Today’s Reading, Judges 6-7
Focal Scripture: Judges 6:13 “Gideon said to him, “Please, my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt? ’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”
We all ask questions about life circumstances. Especially, when we don’t see a reason behind difficulty. It could be our finances are taking a big hit because of the economy. Maybe you are experiencing medical problems that are overwhelming you beyond belief. Or worse yet your mental health is struggling because of issues you experienced years ago or are currently going through. No matter the circumstance the question is usually the same “God, why is this happening to me?”
In today’s reading, Gideon asks a natural question. The Israelites are being attacked and their crops are being plundered. Death and destruction are everywhere and people are losing hope. Gideon then asks the obvious question. If God is with us why are we suffering? Why is God not showing up the way he did in the past? Then he declares the Lord has abandoned them. You can feel his pain and his despair.
I am not sure about you but I have been there in my life. If I am being transparent I am working through a situation now where I am currently there. I have followed exactly what God has told me to do and I have questions. God has blessed and simultaneously I am suffering. I am trying to understand what God’s plan is and I don’t see it at all. I want to see God move in this situation the way he has moved in others.
Right now I need answers to difficult questions. However, God is silent and it feels as if I will be taken over by my distress. If you have experienced that before you know the anguish it can cause. However, we are called to be faithful even when we can’t see the next step. We are called to follow the Lord even when it doesn’t make any sense to us personally.
When we are faithful like Gideon and are transparent God will show up. It may not be the way we expect but never the less he shows up in his own personal way. It might look like picking an army that is humanely impossible to win any battle.
After all that is the point. More reliance on God and less reliance on ourselves. Especially, when things look the worst. Be faithful even when you have deep questions. God will always show up right on time.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Judges 8-9
