A trip to a wood shop and Aldis ** But I will be with you...

Judges 6: 16

And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

You’ll find the story of Gideon in the 6^th chapter of Judges.

And Gideon is a great example that God anoints all he appoints.

The Lord will perfectly equip and empower us to accomplish whatever task he has for us.

This story begins as an angel of the Lord approaching Gideon, who was beating out wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12).

One would think that Gideon would believe what this angle had to say to him...

But not Gideon… he responds to the Lord by saying, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house."

And then the Lord says today’s scripture verse to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Gideon was so insecure that he didn’t trust a direct word from God.

Gideon didn’t consider himself a man of valor…

Yet God called him a “mighty man of valor.”

Not because He saw that character trait in him... Gideon was called a mighty man of valor because of who God is.

When God looked at Gideon, He saw Gideon as he would ultimately become.

God saw Gideon with eyes of faith.

And Gideon powerfully defeated an oppressive army that vastly outnumbered his own, because of the power of God working through him.

And God wants to do a work in our life...

And it's the difficulties and troubles that often drive us to our knees.

But we must allow Him to guide us into battles that only He can win…

We can all like Gideon... but thankfully God doesn’t depend on our level of faith to act on our behalf.

God depends on Himself and His own strength of character.

For God is our source and He strengthens our faith.

God bless!