Encouragement

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(Judges 7)


I’ve never really stopped to consider the parallel between Gideon’s situation in defeating the Midianites with 300 and my own spiritual journey. But let’s picture it for a moment. There is something about the western church that lives for retreats, those mountaintop experiences with God. I imagine Gideon was little different. After all, he’d just been face-to-face with God and lived, experienced the presence of the Lord leading him from baby steps to no-apologies obedience, closely followed by a two-fold fleece miracle. If this is what living for God is all about, let’s have at it.

Can’t you imagine Gideon’s euphoria when next he finds himself on the very mountaintop with 32,000 fighting men, and the enemy on the valley floor below? Oh, the protection the mountaintop affords!

But, wait! Surely that’s not God’s voice I hear!

I don’t know what words screamed across Gideon’s mind, but I know what words would be thundering across mine, with my heart following in fast pursuit.

You want what, Lord? You want me to divest myself of all these warriors? You’re going to leave me only how many? Alright! Alright! I’m listening. I’m learning this obeying thing. At least I’ve got the advantage and security of the mountaintop.

You … want me to … what? To leave the mountaintop? But, I’m up here with You, Lord, and the valley’s over-run with the enemy! I hear You! I hear You, but I’ve got eyes, You know. You given them to me, after all. Ok! Ok! Don’t trust the ‘eyesight.’ But, You can’t be serious? The valley! You want me in the valley?

But that’s the nature of God. To lead us from the mountaintop, where we were never intended to live, and move us into the valley. It’s in the valley we discover the fruit of His promises. It’s in the valley where the seeds of our faith produce the fruit of the vine. It’s the fruit of the vine, when submitted to the winepress, which issues forth the sweet wine of obedience’s joy.

On the mountaintop we’re tempted to stand in our own strength, but it’s in the valley when all we can hope in is Him.

I don’t know if it lies within the nature of man to choose the valley over the mountaintop. But I hear this voice, and it seems to be telling me there’s a secret I’ve yet to learn.

The valley, My Child. The valley. I want you in the valley. Come, with Me, to the valley and see My hand of deliverance at work on your behalf.

© 3 April 2005

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