Just a Farmer and Children of Farmers

O. T. #518  "Just a Farmer and Children of Farmers"
May 16, 2015
Judges 6
So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.  Judges 6:6

LET IT GLOW

Are you curious about the title of today's post? Read on to find out more.

After Deborah and Barak, and Jael rescued Israel from the oppression of the Canaanites, they enjoyed 40 years of rest. Then the fourth sin cycle began with Israel going into idolatry and servitude to the Midianites for 7 years.

What do we learn about this situation?

• The Israelites hid in mountains and caves from their enemies. (verse 3)
• It was now more than a century since Joshua had conquered the land, and the Midianite oppression was almost the conquest in reverse!  (Falwell)
• The Midianites were desert nomads who domesticated camels and used them for long-distance raids into more settled areas. [Camels could travel 3-4 days with a heavy load on their backs, covering about 300 miles without food and water.)
• Israel lost their sheep, oxen, donkeys, cattle, and tents to the Midianites, who devoured them like grasshoppers did the land. (verses 4, 5) 
• Israel was greatly impoverished. (Raids were probably made during the agricultural harvest.) (verse 6)
• The children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites. (verse 7)

Up to this time, all the Israelites did was cry out for relief. God wanted something more than a cry; He wanted a confession (Hosea 5:15). The Israelites' problem was not their enemies but their disobedient hearts. Repentance precedes deliverance (Joel 2:12-17).  (The Jeremiah Study Bible)

Shhhh! I hear the camels coming!

Continue to cry out to God, quietly.


LET IT GROW

Where was the Lord doing during this time? Didn't He hear Israel's cries? Didn't He care? Seven years! Where was His compassionate heart? (Do we think that sometimes in our life when He seems silent to our prayers?)
He who knows all things knew His children were in need. Also, He could see into their hearts and our hearts and knows the right time to answer. It may not be our timing, but His timing is the best. Trust Him.

How did the Lord help Israel this time?

• The LORD sent a prophet unto Israel, reminding Israel of their sin and disobedience toward God when turning to idol worship.  (verse 10) Hope is coming on the scene.
• Meanwhile, the angel of the LORD, Christ Himself, a second theophany, appears sitting under an oak tree while Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress.
• Gideon was beating out the grain inside a winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites, fearing they would steal it if he were caught! (Falwell)

The grain meant food for Gideon's family during this oppression. Seven years!
The Lord knew where to find His next judge and deliverer of Israel.
And He knows just where to find us when He wants to use us in kingdom work. We may be doing a mundane task, but friend, we need to be faithful in doing it to our best ability with excellency, and for His glory. Stay faithful to God.

Gideon was found working. Perhaps he was an unlikely deliverer. However, he was a man of faith, although his faith wavered at times. He was a farmer, not a trained warrior, but an obedient farmer (after he was convinced of victory ahead).

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament traces Gideon's career as:

1. The Coward (6:1-24)
2. The Challenger (6:25-32)
3. The Conqueror (6:33-8:3)
4. The Compromiser (8:4-35).

How would someone outline our life? Our work for the Lord? Would we be known as a coward and compromiser or a challenger and conqueror?
Is our heart willing to drop it all and follow Jesus on a new path of ministry, walking by faith? (It may only be next door.) Don't miss out on the blessings that obedience brings, dear ones.

Looking back, so many times we almost left our church before the new sanctuary was completed. The trials, problems, temptations, and discouragements were so heavy. Had we given up and left,  what a blessed day we would have missed out on when we crossed over from the old building to the new one! Oh, the grace and mercy and strength the Lord gives to sustain us while doing His work! I tear up to think what could have been, but was not. How great is our God! Thank You Lord!

Hang in there friends. Keep your focus on the Lord and His purposes. It will be worth it after all!!!!
Hey, if God can use a farmer (Gideon) and the son and daughter of farmers (both our dads were chicken farmers) for His will to be done, then He can use you, too!

LET IT GO

Take courage.

Take the challenge.

Conquer with Christ.

Let go of what holds me back.

Cry out to God in His silence.