READING:
One-year plan: Judges 7-9
Two-year plan: Psalms 13-17, Romans 2:1-16
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The Lord showed Gideon a sign to indicate His presence with him, consuming an offering Gideon presented to Him after he sought assurance. Later, Gideon sought another sign to prove God was going to give him victory over the Midianites – in the first case, the sign of a dewy fleece with dry ground around it. When that sign did not suffice for Gideon – and knowing that his next request was out of order enough for him to say, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more” (Judg 6:39) – he then asked for God to show him a dry fleece with dewy ground around it. God graciously granted both requests, even though He had already promised Gideon, “I will be with you” (Judg 6:16).
But, then God prepared Gideon for battle by reducing his army from 32,000 to 300 warriors and giving him a strange battle plan of blowing trumpets, breaking pitchers, carrying torches, and hollering words! It’s doubtful that plan alleviated any of Gideon’s fears, and God again gave him another supernatural sign of victory: he overheard a Midianite who had a dream of their coming defeat. Armed with that additional knowledge, Gideon finally trusted the Lord – and he fell before God and worshiped (Judg 7:15).
At least three times when Gideon struggled with trust, God gave him signs to confirm His presence and leading. We have no guarantee that God will give us such signs, but we do still serve the same God who offered grace to Gideon. He remains worthy of our trust.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you trusting God right now?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, help me to trust You completely with whatever I face today.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Judges 10-15
Two-year plan: Psalms 18, Romans 2:17-29
MEMORIZATION VERSE (March 16-31):
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col 3:17)
*first published in 2018
