Overcoming fear: The Story of Gideon
On 30th Sep 2007, Sunday, CDC, we were privileged to have Brother Koh Earn Soo speak on the message “Overcoming fear”, based on the life of the great judge, Gideon!
Starting off, we were treated to a video clip of a tough grandma trying to bring her grandson fishing on a lake. The tall, young man could not swim and was terrified of the thought of going anywhere near deep water. Calmly, the tough grandma asked him to pass her his fishing rod and equipment, and then suddenly pushed him off the dock, into the water! The young man screamed for help, thrashing around desperately. His grandma just kept telling him to move his hands and kick his legs, and soon, he got the hang of actually swimming (please don’t try this at home…) That was when Grandma nonchalantly said “Ok, you can stand up now”…..
All the while, the young man thought he was in danger of drowning when the ground was just beneath him. Just like the tough grandma, God is watching us. He will not let us drown in our struggles in life, and He knows more than we do.
Most little boys, like brother Koh, grow up idolizing superheroes such as Superman and Spiderman, and in today’s entertainment scene, a new breed of superheroes are beginning to dish the costumes and becoming more like ordinary people, you and me. However, the Bible is very interesting, full of stories about ordinary people with a supernatural God. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things and today, God can use you and me.
In those days, the Israelites faced very hard times. Every time harvest came, the Midianites and their enemies would come in a terrible swarm and take everything, leaving the Israelites on the brink of starvation and ruin. Sometimes life is like that. We try to do something, and then something comes along and ruins it.
In that time of fear, Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine press – he was living in fear. He was a man of doubts, a man with a low image of himself. Yet, God sees positive potential in every person, despite their fears, their doubts or their low view of themselves. Gideon’ clan was the least in Manasseh and he was the least in his family, he was practically a nobody, and many of us are like him. Indeed, there are many more Gideons than Davids.
Secondly, the Lord welcomes honest questions. Gideon, in his distress, voiced his frustrations to the angel of the Lord. “Why has all this misfortune happened to us? Where is God? Why has God abandoned us?” It is ok to ask, to pour out our emotions to God, and voice out our questions, our doubts. Gideon asked God for a sign and the Lord said “I will wait until you return”! The Lord waited for Gideon. The Lord cared. The Lord was patient. Whatever is our struggle, we can bring it to the Lord. He waits. He listens.
Thirdly, once we are committed, we must walk in faith, like Gideon. In this, having the right perspective is important. The angel of the Lord said “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. Go in the strength that you have. Am I not sending you? Gideon had to realize that he was God’s servant, with God’s power and authority!
For hundreds of years, men could not run a mile in 4 minutes. They tried all sorts of ways, even letting wild animals chase them, but they just could not run a mile in 4 minutes. The world concluded that it just could not be done. However, one day, Roger Bannister did it, and that same year, 300 others did it. It was all a matter of perspective. Roger showed people that it could be done.
An elephant trainer ties a rope to one of its legs from a young age. When the elephant is fully grown, huge and powerful, he still thinks he can’t break the rope! It is the same with the eagle that thought it was a prairie chicken. It is all a matter of perspective.
FEAR is said to be the short form for False Evidence Appearing Real, and often it is. The disciples were fearful, hiding in a locked room when suddenly Jesus appeared and said “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Jesus did not rebuke them, nor did He focus on their fear. He was basically saying:- In spite of your fear, I am sending you! Fearful men encountered the resurrected Christ and they were sent out as ambassadors of Jesus Christ!
Before Gideon went out to war, he first set his house in order, chopping down the Asherah pole. However he did it at night. He was fearful, but still acted. He needed to cut down false altars from his family life. Then, he built the correct altar to the Lord. Then only, can we go forward, knowing that the battle belongs to the Lord. We need to learn total dependence on God. Gideon’s army was reduced to 300 men to show him that is the Lord that gives them victory. Unless the Lord builds a house, the builders labor in vain!
In closing, brother Koh exhorted us to maintain a close relationship with God and develop a walk of intimacy with the Lord. With God for us, none can be against us. May the Lord help us overcome all our fears by trusting in God, knowing that He is for us, and will deliver us!
God bless,
Jason
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