Let’s look at the story of Gideon in the Book of Judges — a powerful reminder that even in the darkest, most desperate times, God is not absent. In fact, He is most active.
The condition of Israel during Gideon’s time was very difficult. The people were oppressed by the Midianites for seven years. Their crops were stolen, their land was vandalized, and they lived in fear. But more than that, their hearts had strayed from God. And this is the pattern we see throughout Judges — God’s people sin, they suffer, they cry out, and then God sends a deliverer. Even in discipline, God’s mercy is at work. He allows crisis not to crush us, but to call us back.
This is not just Israel’s story — it’s ours too. We’ve all had seasons where we drift, where we feel spiritually dry, and life starts to fall apart. But those are the very moments when God draws near. He does not abandon us. He calls us. He prepares us. And often, He chooses someone unexpected to lead change.
That someone, in this case, was Gideon — a man hiding in fear, trying to preserve a little wheat, quietly threshing it in a winepress. He wasn’t standing strong or leading boldly. He was scared. He felt alone. He felt small. Yet that’s exactly where God met him. And not with condemnation — but with affirmation. God called him a “mighty warrior.” He saw potential that Gideon couldn’t see in himself.
God sees us the same way. In our fear, our doubt, even our failure — He still calls us His own. He sees more in us than we see in ourselves. And when we feel the most overwhelmed, when we are battling alone in silence, He comes and whispers, “I am with you.” What a powerful promise!
Gideon struggled to believe this. He gave excuses — “I’m the least in my family… my clan is the weakest… I can’t do this alone.” Maybe you’ve felt that way too. But God doesn’t call the qualified — He qualifies the called. He told Gideon, “I will be with you,” and that made all the difference.
I urge you all: don’t give up the inheritance God has given you. Don’t let the enemy rob you of your joy, your purpose, your children, your calling. Fight for it — even if it means fighting in fear. Even if you feel alone. Because when God is with you, you’re never truly alone.
Let’s look at a deeper truth: reconciliation. Before Gideon could lead the nation, God told him to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and offer a seven-year-old bull as a sacrifice. Why seven years? Because that’s how long Israel had been in disobedience. I explained that reconciliation with God isn’t casual — it comes at a cost. It demands sincerity. It calls for repentance.
Too often, we want God’s forgiveness without giving weight to the process. But reconciliation isn’t just saying sorry — it’s turning back with our whole heart. God takes intercession seriously. That’s why Jesus died for us — not because God couldn’t forgive, but because justice demanded a price. Our sins matter. And God, in His mercy, provides a way back — but it requires us to take that step.
I want to encourage you: come back to God. Don’t wait. Don’t take His grace for granted. Reconciliation is possible — but it must be valued. If you’re distant from God, this is your moment. His arms are open wide.
And then, one of the most beautiful parts of the story — Gideon built an altar and called it Jehovah Shalom — “The Lord is Peace.” I told the congregation: even when everything around you is chaos, you can still experience God’s peace. Gideon still lived in a land under oppression. The enemy still roamed. But his heart was settled. Why? Because God’s presence was with him.
That’s what I long for each of us to experience — the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. It’s not found in perfect circumstances. It’s found in a surrendered heart. I ask everyone: have you felt that peace today? Not just sang about it, not just heard it preached — but felt it? That inner calm, that assurance that God is near, even in the storm?
Because it’s available. Right now. Today. God's Spirit is moving, and if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart. Embrace His peace. Embrace His presence. Embrace His call.
Like Gideon, you may feel weak, but you are chosen. You may feel unworthy, but God sees a deliverer in you. You may be fighting quietly in a winepress, but God is calling you mighty. And He promises — “I will be with you.”
And that’s all we need. Like Moses said, “Lord, unless You go with us, don’t send us from here.” That’s the kind of hunger we need — not for what the world offers, but for God Himself.
So I urge you: embrace reconciliation. Embrace His peace. Embrace the call. God is working — even now — in your time of crisis.
Amen.
