Power for Victory
What power guides your life? What abilities give you the victory? In the story of Gideon we find Israel suffering under the oppressive raids of the Midianites. An angel of the Lord approaches Gideon and in Judges 6:12 says to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” Gideon’s response is to ask where God had been throughout their period of oppression. The angel replies, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” If not for the last part of that phrase we might be tempted to think of Gideon as a great warrior with strength and leadership capable of winning the day. Had not the angel called him a mighty man of valor? Did he not tell Gideon to go in his might?
The might of Gideon was the might of God. Gideon could trust that the victory would be his not because he had strength but because it was God who sent him. In case it is not clear, he is told by the Lord in verse 16: “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” Gideon would win because God would be with him.
You remember the rest of the story. Gideon goes on to recruit an army and he initially has some 22,000 men. God has Gideon trim the ranks and in the end he is left with 300 warriors. This was done so that everyone would know it was God who gave the victory to the people.
So I ask again: What power guides your life? What gives you the victory? It is not your strength or ability or charm or clever wit. It is God who will win the day. Satan has many attacks to throw at us. The world is full of opposition against us. At times we might almost seem to fail. But God fights for us and he will win the day. If you are following our Bible reading plan you might have read the following words recently, Psalm 46:1-2: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.