Question...
On several instances lately I sat listening to someone talking about stories in the bible and belittle the people for the way they acted. For instance, the Israelites, straight out of Egypt, just crossed the red sea and now they have been traveling for days, putting distance between themselves and the Egyptians, no water for 3 days and they are concerned(Exodus 15:22-). They find bitter water but not suitable to drink. So they run to Moses. In listening to a discussion on this the conclusion was almost overwhelmingly that they were complaining. I sat there wondering though, is it complaining or simply voicing that human concern. I mean, think about it. God built in us the ability to thrive under various circumstances by using our ability to think, reason and problem solve. Part of that is to see problems as they arise. Now some of us are much more adept at seeing problems coming than others. Something about mothers, they know what trouble you're going to cause long before you do it, and they generally try to act preemptively. So these Israelites, they're tired, not only have they fled for 3 days but prior to this they have been serving as slaves, but were also constantly ready for when they were told it was time to flee. They know, probably more instinctively than we do in this day and age what dehydration looks like as it leads to death, and they can see how close they really are. Moses was their leader, and in the time when there was no holy spirit, he was their connection to God. So really were they complaining or seeking God's guidance. Yes, it tells us they grumbled, but is grumbling always bad?
Back in College I went through a period of time where I really didn't feel God's presence in my life at all. I still participated in a faith based campus organization, went to church some, and occasionally prayed. I reached a point where I didn't even cry for a year. I was in a rough place emotionally. It's really hard to describe, I went through the motions of life, but couldn't hear, feel, or see God moving so for all practical purposes he wasn't real to me. I stayed active in things because of people in my life. I can't really point to the breakthrough point, which for me is odd, those things typically stand out. Just one day in my dorm room all alone I started crying. It was amazing. Those tears were cathartic. Shortly after that I started a long journey with God. Things were crumbling around me, my relationship, my school grades fell, I was lost; but this time I saw God even in the midst of this disaster. I remember one day driving from my parents house to where I went to school having an all out battle with God. I felt like a little kid taking swings at God who was holding me by the head at arm's length while I was yelling, screaming with all my might, throwing punches that never landed. Then I was done. I was emotionally worn out. I basically collapsed.. Even in that moment God spoke to me, likely through a song on the radio, he used it as a hug. He picked me up, held me close and asked if I was done. Then he told me it was ok. I didn't have to see his plan, I needed to see Him.God had no problem with me taking every bit of grumbling and frustration I had to him. I think he expects it because he knows exactly how he made us, he knows it's coming.
Several months ago I started a conversation with a friend about Gideon. I really resonated with the thought of Gideon struggling and needing reassurance of God's plan. Let's be honest when I thought about the story of Gideon I usually thought about a cucumber with a tuba. So I set out to get a grip on the context of the pieces of the story I knew. So Gideon is hiding in a wine vat, threshing wheat, because every time his people planted crops in rolled the Midianites to take and destroy. Here appears the angel of the lord.
Years ago I went to a Christmas pageant at a church with my sister. Now this wasn't a kids in bathrobes kind of production. It was a huge church, so lots of budget, folks to be involved, the whole nine yards. I have been to stage productions of musicals that were way less grand than this was. Of all the grandeur what really stuck with me were the Angels. As they approached the shepherds and they're cowering it really made sense that they would cower. Here we have 3 folks, in the 6 foot tall range, ripped. I mean muscles on muscles. Dressed like roman soldiers, full battle armament, carrying massive swords. My kids probably weigh less than one of those swords. So the back story here is these 2 men and one woman are actually body builders and those huge swords are trophies from competitions. This is by far my favorite depiction of angels I have ever seen. These are not wimpy kids in white robes, they are God's warriors. So yeah, let's give a little credit to how folks in the bible reacted when they showed up.
Back to Gideon. "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." This coming from an angelic warrior, to a guy hiding in a wine vat. No wonder he's a little confused and uncertain. He's among a people who are being invaded every time they plant crops. God gave them over to the Midianites because they were doing evil things in the first place, now this guy shows up, and says God is with you. Is he really all that much of a coward to question this and then require not one but two signs from God. He flat out states he's got the weakest family in the area. Gideon has very little going for him that he can see. But God sees so much potential in him. I really began to wonder if God chose him in spite of being a coward or if he chose him because he was timid and cautious. Would a mighty warrior have listened and done things the way God wanted them to be done to show his power. Yet God called him a mighty warrior. I think God expected a little blow back on this one. I don't honestly think God cared that Gideon needed reassurance. The same things in him that caused him to question God were likely the things that God was looking to use in him as well.
I have so many more thoughts on Gideon I am still exploring. I am honestly still diving into his full story. It doesn't stop where we usually do with our vegetables telling the story. It's not all glorious either. The main thing I feel God showing me right now is, it's ok to need time to come around to what he has for us. He tells us he will "work all things together for our good", he never said "it's all good" those are two very different statements. God built in us the ability and even need to question, so he expects us to turn it on him every now and again. The point is though, are we taking it to God?
Back in College I went through a period of time where I really didn't feel God's presence in my life at all. I still participated in a faith based campus organization, went to church some, and occasionally prayed. I reached a point where I didn't even cry for a year. I was in a rough place emotionally. It's really hard to describe, I went through the motions of life, but couldn't hear, feel, or see God moving so for all practical purposes he wasn't real to me. I stayed active in things because of people in my life. I can't really point to the breakthrough point, which for me is odd, those things typically stand out. Just one day in my dorm room all alone I started crying. It was amazing. Those tears were cathartic. Shortly after that I started a long journey with God. Things were crumbling around me, my relationship, my school grades fell, I was lost; but this time I saw God even in the midst of this disaster. I remember one day driving from my parents house to where I went to school having an all out battle with God. I felt like a little kid taking swings at God who was holding me by the head at arm's length while I was yelling, screaming with all my might, throwing punches that never landed. Then I was done. I was emotionally worn out. I basically collapsed.. Even in that moment God spoke to me, likely through a song on the radio, he used it as a hug. He picked me up, held me close and asked if I was done. Then he told me it was ok. I didn't have to see his plan, I needed to see Him.God had no problem with me taking every bit of grumbling and frustration I had to him. I think he expects it because he knows exactly how he made us, he knows it's coming.
Several months ago I started a conversation with a friend about Gideon. I really resonated with the thought of Gideon struggling and needing reassurance of God's plan. Let's be honest when I thought about the story of Gideon I usually thought about a cucumber with a tuba. So I set out to get a grip on the context of the pieces of the story I knew. So Gideon is hiding in a wine vat, threshing wheat, because every time his people planted crops in rolled the Midianites to take and destroy. Here appears the angel of the lord.
Years ago I went to a Christmas pageant at a church with my sister. Now this wasn't a kids in bathrobes kind of production. It was a huge church, so lots of budget, folks to be involved, the whole nine yards. I have been to stage productions of musicals that were way less grand than this was. Of all the grandeur what really stuck with me were the Angels. As they approached the shepherds and they're cowering it really made sense that they would cower. Here we have 3 folks, in the 6 foot tall range, ripped. I mean muscles on muscles. Dressed like roman soldiers, full battle armament, carrying massive swords. My kids probably weigh less than one of those swords. So the back story here is these 2 men and one woman are actually body builders and those huge swords are trophies from competitions. This is by far my favorite depiction of angels I have ever seen. These are not wimpy kids in white robes, they are God's warriors. So yeah, let's give a little credit to how folks in the bible reacted when they showed up.
Back to Gideon. "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." This coming from an angelic warrior, to a guy hiding in a wine vat. No wonder he's a little confused and uncertain. He's among a people who are being invaded every time they plant crops. God gave them over to the Midianites because they were doing evil things in the first place, now this guy shows up, and says God is with you. Is he really all that much of a coward to question this and then require not one but two signs from God. He flat out states he's got the weakest family in the area. Gideon has very little going for him that he can see. But God sees so much potential in him. I really began to wonder if God chose him in spite of being a coward or if he chose him because he was timid and cautious. Would a mighty warrior have listened and done things the way God wanted them to be done to show his power. Yet God called him a mighty warrior. I think God expected a little blow back on this one. I don't honestly think God cared that Gideon needed reassurance. The same things in him that caused him to question God were likely the things that God was looking to use in him as well.
I have so many more thoughts on Gideon I am still exploring. I am honestly still diving into his full story. It doesn't stop where we usually do with our vegetables telling the story. It's not all glorious either. The main thing I feel God showing me right now is, it's ok to need time to come around to what he has for us. He tells us he will "work all things together for our good", he never said "it's all good" those are two very different statements. God built in us the ability and even need to question, so he expects us to turn it on him every now and again. The point is though, are we taking it to God?
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