Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Judges 6 and Psalm 30

“If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Gideon asked the angel of the Lord in Judges 6:13. The unspoken answer is recorded in v.1, “The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” The angel could well have replied, “You brought this down on yourselves, you fools! And you didn’t listen to the prophet God sent to warn you and turn you back!” Instead we read that “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?’” (v.14).

God doesn’t waste time defending Himself or putting the blame where it properly belongs. Instead, He gives Gideon the responsiblity and privilege of being used as an instrument of God’s deliverance. Despite Gideon’s many excuses and insecurities, God was about to use him miraculously to deliver Israel.

Heavenly Father, help me to stop shifting the blame for my own situation onto others, to take responsibility for myself, and to allow You to empower and use me as Your solution to the problems I face. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.