SCRIPTURE: Judges 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, ‘Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.’ [Judges 7:15] When God supports a cause, nothing can defeat it. Even with an army of 300, Israel could defeat a huge force, with God’s help. The lesson here is plain – success belongs to those who join with God in His mission. His mission always succeeds. I like how God works behind the scenes, even in the enemy’s camp, causing them to have dreams so that they will be demoralized and Israel encouraged. I am especially focusing on the dream here.
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. [Matthew 2:12] There are a number of dreams also recorded surrounding Jesus’ birth. This quote refers to the wise men being warned not to report to Herod, so that Jesus could escape. God uses dreams to influence people, to accomplish His purpose!
I once heard a missionary to Nigeria report about the number of Muslims who chose to follow Jesus because He appeared to them in a dream. Muslims recognize Jesus as a prophet, but apparently in their dreams He is calling them to repent and believe in Him. Amazing.
When we join with the Lord in showing and sharing His message and His love, we need to remember that He is at work behind the scenes, working in the hearts of those we speak to. We do not need to START a spiritual conversation with them, we need to JOIN in the conversation they are already a part of, with the Lord, unknown to us. In my experience, a few well-placed questions will reveal a whole undercurrent of spiritual searching and unsettledness. No need to come at them with a canned evangelism approach, just engage them with their questions and struggles and desires. Listen to their heart, and share your heart. And the Lord will use our words and actions for His purpose.
I hear in this passage a call to ‘get up’ and start listening and sharing, for the Lord has given the hearts of the people we speak to into our hands.
PRAYER:
Lord, again and again I forget this, and figure that I need to make a spiritual impact by what I say or do. Help me to listen, and respond, in love.
Time and time again, God ‘spoke’ to Gideon so that he would serve the living God as He wanted to use Him – from the destruction of the baals to the destruction of the enemies – God was always there encouraging/showing/proving the way by the fleece, by the dream. How often I too need those extra prods, those extra encouragements, those extra insights to help me along the way. God uses many means to accomplish His purpose.
Open my eyes Lord so that I may see You. Open my ears Lord that I may hear You. Work by Your Spirit and use me as an instrument of You – to accomplish what You desire for me to accomplish. Help me each day to live for Jesus, doing His will.
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.
Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
More precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
Awaking I am still with Thee.
The wicked Thou shalt surely slay,
From me let sinners turn away;
They speak against the Name divine,
I count God’s enemies as mine.
Search me, O God, my heart discern,
Try me, my inmost thought to learn;
And lead me, if in sin I stray,
To choose the everlasting way.