Pastor's Column 8/2/2026

PASTOR’S COLUMN

¹⁴ “Then the angel of the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you.”  ¹⁵  “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel. My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”  ¹⁶  The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”

Judges 6:14-16, NLT

“The Weakest Link and the Strong God!”

When experiences occur in life contrary to what we expected, the event often is consigned to what people call, “the laws of unintended effects.” This is just another way of saying something that hardly anyone thought would occur. The results were the opposite of what was imagined. The Scriptures are replete with examples of events turned around for a different effect. Much of this can be seen as God’s way of intervening in a situation to bring about an outcome that is of His divine plan. It is gratifying to know that the Sovereign God we serve is always ahead of our thinking and actions. This is likely why David said of God, “You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thoughts afar off. (Psalm 139:2, NKJV). Absolutely none of our thoughts, actions or hesitations are unknown to God. God is infinitely familiar with us and would never lead us along a path of destruction. God approaches us where we are, even as we are.  According to His will, we are led along paths we never could have imagined. It is within our human nature to resist some challenges God sends our way. At best we admit our fears, but at worst we lean on what we perceive are our failures. God challenges us to look deeper within, to discover the untapped abilities He has placed in us. Gideon felt insecure because he did not see himself as God did. God told Gideon told to use his strength to defend Israel against the Midianites. Gideon demurred. But God saw in Gideon a man of might and valor. The least would become greater!