The Essence of Obedience

In Judges 6:13, Gideon questioned God about the problems he and his nation faced and God's apparent lack of help. What he did not acknowledge was that the people had brought calamity upon themselves by disobeying and neglecting God.
Gideon had heard about the great miracles God had done for His people, but he had not seen any. This lack of miracles led Gideon to wrongly assume that God had abandoned His people. However, it was the people who had abandoned God. They knew what God expected of them; they had His laws but chose not to obey them.
As foretold by Moses and Joshua, God's blessings came only when the people were obedient. Just as the Lord told Moses, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless” (Gen. 17:1), God has the same message for us today. We are to obey the Lord in every respect because He is God-that is reason enough. If we do not think the benefits of obedience are worth it, consider who God is-the only One with the power and ability to meet our every need.
I. God Calls Us in the Midst of Our Present Obedience (Judges 7:1-7)
a) God calls us while we are faithfully engaged in our present tasks. As we prove faithful, He gives us more responsibility.
b) In the Bible, we often see that God’s call comes while people are completely immersed in their current challenges.
c) Gideon was a man who obeyed God by focusing on the task at hand.
II. God Expands and Uses the Abilities He Has Already Built in Us
a) Gideon was surprised by what God told him to do. He did not want to jump into a task for which he felt ill-prepared.
b) Facing overwhelming odds, Gideon was afraid. God understood his fear but did not excuse him from his task. Instead, He allowed Gideon to slip into the enemy camp and overhear a conversation that gave him courage (Judges 7:12-15).
c) Are you facing a battle? God can supply the strength we need for any situation. Do not be startled by the way He helps us.
d) Like Gideon, we must listen to God and be ready to take the first step. Only after we begin to obey God will we find the courage and realize that we can move ahead through God’s supplied abilities (Jeremiah 1:5-10).
III. God Uses Us Despite Our Limitations and Failures
a) God uses us despite our limitations and failures. Even those who make great spiritual progress can easily fall into sin if they do not consistently follow God.
b) Gideon had his weak moments and failures, but he was still God’s servant. He doubted his call and felt inadequate for the job. However, when convinced that God was in control, he obeyed with zest, resourcefulness, and speed, dedicating these traits solely to God.
c) If you can see yourself in Gideon’s weaknesses, can you also see yourself being willing to serve?
Conclusion
In Judges 6:14-16, God assured Gideon that He would be with him and promised to give him the strength needed to overcome opposition. Stop making excuses and instead spend time doing what God wants.
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