Slideshow image

Today’s passage—Judges 6–7—is so apropos for April Fools Day. It reminds me of a New Testament verse that honestly reflects my journey with Christ better than most:

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”
—1 Corinthians 1:26–27

God did something very similar in today's passage, choosing the most unlikely of heroes from the tribe of Manasseh.

Once again, the Israelites were caught in one of their familiar downward spirals due to disobedience (Judges 6:10). Yet in His mercy, God sent the Angel of the Lord to proclaim deliverance—this time through this unlikely candidate: Gideon.

Side Note: Most biblical scholars agree that the Old Testament appearances of the “Angel of the Lord” are pre-incarnate (a.k.a. pre-New Testament) appearances of the Son of God—Jesus Christ.

When the angel greeted Gideon, He said:

“The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor… Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian.” —Judges 6:12b, 14

Gideon, still not fully trusting in the Lord, responded in verse 15:

“Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

That’s exactly how I felt 25 years ago when the Lord first called me into ministry. I remember driving from Columbia, SC to Gainesville, FL for an interview at Neighborhood Church of Gainesville, telling my wife, “This is going to have to be the Lord—because I can’t speak in front of people on my own.” I felt completely inadequate. And if you’re reading this and feeling the same way… good. That means you’re exactly where God can use you—a person ready to depend on His strength.

In chapter 7, when Gideon gathered 32,000 men to fight against the massive Midianite army, God told him:

“The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’” —Judges 7:2

So God whittled Gideon’s army down—not just to 300 men, but arguably the least likely 300. If I had to choose between a man ready to defend me and one face-down at the stream drinking like a dog, I’d pick the former. But that was God’s final test in verse 5:

“Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink.”

In the end, Gideon was left with 300 “Labrador Retrievers” instead of 9,700 “German Shepherds.” But that’s exactly the point. God delights in using the least likely, least equipped individuals to accomplish His purposes. I don’t claim to be the best preacher in the world—but from that weekend in Gainesville onward, God has faithfully equipped me to share from the pulpit. And that’s why 1 Corinthians 1:26–27 so accurately reflects who I am. I will boast in Christ alone for anything He accomplishes through the ministries I’ve been privileged to lead.

Takeaway: In my opinion, the first quality of any Christian leader—whether full-time, part-time, vocational, or lay—is humility. It’s the ability to submit to God’s authority and to give Him glory when victories are won. Maybe take a few moments today to pray that the Lord would give you a humble heart—one that is desperately dependent on Him, and quick to give Him the glory when He moves.