A "Normal" Walk

The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight. So the LORD handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel, camping in the land and destroying crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help. (Judges 6:1-6 NLT)

I love reading the story of Gideon.  I guess it's because it reminds me of a "normal" walk together with God for all of us.  It starts out with the people straying away from God, so they start receiving the consequences for their actions.  The consequences they receive, by the way, they were warned about multiple times.  Then, in final desperation, they cry out to the LORD for help.  God, in His love, sends help.

The help they receive is not what they expect.  The person chosen is not big, strong, or famous.  It's a person that everyone would consider  "normal" or "unimportant."  But they will soon be important in their eyes.  He argues with God, not wanting the assignment.  But God convinces him.

Then, God sets up a plan that makes it clear.  Gideon will not win this battle.  The LORD will win the battle!  Gideon is not allowed to take the full army of 32,000 men into battle.  He is not allowed to take 10,000 into battle.  No, he will take 300 men.  That is all God will allow.  God encourages him in a way that helps Gideon know this is God leading them.  Then they attack.

The battle is clearly the LORD's.  The camp is thrown into disarray.  Warriors in the enemy camp either kill one another or run away.  The rest of Israel's army does the clean up work.  When they get done, the Israelites rejoice and try to make Gideon their king.  "But Gideon replied, 'I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The LORD will rule over you!'" (Judges 8:23 NLT)  He points them straight to God.

Are you walking away from God, receiving the consequences for your actions, crying out to Him to save you, listening to His plan, applying His plan to your life, or celebrating the victory He provided you.  When you make it to the end of this list, who will get the glory?  Will you glorify God or the person through whom you saw God at work?  So...where are you in your walk?