A Mighty Man Of Valor

Possessing the Land

Journey Into The Promised Land

Judges 6:1–10 (CSB)

MIDIAN OPPRESSES ISRAEL

6 The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord handed them over to Midian seven years, ²and they oppressed Israel. Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. ³Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east came and attacked them. ⁴They encamped against them and destroyed the produce of the land, even as far as Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to eat, as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. ⁵For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to lay waste to it. ⁶So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord.

⁷When the Israelites cried out to him because of Midian, ⁸the Lord sent a prophet to them. He said to them, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I brought you out of Egypt and out of the place of slavery. ⁹I rescued you from the power of Egypt and the power of all who oppressed you. I drove them out before you and gave you their land. ¹⁰I said to you: I am the Lord your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites whose land you live in. But you did not obey me.’ ”

Then the angel of the Lord appeared to a man named Gideon, he said to him, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12). I always laugh at this statement because Gideon was anything but a mighty man of valor at that time. He was threshing wheat — not on the open threshing floor where it was normally done — but by the winepress in order to hide from the Midianites.

When the angel told Gideon the Lord was with him, he responded with doubt:

“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 6:13)

This certainly doesn’t sound like a “mighty man of valor” speaking, does it? Do you ever talk like that? “If the Lord is with me, then why has this befallen me?”

…Why did I lose my job?

…Why did my mate leave me?

…Why are my children on drugs?

In response to his question, the angel told Gideon:

“Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” (Judges 6:14)

The angel told Gideon, “There is something so mighty in you, so powerful that it can deliver Israel out of the hands of the Midianites.” What was that might? It was the presence of God!

It doesn’t matter if you lost your job, your mate left you, or your children are on drugs. There is something so mighty within you that you can rise up to defeat the enemy.

I often wondered why God included the portion about how weak and fearful Gideon was in this biblical account, then God showed me that it was because He wanted to prove through Gideon what His presence can do through anybody. God can take a failure, a doubter, one who is filled with fear and intimidation — and when His presence comes upon them, they will become a mighty person of valor.

Gideon, who was hiding out threshing wheat when the angel appeared to him, was certainly not acting like a mighty man of valor. But God was not depending on what Gideon had to offer…

…He was not depending on Gideon’s bravery.

…He was not depending on his fighting ability.

…He was not depending on Gideon’s natural talents.

…And the same is true for you! God is not depending on your bravery, ability, or natural talents.

Make this declaration:

God is not depending on my bravery, my ability, or my natural talents. He is depending upon what He will make me through His mighty power.

*Adapted from MCWE email – Journey Into The Promised Land by Morris Cerullo

A Mighty Man Of Valor – 12/06

Possessing the Land

Journey Into The Promised Land