Dan has a stuffed bear that i bought him when we were dating.
his bear is named Samson.
Dan bought me a stuffed dog way back before we had kids or even any pets.
my brown dog with the big head and large sad eyes is named Gideon.
i liked that Gideon had a cool story in the Bible.
see a common theme?
*i also have a tiny lion with big sad eyes i received for Valentines when i was pregnant with our boy whom i named Shamgar*
this is not about my stuffed dog named Gideon.
this is me spending some time hanging with Biblical Gideon.
the ladies Bible Study at church is working through a study entitled:
Gideon: your weakness, God's strength.
by Priscilla Shirer.
Gideon appeared unsure if God even loved His people anymore.
"But sir," Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why..." (Judges 6:13)
Gideon didn't think too highly of himself.
"But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can i save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manassah, and i am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15)
Gideon wanted proof, not just God's word.
Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me." (Judges 6:17)
Gideon was afraid.
Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of his town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. (Judges 6:27)
have i told you that Gideon likes to have proof?
..."look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then i will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said." (judges 6:37)
he's all about the proof.
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me..." again with the fleece. (judges 6:39)
Before the fleece x2
The Spirit of the Lord came upon him.
he called the men together to form the army to defeat the Midianites.
then... after the fleece x2
God began cutting their numbers back.
I'm not thinking Gideon was liking it too much.
22,000 men left because they were given permission if they were afraid.
10,000 still there.
they headed to the water.
those who lapped the water like dogs were sent home.
the 300 men that knelt and cupped the water, bringing it to their mouths, they were now Gideon's army.
What?
oh, Gideon, i can feel you trembling in your boots.
i can see you standing there watching the men pack up and walk away.
standing by the water, one hand on your hip, your other hand shading your eyes from the sun as the men walked off into the distance.
Your heart beating with such force you're sure it's going to come right through your chest.
reminding yourself what God had said.
God was going to use him, Gideon, to save Israel.
God had shown him three times that He meant what he said.
but 300 men.
the Midianites have an inconceivable number of warriors, and camels.
But God was going to use 300 men and give the Midianites into his hands. (judges 7:7)
that night God knew how Gideon was feeling.
He knew the fear.
He knew the nervousness.
so He spoke to Gideon.
he told him to get up and go get the Midianites.
i can hear the large gulp from Gideon as he grasped God's words.
but before he could ask or say anything.
God continues.
"if you are afraid..."
that's right, God knew what was going on in Gideon's heart.
"if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterwards, you will be encouraged to attack the camp."
(Judges 7:10)
Gideon took his servant and went to listen.
he heard two men talking about a dream.
it was interpreted that God was going to give the Midianites into Gideon's hands.
Gideon did have more courage after that.
He immediately went and got his men up.
Gideon.
He wasn't a great warrior.
He wasn't a preacher.
He wasn't the strongest.
He was afraid.
He felt weak.
He didn't want to be in that position.
But when God called him to do something.
He did it.
He did it with God's plans, strength and boldness.
He couldn't have done it alone.
if he had, he probably wouldn't have even thought the initial 32,000 were enough.
Gideon didn't defeat the Midianites with 300 men.
God defeated the Midianites using Gideon and his 300 men.
I'm enjoying hanging out with Gideon over these weeks.
he is teaching me that God has patience with me,
i mean, he didn't yell at Gideon and tell him to suck it up and just do as he said..
he let him be afraid.
even when i question Him more than once.
i mean, he didn't yell at Gideon and tell him to suck it up and just do as he said..
he let him be afraid.
even when i question Him more than once.
But,
He does want to use me in some way,
to reach others for Him.
and i need to grasp onto His strength, His boldness, His Words.
God doesn't need me to do His works,
He wants to use me.
*I don't do the whole hashtag thing.
but if you do and want to see what others are learning from Gideon you can see them at
*if you just want to watch a fun song and see the connection between our stuffed animals' names
(Samson, Gideon and Shamgar)
then check out this song:
(Samson, Gideon and Shamgar)
then check out this song:
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