I was catching up on my emails when I ran across a word pertaining to Gideon. (You can read the full word on the Elijah List here.)
In 2020, I had a dream where I heard a spoken voice say the words, “You are a Gideon-smith.” This was the first time I ever heard audible words in my dreams (it’s happened several times since then). From that point on, whenever I hear or see a teaching that pertains to Gideon, I pay attention. Between then and now, there have been some links made to explain this statement but I believe my picture of the full meaning is still incomplete.
We meet Gideon in Judges chapter 6:
The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belong to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine-press to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
Judges 6:11-12 (NIV)
I’ve read this passage a number of times but I missed the importance of this part: when the angel of the LORD–who many commentators believe was actually Jesus–came to Gideon, Gideon was hiding.
Israel had done evil in the eyes of God (again) and He had given them over to the hands of the Midianites, who plundered their lands and ruined their crops. (Judges 6:1-6) Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine-press, which was a pit in the ground, less visible to the raiders. He was doing what he could to survive. And yet the Lord declared to Gideon that he was a “mighty warrior.”
As many of us would have done had we been in Gideon’s shoes, he doubted:
“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)
But he was reassured:
The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
Judges 6:16
God did not promise Gideon that he would receive supernatural strength, or weapons, or an army, or anything beyond this promise: “I will be with you.” He gave Moses the same promise (Exodus 3:12) as well as Joshua (Joshua 1:9)–and He knew it would be enough.
He promises us the very same thing.
Hiding is easy. In hiding, we become complacent, lazy even. We become dull, numb, and sleepy. But friends, this is not the life God desires for us!
This next piece of the “Gideon-smith puzzle” for me is a continued confirmation that God is calling me out hiding toward action. And this confirmation isn’t just for me–it’s for all of us.
As a Christian, you are called to be God’s image-bearer to the world, to live in a way that shows God, to speak words that show God, and to love in a way that shows God:
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus, Matthew 5:14-16
We are not meant to hide our light away. The world needs our light, our hope. They need Jesus. And many of them will only meet Jesus if we are willing to let Him shine through us.
If you’re hiding today, friends, don’t be afraid to come out of the shadows and let your light shine.
Blessings,
~Lynne
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