God’s Elite Army

By Abi Lasquety Ruelo

The last installment of the Series, Yes, YOU, ends with the story of Gideon and how he was called to lead the Israelites out of slavery once again. Oftentimes, Jesus calls the people in church to do Hid kingdom work. Sometimes, He calls the people outside. But most of the time, the people in church have already been called - they just do not want to answer the call. Are you called to do God’s work? Will you be ready if you are?

God calls those who feel they cannot do His work - the weak, the underdogs, those who are scared to step out of their comfort zones. But everybody is called to join God’s Elite Army - a select group of individuals that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of the group or society. They are a cut above the rest. They are the chosen ones.

Gideon is one of the chosen ones. Although he did not know it yet, he was predestined by God to free His people from slavery once again. His story begins in chapter 6 of the book of Judges.

In the beginning of chapter 6, the Israelites are again under the hands of the Midianites because they have been worshipping the God of the Amorites, Baal. They have been hiding in caves because of their fear. All of their crops and livestock are wiped out every time the Midianites conquer their land. After 7 years in this situation, they finally cry out to God for help. He sent them a prophet who reminded them of all the times God has delivered them from the hands of their oppressors and drove them out of their land so they could dwell in it peacefully. God told Gideon that He will use him to fight the Midianites. When he was found, Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress, something that is unheard of and very unconventional. He was hiding from the Midianites lest they confiscate the food he was preparing again. Gideon could not believe that God was sending him so he asked for signs. He used a fleece to test God. When God did the miracles he asked, Gideon said yes. He rounded up an army of 32,000 men. God told him to tell those who are afraid to go home because they were too many. Victory in that number might cause them to boas in their strength. 22,000 men were apparently scared and did not have second thoughts about going home. 10,000 soldiers were left and still, God said they were too many. He asked Gideon to bring them to Harod Spriings where He will perform a drinking test. There was a certain way of drinking that assured God the soldiers are ready for battle. With this test, only 300 soldiers remained. Now they were ready for battle. God probably knew that in his heart, Gideon was still anxious and afraid. So He asked him to spy on the enemy’s camp to hear that they were scared and knew that they have already been delivered to Gideon’s hands. This gave Gideon the strength that he needed. He rounded his troops right away and gave them instructions for battle. Gideon’s army was armed with horns and clay pots with torches inside. This is what they used to defeat the Midianites, who got confused when they horns were blown and the clay pots were broken, running in every direction as far as their feet could bring them. In the end, Gideon won the battle and the Israelites were freed once again.

What can you learn from the story of Gideon?

1. God always sees the bestin you. Judges 6:14 says, “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you.” Many times, ou second rate yourselves. When you are asked to do something, you always ask, “why me?” If not you, then who is God supposed to call? Who is going to work for His kingdom? God told Gideon that He is sending him. What if you always think that it is God asking you to do everything that you are asked to do? After all, the Bible says to do everything for the glory of God, right? Are you going to say no? 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 says, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” God sees your strength even when all you see is your weakness.

2. God will be with you when He calls you. Judges 6:16 says, “I will be with you and you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting agaibst one man.” God will not ask you o do anything on your own. He knows your strengths and weaknesses. He will ot call you to do something that He knows you cannot do. Isaiah 41:10-13 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” If you do things in God’s strength, you will not have a difficult time.

3. God will wait until you obey Him. Judges 6:18 says, “Don’t go away until I come bak and bring my offering to you.” He answered, “I will stay here until you return.” It is not easy to obey. The Israelites were under the rule of Midian for 7 years before hey cried out to the Lord. But life could be easier if you obey right away. If you are in submission to God’s will and do everything He asks, life will be easy for you. What if God tells you to just do what you want and be in control of your life? How do you think things will trun out? Isaiah 30;18 says, “So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so he can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God.” God waits for you to obey Him so He can show you how much He loves you. He wants to make you experience His love, His mercy and His grace. What are you waiting for.

If you know that God only sees the best inn you, that He will be with you when He calls you, and that He will wait for you until you obey, what must you do now?

1. Be honest with God and trust Him. (Judges 7:10-11) God knows the fear and the doubts you have in your heart. It would be good for you to confess these things to God so that he may answer your prayers and make you feel less anxious about what He is asking you to do.

2. Do not allow anybody to rule your life. (Judges 8;22-23) Because Gideon delivered them from the hands of the Mdianites, the Israelites wanted him to rule over them. But that should not be the case. Only God should rule your life. People are only used by God to fulfill His commands. He is the only reason why you are able to do the things that you have to do.

3. Observe the spiritual disciplines. (Judges 8:33-35) Bible reading, praying, fellowship with other believers and worship are an integral part in your being a Christian without these things, you make it easier for the enemy to go back to your old ways. It is so easy to fall out of faith and go back to your old ways. But if you know who God really is, His goodness and is mercy will shine through you and you will continue in the path to righteousness.

After all, they say private faithfulness determines public usefulness. If you cannot be trusted to read your bible by yourself, how can you be called to share the gospel to others? To different provinces? Or to different countries here you want to go? You are updated with the lives of everybody around you but you do not know God? Remember that your work for the kingdom should be an overflow of the love of God in your hearts. If not, you will be working on your own strength and you will tire of the work of the kingdom easily. Be close to Him and have joy in your heart.

In the movie Indiana Jone and the Last Crusade, Indy is faced with a dilemma of needing o cross an invisible bridge in order to save the life of his father. He tells himself that it is a leap of faith while his father, in his pain, mutters that Indy has to believe. He takes the first step in what is seen as nothingness and finds that a bridge is there, unseen by the naked eye. He crosses the bridge

And saves his father’s life.

Al it takes is one step. Many times, you are afraid to take that first step. Just like you, your enemies are scared too. You just do not know it. When you are weak in the faith, you make your enemies stronger than they really are. When God asks you to do difficult things for Him, he does not just sit back and relax, watching you do things on your own. He holds your hand and sometimes even carries you along the way. If you knew that your backer is that strong, would you not say yes to Him?

God uses common people to achieve His purposes for His kingdom. Jacob was a liar, Joseph was a slave, Moses was in exile and was a murderer, Hannah, David, Mary, Matthew, Luke, Peter Gideon and YOU. Yes, YOU! God can use you in ways you can never imagine. You only have to take that first step.