A couple of days ago I made mention of the game we played, Follow the Leader. As a follower we needed to be alert to the actions of the leader, if they went right so did we. If they jumped, we did too. We were watchful.
In Psalm 23 a different type of alertness is described. It’s the leader who is alert. Using His rod and staff to direct our progress so we don’t fall into dangerous situations.
In my prayer time today, those are the two words that rose up in my heart, be alert. Immediately I remembered the story of Gideon and his army of 300 mighty men. In case you aren’t familiar with Gideon I will give you a brief backstory.
Gideon was the seventh son, last man in line for any inheritance or blessing. The Israelites were being attacked by Midianites every harvest time. They would rob the grain that the Israelites had grown. It got so bad that Gideon was threshing the family crop in a pit to avoid detection.
This is where the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon. He needed Gideon to lead an assault. He came to a cowering nobody and this is what He said and Gideon’s response:
“ The angel appeared and spoke to Gideon, ‘The Lord is helping you, and you are a strong warrior.‘ 13 Gideon answered, ‘Please don’t take this wrong, but if the Lord is helping us, then why have all of these awful things happened?…'” Judges 6:12-13 CEV
Through a series of events (I encourage you to read the whole story in Judges 6-8), the Lord showed Gideon if he would follow God’s leading, Gideon and his army could defeat the Midianites and the Amalekites who had been warring against them.
Gideon had 32,000 men enlist in the fight. The Lord said that was too many so Gideon sent home everyone who admitted they were afraid; 22,000 left.
“‘Gideon’, the Lord said, ‘you still have too many soldiers. Take them down to the spring and I’ll test them. I’ll tell you which ones can go along with you and which ones must go back home.’5 When Gideon led his army down to the spring, the Lord told him, ‘Watch how each man gets a drink of water. Then divide them into two groups—those who lap the water like a dog and those who kneel down to drink.’ 6 Three hundred men scooped up water in their hands and lapped it, and the rest knelt to get a drink. 7 The Lord said, ‘Gideon, your army will be made up of everyone who lapped the water from their hands. Send the others home. I’m going to rescue Israel by helping you and your army of 300 defeat the Midianites.’” Judges 7:4-6 CEV
300 men – men who were alert, always checking their surroundings for the enemy. With these 300 men at the ready, God led Gideon to victory!
“…Everyone shouted, ‘Fight with your swords for the Lord and for Gideon!’ 21 The enemy soldiers started yelling and tried to run away. Gideon’s troops stayed in their positions surrounding the camp 22 and blew their trumpets again. As they did, the Lord made the enemy soldiers pull out their swords and start fighting each other.” Judges 7:20-22 CEV
After the battle was over Gideon had gone from being the least respected man in town to hero. They wanted him to be there king.
“ ‘No,’ Gideon replied, ‘I won’t be your king, and my son won’t be king either. Only the Lord is your ruler.” Judges 8:23 CEV
God found in Gideon someone who was willing to be used. Gideon, with God’s leading found men who were alert and ready for battle.
“The eyes of the Lord go around looking in all the earth for people who are faithful to him so that he can make them strong.” II Chronicles 16:9 ERV
God is looking for those who will follow His lead.
“Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. 8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat.” I Peter 5:7-8 ERV
“So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you.” James 4:7 ERV
Just like the enemy ran from Gideon’s army, our enemy will run when we stand in God’s strength and follow His lead. Be Alert!
