The Gideon Experience ...

Monday, June 4, 2012. Over the weekend I have been intensively studying the story of Gideon, as it is written in Judges 6-8. It is a fascinating story, which is about purity of the heart as well as about power and control in this world.

Who is in control? …

The story of Gideon has happened more than 3000 years ago. But it is a story which puts many questions into our modern world. Gideon lived in a time where the people of Israel were suppressed by another people. And then God called him to free his kind. Gideon was not strong, his family did not have big influence. But he was pure in heart and followed the Lord.

Judges 7 tells the story of the big fight, where God first reduced the armee of Israel from 22,000 to 300 fighters. He wanted them to see that HE is in control. It is not the people, who can do. The Lord can do.

As a scientist today we might see the biblical stories as nice little stories - or even as dark dangerous stories, full of cruel acts. We are convinced that we gain control by understanding the laws of nature. Reason is bringing enlightenment - and in fact our reason is helping us to understand many things in nature! But are we able to really answer the question of control? Do we understand why some nations prosper and others don't. Do we take into account what the Lord can do, and what he does?

The biblical perspective …

The biblical perspective knows the Lord. He is there, and his power and activity is there throughout world history. His spirit is driving people, such as the founder of the Red Cross. He is changing the world, but not as we sometimes think, but in a much deeper and very different way from many of our expectations.

The biblical perspective sees the Lord in control. He knows us, our very thought. He knows all our actions, all our emotions, all our problems and challenges. He is there, and we are able to talk to him. We may pray, and he will hear what we tell him. The biblical perspective fully takes the Lord into account!

Gideon's mission and success started with the Lord. He said: “if the Lord is with us, things should be different!” And so an interaction with the Lord started, which led to freedom and prosperity for his generation. Today, we have a much wider perspective, Christ Jesus has led us into a deeper understanding of God's agenda. But the starting point is the same: it starts with the Lord, and nothing else. (Roland Potthast) ... more texts