Intrusion: Under the Tree


The preaching last Sunday, Intrusion: Under the Tree, is from the book of Judges, specifically Gideon.  After roaming the desert for 40 years, the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua conquered Jericho and many other tribes and nations because the Lord was with them.  After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10) 


The mighty nation of Israel were conquered by their enemies and came into extreme hardship because they forsook the Lord.  It was in this season when Gideon encountered the Lord.

The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.  When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

“But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”
The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”  (Judges 6:11-16)

1) God speaks to us about our future despite our past.  Gideon said he was the weakest in his family and his clan is also the weakest.  And yet, the angel called him a mighty warrior.  Being weak in the past or present does not determine what God is able in our lives in the future.

2) God sends us out to our destiny despite our doubts.  But sir, but Lord... Gideon doubted was was being said to him.  Again, he looked at Israel's current state and his personal circumstances and answered with buts.  Having faith that something better will come is sometimes hard to because we are limited by what we see.  We cannot conceive how we can be delivered from our current situation.

3) God's presence strengthens us despite our weaknesses.  I will be with you, God promised.  And we know what happened to Gideon and the army of 300.  They routed Midian and Israel enjoyed peace for 40 years in his lifetime.  The people asked him to be their leader after having defeated Midian but Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.” (Judges 8:23)  He knew God was the source of strength and victory.

I know the story of Gideon and his army but I did not remember that he started weak and full of doubts.  This preaching was a revelation and it reminds us that our past and current circumstances do not matter.  We can be strong and victorious as we commit to and allow God's purpose to unfold in our lives.

March 18, 2012
VCF Fort
Pastor Jeff Eliscupidez

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