A Bowlful of Water

Written by Megan Demelo

Has your world shattered and left you with no hope? We want to pray for you.

“But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (Judges 6:13-15, NIV).

Life Lesson: Biblical perspective on the end times
Experience It: Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit

Have you ever wondered why God uses ordinary people to accomplish His work? What are we capable of? Gideon asked a similar question when God told him to save Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. Gideon argued that his “clan is the weakest in Manasseh” and he is “the least in his family” (Judges 6:15 NIV).

After gathering the forces needed to face the battle, Gideon asked God – not once, but twice – for further proof that He would keep His promise and strengthen him to do His will. He asked God during the night to cover a wool fleece with dew and keep the ground dry, and then the next night to make the ground wet and keep the fleece dry (Judges 6:36-39). Both times, God did as Gideon asked.

The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people like you and I. They’re human, they make mistakes, at times they doubt God’s presence and power and want reassurance that He is really there. They want to know that He’ll help when He gives them a challenge, even one that looks impossible. But the Bible is also full of stories of God working through, blessing, and being very present in the lives of ordinary sinners like you and I.

God does use everyday people to do His will, and gives them what they need to do it. But most of all, He uses and works through everyday people to carry out His plan. He’s always there on the missions He gives us. He knows our weaknesses ahead of time. He overcomes them in His might because we’re not able to do His will without Him.

It’s important to remember that a Christian does not live life in his or her own power. We depend upon the power of God, in the form of the Holy Spirit to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. We rely on God to overcome the challenges that are in the way of accomplishing His work, knowing that He is right there with us (even when it doesn’t feel like He is) in order to bring Him glory.

When Gideon wrung out the fleece after that first night, he ended up with “a bowlful of water” (Judges 6:38, NIV). God knows we doubt Him, because it’s part of our sinful nature. But He’s given us plenty of promises in His Word to stand on, as well as the experience of His hand in our lives to prove that He’ll bring victory time and time again.

As for Gideon, he eventually found that out for himself (Judges 7).

Father God, thank You for pushing us out of our comfort zones in order to do Your work. Thank You for being with us during those times, clearing the path and giving us the ability to do what You call us to do. Please remove any fear, doubt selfishness, or shame from our hearts to make room for Your Spirit, glory, courage, and especially faith. May all we do be for You, and may we never forget that we serve You before ourselves or the world. In the conquering name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Questions: What kind of people does God use to help fulfill His will on earth?

About the author Megan Demelo