First Christian Church of Plainville
President George Washington once said, “It is infinitely better to have a few good men than many indifferent ones.” Today, just as in George Washington’s time, and going back to the earliest times, good men and women are needed.
This week’s reading from The Story was from Chapter 8 entitled, “A Few God Men...and Womenf After the death of Joshua, who had led the Israelites out of the desert and into the Promised Land, the need for leadership was evident. With the lack of leadership, the people fell into a pattern of turning away from God, worshiping idols and false gods, succumbing to outside invaders, and then crying out to God for help.
The Lord raised up judges to save the Israelites from the hands of the raiders. Not that it did a lot of good, because the people listened and then they didn’t. The pattern was consistent—the judge would save them out of the hands of their enemies, the people would listen, but when the judge died they would return to their old ways.
Leaders such as Deborah, a woman, a judge, and a prophet, were able to secure a lasting peace. However, after she was gone, there was the need for more strong leaders, but the roster seemed empty.
God then picked a farmer named Gideon to lead by telling him, “The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior:’ You can only imagine Gideon’s response. Not only did Gideon not consider himself a leader, but he had a low self esteem and didn’t think he was the right man for the job. God, though, had other plans.
After being given signs and being reassured by God, Gideon eventually leads the Israelites to a great victory over the Midianites.
Some lessons we can learn from Gideon’s experience:
• God calls us in the middle of our present obedience.
• God expands and uses the abilities he has already built into us.
• God uses us in spite of our limitations and failures.
You may be immersed in your own challenges at this moment, but that may very well be the time that God calls you. Stay in the Word and be open to God’s call.
