Faith through weakness

Judges 7

Have you ever been to a place of absolute weakness in your life? A place where you hit a new low and realise the ‘only way is up‘ because you feel very weak and incapable without God’s help and strength. Sometimes hitting a new low though can be more a blessing than you realise at first. It can be a point of opportunity – if we embrace God’s strength in our weakness rather than self-pity or negativity. God wants to do something in and through us that shifts us to a new level! How can he ever teach us dependence unless we are taken out of our comfort zone?

In Judges 7 we have the story of Gideon’s army being stripped right back to just 300 men against the fearsome Midianites. In verses 1-3 we see that God sends home anyone who is too fearful to engage in the battle. Fear robs us and makes us unsuitable for spiritual battle.

The Lord is interested in displaying His power through our weakness. Its faith in God’s faithfulness and strength that we need rather than faith in our own abilities, which is too often the case.

God will sometimes allow us to hit a place where ‘we can’t unless God can and does…’

Even after stripping away some of the army God stripped it down further to a small ‘Gideon’s band’ of 300. A tiny force against a vast and terrifying army that had been oppressing Israel for a long time. The odds weren’t looking too good at this stage….BUT GOD!

In v17 we see that Gideon broke with fear to lead the people. Faith took over from fear so as to lead his tiny army! Interestingly the people followed Gideon’s lead and broke the power of fear in order to follow this crazy plan (man)!

• God turned the enemy camp into confusion and gave Gideon victory over His enemies.
• It was a miracle for sure

Gideon would never have done this without 5 strengthening words

• “I will be with you”

The Lord showed up in strength in a time of great weakness but he needed to know he was not alone. Gideon did not lie down in self-pity in his weakness. Instead, he learned dependence and to open the way for the King of glory to display His power.

God’s power is perfected in our weakness!

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Reflect: In what ways have you allowed God to display His power in your weakness? Have you been learning that weakness is a pivotal moment where we can learn to lean into God in new measures? In what ways would you like to adjust and grow towards relying MORE on God’s power in weakness? Consider this and pray how this might look for you today and in the time ahead! Imagine how God will display His power, as He did for Gideon!

What ‘winepress’ pattern might God be calling you out of today?