Morning Devotional
May 9, 2005
"Warriors" (Part 3)
    by Don Emmitte

Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!" (Judges 6:14 NLT).

 

To understand this verse fully, you have to place it within the context of the rest of the chapter. Gideon was threshing wheat when suddenly an angel appeared and called Gideon a mighty warrior. Gideon recants his frustration with God’s activity among his people. Now, in our reading this morning, the LORD answers Gideon.

 

You might be wondering what happened to the angel? I personally think this was an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ in an angelic form, but what matters is that the Lord spoke. Gideon was frustrated. He could no longer see God’s hand at work among his people. The Lord answered this frustration personally.

 

I believe that God has His angels watching over us. I can even go along with some people who believe in a personal “guardian” angel, because there are surely enough angels out there. (By the way, just for your information, angels are not Christians who have gone to Heaven, they are created beings designed to do God’s work.) We see angels appearing throughout the Scriptures. There are special occasions, however, that God reserves for Himself. For example, it is God who will personally wipe every tear from our eye cf.: Revelation 21).

 

Gideon was being called to an important task and God took a personal interest in encouraging Gideon for the assignment. Please be assured that God is attentive to the needs of His people. God is working all things for your ultimate good, if you are a child of God. Warriors may often find themselves feeling alone or abandoned. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have a mighty army standing with you. God may send an angel, another Christian, or even one of your enemies to help you. But, know also this, when you need God the most, God will come personally to rescue you!

 

John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no men were present, but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station. 

 

The one thing that separates Christianity from any other religion is that Christianity is a relationship. We get personally involved with our God and He with us. Praise God for that blessing today!