Posts that reference the book of Judges

The Call

[God] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 2 Timothy 1:9

I’m doing some study and prep work for a retreat next month when we’ll be studying the call of God. It’s easy to dismiss that as something only for preachers or missionaries or other A-list Christians, but God has called each of us. In one sense, answering the call is fulfilling the purpose God had in mind for us when He saved us. In another sense, it’s an expression of our obedience. Here are some things I’ve learned so far about the call.

The call is unmistakable. (Judges 6:22)
Everyone in Scripture knew they had heard from God. Admittedly they may have been reluctant to answer. They may have stalled or delayed. But they knew it was God calling.

The call is according to God’s purpose. (2 Timothy 1:9)
God never calls us to busywork. Everything He involves us in is fulfilling His kingdom purposes.

The call leads to being sent out. (Mark 6:7)
I’ve yet to find an example of someone God ordained and equipped who was not immediately put to work. There is no orientation period, no job shadowing, no time to research the pros and cons. Part of the reason for this is that we are sent out in His strength, not ours.

The call often comes in answer to prayer, but usually not our own. (Esther 4)
Israel prayed for deliverance, God calls Moses. The people prayed for rescue from Midian, God raised up Gideon. Jesus prayed all night, then called the right guys to be His disciples.

The call comes when God is ready to act. (Exodus 3:7,10)
We don’t have to wait on God’s timing. By the time He has called, it is His timing, and we need to respond.

What has God called you to? How did you respond?

Fleecing God

By Paula

So Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said–look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” Judges 6:36-37

We want to know and then follow God’s will. We believe God, and we genuinely want to honor Him in the decisions that we make. And we want to be sure. All of those are good and reasonable. But that’s not what Gideon was doing. Gideon was stalling.

God had already promised to deliver Israel through Gideon. Just in these two verses, Gideon himself repeats that promise twice. Leading up to these verses, he had called for an army to assemble and they had. He had seen God face to face. He had witnessed his offering miraculously consumed. He already had more than enough evidence that he was commissioned by Jehovah to deliver Israel.

Gideon didn’t need confirmation, he needed obedience.
His problem wasn’t discernment, it was reluctance.
Gideon was testing God rather than trusting Him.

Your miracles so far are not enough. Your word is not enough. Your promises are not enough. Your character is not enough.

Like Gideon, sometimes our desire for confirmation is a smokescreen for our reluctance to obey. It is camouflage for our need to call the shots. We won’t move until our conditions are satisfied, until our criteria are met.

After mentioning the stuff about wool, Webster’s defines “fleece” as to strip by extortion or fraud. Requiring, or even requesting God to give a sign before we move in obedience is extortion. God, in His grace, has saved us, commissioned us, and equipped us. He has given far more than we deserve.

Often, because of His great love and mercy, He even meets us at the point of our doubt and disobedience. Like He did with Gideon.

I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” Psalm 40:8 NLT

Joshua

By Paula

So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Judges 2:7

Do you know someone like Joshua?
Someone who served as a role model for you.
Someone who served God with consistent passion.
Someone who lived their faith rather than simply professing it.

You could argue that Joshua’s generation had great faith because they saw great works.
I would suggest that they had great faith first, so they saw great works.
Joshua called on Jehovah as a slave in Egypt before he ever saw the Red Sea part or the walls of Jericho fall.

We have a generation who desperately needs a Joshua or two, or more.
We need people who will serve as role models.
People who serve God with consistent passion.
People who live their faith rather than simply professing it.

People who will exercise great faith so God can reveal His mighty works.

Take time to thank God for your Joshua.
Commit to being the next one.

Fear or Victory

By Paula

Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. Judges 7:3 NLT

In Judges 7, we read the story of Gideon. You probably remember the amazing story of the three hundred soldiers who defeated a Midianite army who outnumbered them 400 to 1. Before the battle, Gideon stands with his army of 30,000 men and God says to send home everyone who is afraid. Twenty thousand men–inexperienced soldiers who have done the math and knew they are facing over a hundred thousand professional soldiers–go home.

God doesn’t berate them, or shame them. Gideon doesn’t beg them to stay or offer incentives. Just a simple announcement, “If you are afraid and want out, you are free to go.” And they did.

It seemed like a rational decision. I’ll be honest, if my husband had been in that number I would have more than glad to see him home early and in one piece.

But here’s the thing. Yes, the fearful survived unscathed, but they didn’t get to participate in the victory.

I know I have had plenty of opportunities present themselves, doors that God has unmistakably opened, and I’ve gone home rather than go forward. I’m afraid I won’t measure up. I’m afraid of what it will cost. I’m afraid it will be hard.

And I miss a victory.

Here’s what I know about fear, though. It makes us take our eyes off Him. It distracts us from what He calls us to do. Fear never comes from God. Paul stresses that in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

John reiterates it 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

Perfect love, that’s the kind that God has for each of us. Fear is a sure sign we don’t grasp or trust that love or the God who demonstrates it.

What Is the Source of Your Strength?

By Paula

How long has it been since you’ve read the story of Samson? You remember, long hair – super strong. Haircut – instant wimp. That Samson. With my Sunday school boys, it’s a fresh challenge each week to grab their attention and give them a new angle on stories they’ve heard since preschool. Samson got their attention. He got mine, too. You can read his story in Judges 13-16.

In the most familiar part of his story, Delilah whines until he tells her the source of his supernatural strength. He says, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

Samson’s answer was wrong.

Did you catch that? My boys did. His answer was wrong. And that was his problem. Samson’s hair didn’t make him strong. God did. It’s a very subtle, but critical difference.

Samson put more stock in the vow, and the sign of the vow, than the God the vow supposedly honored.

Because Samson so often appears in the Bible storybooks our kids read, it’s tempting to dismiss him as a two-dimensional caricature. The truth is, Samson, like all the people in Scripture was a real person, with strengths and weaknesses. Just like us.

Now let’s personal. Maybe I’m picking nits (or splitting hairs, even) but it’s too easy to put our confidence in all the things ABOUT God and miss true sustaining intimacy with Him. Consider these questions:

Have I, do I, put more faith in the act of prayer than the God who hears?
Have I, do I, get more comfort from the words of Scripture than the God who speaks them?
Have I, do I, find more contentment in my position as a child of God than from the Father who put me there?

The answers are very telling. And very convicting. Now, what about Delilah’s question?

What is the source of your strength?

Self? (I can handle it.)

Accomplishments? (I can work harder)

Identity? (I belong to Jesus.)

Christ?

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2

Missing the Victory

By Paula

Judges 7 relates the story of Gideon. You probably remember the amazing story of the three hundred soldiers who defeated a Midianite army who outnumbered them 400 to 1. Before the battle, Gideon stands with his army of 30,000 men and God says to send home everyone who is afraid. Twenty thousand men, inexperienced soldiers who have done the math and know they are facing over a hundred thousand professional soldiers, go home.

God doesn't berate them, or shame them. Gideon doesn't beg them to stay or offer incentives. Just a simple announcement, "If you are afraid and want out, you are free to go." And they did.

It seemed like a rational decision. I'll be honest, if my husband had been in that number I would have more than glad to see him home early and in one piece.

But here's the thing. Yes, the fearful survived unscathed, but they didn't get to participate in the victory.

I know I have had plenty of opportunities present themselves, doors that God has unmistakably opened, and I've gone home rather than go forward. I'm afraid I won't measure up. I'm afraid of what it will cost. I'm afraid it will be hard.

And I miss a victory.

Here's what I know about fear, though. It makes us take our eyes off Him. It distracts us from what He calls us to do. Fear never comes from God. Paul stresses that in 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Power. Love. A sound mind. Fear doesn't stand a chance.

The Call

Fleecing God

Joshua

Fear or Victory

What Is the Source of Your Strength?

Samson’s answer was wrong.

Samson put more stock in the vow, and the sign of the vow, than the God the vow supposedly honored.

What is the source of your strength?

Missing the Victory

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