Who Do You Think You Are?

The beginning of Gideon's story reminded me so much of Moses. When God spoke to Moses in the burning bush, He said that He had heard Israel's cry, had seen Egypt's oppression of His people, and told Moses He was sending him "to Pharaoh to bring (His) people the Israelites out of Egypt." (Exodus 3:10). Likewise, the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, called him "mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12) and told him to "go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (Judges 6:14).

When Moses was given his mission by God his response was, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11) God's response was, "I will be with you." (Exodus 3:12). When Gideon was given his mission by the angel of the Lord, Gideon replied, "But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15) "The Lord answered, 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." (Judges 6:16). Both men were then given signs to prove that God was indeed sending them and would be with them (Exodus 4:1-9; Judges 6:17-21).

In spite of the signs given, Moses actually angered God by claiming he was not eloquent enough to speak to the Israelites or to Pharaoh. God said Moses' brother Aaron would go with him to speak for him (Exodus 4:10-17). Gideon tore down the altar to Baal as instructed and then called the people together to go up against Midian; but he did ask for two more signs from God just to gain confidence (Judges 6:33-39).

At the time of their calling, neither man appeared to be strong in faith or courage. They were living by sight and not by faith. But Warren Wiersbe reminds us that "God often chooses the 'weak things of this world' to accomplish great things for His glory (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)." In our Gideon study, Priscilla Shirer points out that "Yahweh's view was not bound by Gideon's reality or actions". Thankfully our "behavior does not determine identity" ( pg. 56).

Wiersbe writes, "It has often been said that 'God's commandments are God's enablements.' Once God has called and commissioned us, all we have to do is obey Him by faith, and He will do the rest. . . Faith means obeying God in spite of what we see, how we feel, or what the consequences might be." We may not always understand God's will for us, but we should not question it. A.W. Tower wrote, "All God's acts are done in perfect wisdom, first for His own glory, and then for the highest good of the greatest number for the longest time." Who are we to question God?

How often do we deal with a disparity between our own self-perception and a biblical view of who we

are in Christ? Priscilla Shirer shared several in our study. We may feel fearful, but Joshua 1:9 and Psalm 138:3 tell us we can be courageous. When we feel incompetent, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 says we are capable. There is no need to feel ungifted because 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 and Hebrews 13:20-21 say we are equipped. 1 Peter 2:9 and Matthew 6:26 tell us we are not worthless, but valuable. Feeling rejected? John 15:6 says we are accepted. Zephaniah 3:17 and Ephesians 1:3-6 say we are not insignificant, but special. If we ignore who we are in Christ, we limit our ability to glorify God in our lives and risk missing out on the blessing He has for us.

Our study asked us to consider how we deal with what God says about us. Do we refute what He says? Do we hesitantly acknowledge it? Do we receive it, believe it and walk in it? Do we ignore it completely? Or do we dismiss it as something that only applies to others and not to us? If it is anything other than "receive it, believe it and walk in it" then we are likely missing out on His purpose for our lives. We need to stop and ask ourselves what would "receiving it, believing it, and walking in it" look like in our lives? What would change in our lives if we believed what God said?

"Whenever God calls us to a task that we think is beyond us, we must be careful to look to God and not to ourselves. 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' God asked Abraham (Genesis 18:14), and  the answer comes, 'For with God nothing shall be impossible' (Luke 1:37). Job discovered that God could do everything (Job 42:2), and Jeremiah admitted that there was nothing too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17). Jesus told His disciples, 'With God all things are possible' (Matthew 19:26), and Paul testified, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13)." (Warren Wiersbe)

Priscilla writes, "Sometimes we prematurely pursue the mission to which we've been called and forgo the critical groundwork of learning about and walking in our God-given spiritual identity." When we allow our own insecurities to take hold, we risk "thwarting our purpose". . . "The assignment for which God is calling us will go unrealized unless we are convinced of the spiritual chops He has given us to accomplish it. His perspective might sound unbelievable and even look completely incorrect based on the way we are acting and feeling. But trusting in God and walking in His pronouncement of potential is the foundation of spiritual victory." We must have a clear sense of our spiritual identity in order to be effective in what God has called us to do." (p. 59)

"Gideon (like Moses) was more than the sum of his cowardly parts. He was more than his circumstances. He was a valiant warrior touched by an encounter with God Himself. And you, my friend, are too. Even if you are hiding in a wine press. Even if you are running from an enemy. Even if you are more humiliated now than ever before. Even if intimidation and fear have been your constant companions." (p. 59)

Let's remember who we are in Christ and live accordingly in whatever God has called us to do.

-Warren Wiersbe quotes taken from The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, The Complete Old Testament pp. 441-442.
-Priscilla Shirer quotes taken from Gideon.