"So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites."
{Judges 6:24} (NIV)
Many of us cringe when we think of the book of Judges; the anger of God, the suffering, the killing, the cycle of sin, idolatry and punishment, repeated over and over again can make this book a little discouraging to read. But in this story of the call of Gideon, wonderful truths about our great God are revealed.
1. The LORD is with him in his distress and trouble. Israel is in trouble because of their sin, and yet God does not leave; He is there with them still. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
2. God calls him a mighty warrior when he is cowering in a hole hiding from the enemy. God sees us as we will be. He sees us in Christ, and calls us His holy ones. Oh that we would live as He names us!
3. Who we are and our weakness are not as important as who God is. His presence guarantees victory. Oh friend, that we would believe this truth and live in confidence of the victory of God, over sin and Satan.
4. Most important of all the presence of the LORD meant Peace for Gideon! Once Gideon realized that it was God he was speaking to, he panics and becomes very fearful for his life. God speaks reassuring words of peace to Gideon, and Gideon builds an altar and names it Peace.
Oh friend, do you know this Peace that Christ Jesus speaks into our lives? Friend, do you this day, have that wonderful peace that passes understanding, the Peace that comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our sinful bodies?
May our lives today, bear testimony to all who come by us, that we have Peace with the LORD.
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