In the thick of a battle we sometimes feel abandoned by God. When nothing goes our way, it sometimes feels like defeat is almost certain. Should we let such feelings cause us to give up? No. Consider Gideon’s experience described in Judges 6, who in the face of
In this humble setting the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon responded by expressing his discouragement under the oppression of the Midianites. The Lord responded, “Go in the strength you have and save
Gideon asked for a sign and then prepared an offering for the Lord. When the angel of the Lord touched the offering with the tip of his staff, fire flared from the rock and consumed the offering. Gideon feared when he realized he had seen the angel of the Lord face to face. But the Lord said, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”
Immediately “Gideon built an altar to the Lord and called it, the Lord is Peace (Jehovah-shalom).” When we trust in God as we obey Him, He assures us of His presence by giving us His peace.