Gideon didn’t just show up to the scene ready to be a leader – there was some work that had to be done – there was a preparation period - there was some faith that had to be perfected – there was some repositioning – some reordering of his steps- before he could be used by God to do God’s will.
Too often we just want to show up and lead before we are even capable of being leaders. We want the elevation without the preparation. We want the recognition but ignore God’s revelation. And so therefore we manifest a complication because we are moving in disobedience and in misalignment to God. We have no idea what God’s true assignment is for us. We are over here, when God wants us over there.
There must be alignment between ourselves and God in order to unlock the destiny that God has for us.
Consider how the Lord has repositioned you in your life to fulfill a larger purpose.
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7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, 8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; 9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice. 11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. Judges 6:7-11
Firstly, the lesson that we can take away from this text is that God sees through us, sees the best in us and the best is yet to come.
When we first encounter Gideon in Chapter 6, verse 11, he is afraid, fearful of the Midianites. And why wouldn’t he be afraid? The Midianites were powerful. They were destroying the land. And so Gideon is in hiding. The Bible says that he was threshing wheat in a winepress - to keep it from the Midianites.
Now, I’m no farmer, so I had to look this up, but I learned something new, that “threshing” means you are separating the grain or the seed from the plant. And it’s a task that generally is done in a field or in an open space. But Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress.
Now God is still working on me so I didn’t need to look for the definition of a winepress – it’s where the grapes are squeezed and pressed in order to make wine.
Gideon was engaging in something unusual by threshing in a winepress. But the point to be taken is that it represented the state of fear that Gideon was in. And then the text goes on to say that an angel of the Lord appeared and told Gideon the Lord is with you mighty warrior. But Gideon was not just fearful – he was doubtful. He began to question God and put forth an excuse: if the Lord is with us – why has all this happened? My family is weak and I am the weakest of my family.
Can you imagine – this is the Gideon who led the 300 men against the army of the Midianites. He achieved this great triumph but we find him in this passage doubtful, fearful, apprehensive, questioning God – not the traits we would have expected of this great leader, of this judge, of this individual who God had sent to deliver the Israelites. Gideon was a reluctant warrior. He didn’t think that he could be the leader that God wanted him to be.
Consider what it means to see yourself as weak when you are oppressed due to the consequences of your choice.
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12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. Judges 6:12-13
But God saw something more. Someone once said, don’t ever tell God who you are NOT, let God tell you who you ARE. God saw something more. For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God saw something more. He saw a warrior in Gideon. And isn’t that the awesomeness of God? Isn’t that the power of God? Despite our failings, despite our shortcomings. Despite the inconsistencies in our faithfulness, He still is working through us, He’s still moving, He’s still providing us assurance that He’s not done with us yet.
God has searched our hearts – He sees who we really are; and His perception of us does not align with the reality we often have of ourselves. He sees better. And He lets us know that there is more we can do.
Gideon was focused on who HE was – an imperfect man – but he should have focused on who God is. A God that specializes in the imperfect, in the impossible. A God who sees our inadequacies and says – But I am God. If the world only knew who you really were. If the world only understood that the bright countenance on your face masked the pain in your heart. If the world only knew how you were struggling inside. The fear you held. The inadequacy you felt. So often as men we want to put on a happy face; we don’t talk about our hurt and our sorrow. We don’t let ourselves get too emotional – we don’t release our pain from whatever situation we are going through.
I am grateful for where God has placed me. The triumphs that he has provided for me in my life. But if you only knew my story, my testimony, the many times he has delivered me from my lowest point. Just as God knew who Gideon was deep inside, God sees us. And He still says I love you. I want a relationship with you. I think good thoughts about you. And I know that the best is yet to come.
Consider what it means that God sees more in you than you see in yourself to help you achieve your potential.
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14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. 16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Judges 6:14-16
Secondly, from this passage we see that God shifts us from fear to faith, in order to promote us and to put us in alignment with Him.
God has plans for us. There is work to be done in His kingdom. There is a role for each of us. Some He’s called to be apostles, others pastors and teachers, some of us prophets and warriors.
He’s searched our hearts and our spirit and sees us for who we really are. And He looks into the future and knows that the best is yet to come in our lives.
But before God can use us, we’ve got to be repositioned. Sometimes we need to be shifted, moved, transformed, humbled, deconstructed and built back up again to experience the fullness of God’s gift in our lives. God had to take Gideon in a different direction . . . than where He had found him. He had to place Gideon on a new pathway – chart a new course for his life. But as we know from the text it took some work – it was not easy. God had made it clear who he was – yet there was still some resistance. Gideon had to be persuaded. The shift took some time. But NOTHING is too hard for God.
And so if you will allow me just a few seconds, just a brief moment, let’s recount what transpired to shift Gideon from fear to faith – we must unpack the encounter with Gideon – that led to reposition him to lead God’s army.
How did the adjustment occur? In verse 13-14 the angel of the Lord had appeared – but Gideon still questioned God. Didn’t you say you were going to protect us? Didn’t you say this was not going to happen? And God responded “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” But that still wasn’t enough, Gideon still had an excuse: my family is weak and I am the weakest in my family. And again, God responded: “I will be with you and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
Understand that God doesn’t care who your momma or daddy are; what failings they might have had. He doesn’t care about your family history. He wants to use you and shift you from being faithless to being faithful. He’s got a plan for you and He is prepared to break every chain, every generational curse; he’s prepared to cast out every feeling of doubt and worthlessness to draw you closer to Him.
Consider what it means that the Lord repositions you by casting out feelings of doubt and worthlessness.
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14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. 16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Judges 6:14-16
Let’s quickly move on. Not only did Gideon question God. Not only did he posit an excuse. Gideon wanted even further confirmation during this exchange with the angel of the Lord. In verse 17 he asked God to give him a sign – that it was really him. And again God responded and brought fire from the rock to consume the meat and bread which Gideon had prepared. And in verse 39 we see Gideon still unconvinced. So he twice tested God to see what God would do with a fleece of wool.
Thank God for his patience with us. Thank God for his persistence. Thank God for his grace. No matter how much convincing we need – he will never give up on us – he isn’t done with us. What a mighty God we serve.
God saw something in Gideon – like he sees in all of us. He shifted Gideon’s fear and turned it into faith. Gideon then invited God into his heart. And we know that once we invite God in, the righteous are not forsaken. Once we invite God in, we are positioned to be in spiritual alignment with God. When we invite God in, we can experience the will and full power of God. Gideon submitted to God. He welcomed him into his heart. He was able to move differently because he had a special anointing. Gideon could walk by faith and not by sight. He trusted in the Lord to direct his path. He experienced a new kind of love. He now knew how to unlock and use what God had blessed him with.
And so we when we shift from fear to faith, when we allow God to take over, when God reveals himself to us and we humble ourselves to hear that call, when we accept the assurances of God, he will not only make the crooked ways straight, he will not only widen our narrow path, he will not just put us in position to be used, he will promote us! God took over Gideon’s life. Gideon submitted to the will of God. And God promoted him. He elevated him.
Gideon had a new testimony because of the assignment that God had promoted him to do. His circumstance had changed. His situation had shifted. He had been repositioned from where God had first found him. God saw through him and understood who he really was. God knew his destiny. And once Gideon submitted, he was no longer in fear. No longer was he doubtful. God had put him in position to be promoted. He was in the right relationship with God.
Do you want to be in the right relationship with God? Can you testify how God has moved in your life to put you in position to be promoted? I’m not talking about a pay raise. I’m not talking about a title change. I’m talking about a SHIFT in your spiritual assignment. I’m talking about yesterday you were on one path and today God has put you another; for the glorifying of the body of Christ. Have you been obedient, so that the blessing of God can shower down and the gift of God on your life is bestowed?
A request was made of Gideon. God had seen what Gideon would become. But he had to shift from fear to faith in order to be promoted. And God gave Gideon the victory because he submitted to His will.
Consider what it means that being in alignment with the Lord’s purpose for your life repositions you to do what you did not think you could.
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14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. 16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Judges 6:14-16
Thirdly, the final lesson that God wants us to understand is that He gives us an assignment for a reason and we ought to trust the assignment.
In my own imperfect walk with God, I wrestle with what I am hearing from him and what I think I should be doing. I struggle with my faith – what is God teaching me? Where does God want me to go – what does he want me to do? I struggle with the doubt and like Gideon, I sometimes find myself questioning how God is moving in my life. God, why is this taking so long? God, why did this door close and this other door not even open? Sometimes I become afraid and I retreat inward - and I start to resist when I feel the power of God moving in my life– but God keeps on working with me and through me. He keeps on performing miracles. Using my brokenness to teach me. And His love for me is never ceasing.
Do you trust God with your life? Do you trust the assignment that God has for you? Are you in a faithful relationship with God?
God saw Gideon as a mighty warrior. Gideon was given a unique assignment because he put his trust in God. The assignment was given for a reason – the Israelites needed a leader – and Gideon was chosen.
God will bring you out of where you are, in order to place you in the position that he has for you. He will elevate you to your purpose. But you have to trust Him. Trust in God requires your submission so that you are prepared for your assignment. God’s expectation of us – is that we will trust him so much that no matter what the assignment – we can accept it. We will be ready. Because He has repositioned us.
God is calling the men of the church, to submit to His will, to trust the process, to step into our assignment. There is work to do. You have not done the labor to get your reward. It’s time for you to reposition your life, realign your spirit, put on the full armor of God, accept His anointing and get ready to do the work that He has called us to do. And what has God called us to do? “To walk justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
God is calling a few good men – to break out of our safe place. To leave our comfort zone. To deepen our relationship with him. So that he can use us. God is calling a few good men to join his army. To be Christian soldiers. Some of you will be on the frontlines. Others will take up the right flank. Some may take up the left flank. God is calling all of us, whether you are on the right or the left, the front or the back, to tear down these walls. To push back on the enemy. He needs just a few good men to tear down the wall of poverty. To tear down the wall of sexism. To tear down the wall of racism. To tear down the wall of economic inequality. To tear down the wall of violence. To tear down the wall of educational inequity. To tear down the wall of mass incarceration. To tear down the wall of police brutality. To tear down the wall of white supremacy.
Consider what it means to be in the service of the Lord fulfilling the Lord’s assignment for your life.
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God doesn’t want your excuses. He will give you all of His patience. He won’t give up on you. He will work with you just because he wants to hear you say, here I am send me. Send me like you sent Daniel. Send me like you sent Moses. Send me like you sent Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Here I am, send me. Send me like you sent Gideon. Here I am SEND ME. Use me. Help me to understand my assignment. Search me, oh, God. Reveal what you see in me that I don’t see in myself. Shift my fear to faith. Reposition me and watch me do your will.
God wants a few good men. To order their steps. Lead me God. Guide me God.
Send your anointing. Teach me your will. While you are working - help me to be still.
I know that Satan is busy – but you are so real.
Order my steps in your word. Order your steps, mighty warrior. Order your steps, man of courage. Order your steps, child of God. I want to walk worthy, my calling to fulfill. The world is ever changing, but YOU are still the same. Order my steps, and I will keep praising your name.
When God repositions us. Amen.
Consider what it means for the Lord to order your steps.
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