God is for me...

   He had to work hard just to survive. He came from a poor family to start with and the country itself had certainly seen better days. His dad told him it hadn’t always been like this. That before he was born, life had been good. Now, though, he was finishing his work day and the last thing he needed or even wanted was encouragement. Dinner and rest would be nice, though both would be too little. Maybe that was what was so annoying about this newcomer. What does he mean “the Lord is with him”? Turning suddenly, he looks the stranger in the eye and boldly states, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Yeah, yeah, he’s heard that God does wonders for his people. So where is He? Where is the justice?… What did you say sir? God wants ME to save His people. Yeah right, sure you’re a messenger from God. Prove it… POOF!, fire jumps from the rock and burns up the food. Okay, I’m listening. NO! That I won’t do. Look at me. I’m a nobody. Okay, okay, I know you’re God and all that but I can’t go leading an army. Tell you what if I have proof I’ll believe you. ZAP!, The rug is wet and the ground still dry. Well maybe one more… BAM!, the ground is wet but the mat is dry. Well, I’ll try, but only 300?! This just isn’t going to work. Another sign is all I need. A dream from the enemy camp. Now, I know for sure…

   Fortunately, Gideon finally realized that the clue to his happiness wasn’t in how hard he worked. It wasn’t in prestige or wealth. He discovered that God is with those who trust Him. In Judges 8:22-23, the people came and wanted to make him ruler because he had “freed them from the hand of Midian”. I think Gideon’s response this time was finally on the mark. ‘Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule.”’ Maybe tonight when I lay my head down to sleep, instead of worrying about all the difficulties I face every day in life… instead of wondering why things seem so difficult… instead of waiting for God to bless me… instead of planning what I am going to do tomorrow… Maybe I’ll remember to listen to God and let Him guide me. After all if God is for me…

Eddie Ewald