Go with all the strength you have
Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help ~ Judges 6:3-6 NIV
God had delivered the children of Israel to the power of the Midianites because they had disobeyed Him. Since the Midianites were stronger than them, they suffered so much under their power to the extent that they couldn’t take it anymore and at this point, they cried to the Lord for help. It’s at this time the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and greeted him with a rather strange greeting; “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior”. This kind of greeting did not make sense to Gideon and he ended up questioning the angel, but God had an assignment for him. He was the one to rescue the children of Israel from the power of the Midianites.
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” ~ Judges 6:14 NIV
Gideon objected; “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” ~ Judges 6:15 NIV
God knew Gideon was the right person for that mission and when He came, He didn’t come suggesting; He came commanding. This is the same reason why He called him as he saw him, “A mighty warrior”. The fact that he was busy hiding from the enemy did not change the fact that within him lay a great warrior. This is why his resistance didn’t change God’s mind. He was capable and well equipped for that specific mission and God assured him that he would be with him and that he would crush the Midianites to the last man. Gideon took up the task and he defeated them by God’s power. What is God is telling you to arise and do? You must believe in yourself and know that you have the potential and that whatever He is demanding from you, you can do it. And just like Gideon, arise with all the strength you have and accomplish your divine assignment.
