LIFE NUGGET #6: “Immediate Obedience?”
“Gideon and FISHERS of MEN” : When called by name - how do we respond?
Judges 6-8 and Mark 1:16-20
We, the bloggers, (have been called by our names) and we were just talking about how we are to respond. Do we walk in full belief and acceptance that what the LORD says is TRUTH and thrive by being who we’re called to be in this life. Those LOVED perfectly by GOD Himself with a specific purpose, fully equipped to live it out peacefully!
What happens when we walk (not run) in our TRUE callings with an ear to the LORD and a heart of immediate obedience to His Voice? Powerful things!!!
There are several examples of obedience throughout the Biblical narrative. Two that strike me as, at first glance, “opposites” are the accounts of Gideon, and the account of the Galilean fisherman that our LORD Jesus called to follow Him. One of the fishermen, He literally even gave a public new name. This name would indicate that guy's role in the Kingdom plan - Simon Peter - the rock on which He would build His body of disciples-the church. And the promise that by this - the gates of hell would not PREVAIL against it!!
Well, long before Simon Peter lived, Gideon lived in Israel. Gideon seemingly was not what the angel of ADONAI (The LORD) called him: “VALIANT HERO! ADONAI IS WITH YOU!” - to Gideon’s utter shock and disbelief. He was no one like that, his fear and sense of abandonment caused him to see himself as a scared, weak, no account from M’nasheh. He hid in a winepress to thresh, out of fear of the enemy. He couldn’t be “ valiant, or a hero” - he was not a warrior and certainly not accompanied by Yahweh Himself. He was wrong.
Gideon did not respond with immediate obedience and a “Whatever You say! Let’s do this thing!” kind of heart. He spoke the facts as he saw them; it was not TRUTH! Out of unbelief, he hesitated in obedience. Yet the LORD was patient and reiterated the TRUTH. (Several times) Even in the midst of this reluctancy, Gideon built an altar and worshiped The LORD. He followed instructions, albeit after testing the validity of them.
Nevertheless, the LORD’s will was accomplished and Israel was cleansed, of the idols that the people had turned to, as Gideon began to simply obey step by step as the LORD directed. And the LORD was with him! GOD treated Gideon as He named him - a VALIANT HERO! Loved by Yahweh!
The valiant hero covered with His Spirit to give him courage even in the midst of disbelief. The LORD, patient and gracious, kept Gideon and his men safe and encouraged, as He miraculously defeated the enemy. The LORD gave Israel peace for 40 years after that mighty victory, to the end of the VALIANT HERO’s life. I can’t help but wonder: what if Gideon had immediately believed he was who The LORD said he was?
Hmmm…would it have been the wildfire of transformation of a culture if he had? Much like the one that ignited over the Galilee when simple fishermen listened to the LORD Jesus calling them and they immediately exchanged “their titles of fishermen-for fishers of men”. When the first group of men who heard and believed Jesus was, exactly Who He said He was, and they were who He said they were - the world changed! The effects of that obedience still are ablaze today, and will be till He calls us home!
In the words of Jamie Winship- “Who are you? Ask the LORD Himself what He calls you - then listen for His answer. Simply go and be that! It will always be life giving, TRUE and powerful.”
