Judges 6:14 

New International Version (NIV)

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

For Meditation

Gideon was afraid like all the Israelites. It’s one of the effects of sin. It turns God’s people into weaklings instead of warriors. The power of God never works for His people in environments where sin prevails with impunity. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, He leaves His people on their own. But without Him, no one can stand against the fury of hell the Adversary unleashes against them.

That was Israel’s situation when the Midianites oppressed them. But, God’s mercy prevailed as His people cried to Him. He appointed Gideon to lead them against Median. In fear, the young man was “threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it away from the Midianites” (Judges 6:11).With no confidence in himself, his family or clan, Gideon balked. But, that’s where God wants us, the point where we’re at our wit’s end, and we throw our hands up in surrender to Him. His response to Gideon is revealing.

The least strength we have is enough in God’s hands to crush our enemies and every opposition that rises against us. We confront the enemies of our lives and prevail with our faith in Christ, our Warrior King. So, He ordered Gideon to go in the strength he had to save Israel. Gideon’s mandate was carried by God’s authority, which is always power-laden to deliver victory to His faithful servants in every circumstance.That’s our encouragement.

Gideon staggered through his assignment, but God graciously carried him along with one sign after another. At each point, the Lord assured Gideon of His presence and the imminent victory that awaited Him. God was going to fight for Israel, not Gideon and his men. So, the twenty-two thousand army of Israel was reduced to three thousand, and with them, the Lord routed Midian and redeemed Israel (7:1-8).

Though you may be feeling weak in the face of the threatening circumstances in your life; though you may be completely overburdened or under resourced against a formidable foe; your strength is in the Lord Sabaoth. Jesus leads the charge against your enemies, and in His resurrection power, you’ll stand to prevail. Depend on His grace to see you through the raging storm in your life, for His grace is sufficient for you (2 Cor. 12:9).

Shalom