Yesterday in Pathfinders we studied the call of God to Gideon in the Bible (Judges 6). After God declares, “The Lord is with you,” Gideon immediately and boldly challenges God. “But sir, if the Lord is with us, WHY then has all this happened to us?” Then he follows up, “And WHERE are all his wonderful deeds….?” (Sound like questions you have when your world seems upside down? … God, WHERE are you? WHY me?)
This is so much irony in this story. The people of Israel are hiding in caves for fear of their enemies. Gideon himself, when called by God, is hiding in a winepress while he threshes wheat. Nevertheless, God calls Gideon “mighty warrior.” Does God have a sense of humor? Gideon dares to charge God himself with being in hiding and not helping the people.
How does God respond to Gideon’s bold questions? Without giving a direct answer God says, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.”
Maybe God was not making fun of Gideon in hiding when He called him “mighty warrior.” Perhaps, with these words God was showing He knew the potential of Gideon to be a leader and deliverer.
Likewise, when we see injustice and suffering in the world, instead of asking, “God, where are you?” … we should ask ourselves … “Where am I? Why am I not helping correct a bad situation?” In other words, the answer might be with me and you! The bad situation might be our call to action.
Our lesson yesterday noted a novel by Elie Wiesel entitled Night. In the story the character named Moshe is tutor to a young boy. Moshe teaches, “Man raises himself toward God by the questions he asks Him. That is the true dialogue. Man questions God and God answers. But we don’t understand His answers. I pray to the God within me that He will give me the strength to ask Him the right questions.”
This is so much irony in this story. The people of Israel are hiding in caves for fear of their enemies. Gideon himself, when called by God, is hiding in a winepress while he threshes wheat. Nevertheless, God calls Gideon “mighty warrior.” Does God have a sense of humor? Gideon dares to charge God himself with being in hiding and not helping the people.
How does God respond to Gideon’s bold questions? Without giving a direct answer God says, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.”
Maybe God was not making fun of Gideon in hiding when He called him “mighty warrior.” Perhaps, with these words God was showing He knew the potential of Gideon to be a leader and deliverer.
Likewise, when we see injustice and suffering in the world, instead of asking, “God, where are you?” … we should ask ourselves … “Where am I? Why am I not helping correct a bad situation?” In other words, the answer might be with me and you! The bad situation might be our call to action.
Our lesson yesterday noted a novel by Elie Wiesel entitled Night. In the story the character named Moshe is tutor to a young boy. Moshe teaches, “Man raises himself toward God by the questions he asks Him. That is the true dialogue. Man questions God and God answers. But we don’t understand His answers. I pray to the God within me that He will give me the strength to ask Him the right questions.”
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