April 1, 2017. Joshua 6-7

 

6:13 “Stranger,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors have told us about—such as when God brought them out of Egypt? Now the Lord has thrown us away and has let the Midianites completely ruin us.”

 

How many times have you thought the same thing contained in this verse, expressed by Gideon; “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Life seems so unfair and there are plenty of injustices in every culture and society. The answer is not more legislation in an attempt to impose good will and fair treatment to all men and from all men.

It seems there is another cause to fight for, or a flood on social media, every time a political figure makes a decision or a celebrity shares an opinion. And those responses sound a lot like the cry in this verse; life is not fair, it is hard, I do not deserve this, why can’t I have it like the other guy? Where is my miracle? I am forgotten, mistreated, marginalized, abandoned. And the pity party continues. Finally ending with – “God does not care.”

When you read these two chapters this question by Gideon is almost laughable. The beginning of the chapter quickly filled in the gaps and shed light on why these people were having the trouble they were having; and it was not because something had happened to God’s character, power, care, promises or abilities.

 

6:1 Then the people of Israel began once again to worship other gods, and once again the Lord let their enemies harass them.

 

Time to assume personal responsibility again for what is going on in your life. Quit looking to blame someone else or even God. The answer? Start the cleanup campaign, like the one Gideon is about to lead on behalf of the nation of Israel, and once again the miracles of God, His protection, His provision, and His plan can be enjoyed.

Read verses 24 – 26 of chapter six and begin there. Some things need to be torn down. Then you need to replace those things with God’s things.

Next, earn a nickname. Live with such conviction of God’s words and His ways that people label you, know you, and identify you with that resolve for living God’s truths.

 

6:32 From then on Gideon was called “Jerubbaal,” a nickname meaning “Let Baal take care of himself!

 

Then get ready to once again experience God’s great victories and deliverance in your life, just as He did for Gideon in chapter 7.