See a Problem - Solve a Problem - Judges 6-11

 Judges 6:11-15 (ESV)

The Call of Gideon

Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my Lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.”

Often, in business, homes, churches, government and almost all organizations you have what is taking place in the above passage ... not in a spiritual way (although sometimes) but in a natural way.   Here we have a problem (the Midianites were oppressing Israel).   We have someone complaining about the problem to a higher source (Gideon complains to God).  We have the person complaining be asked to do something about it (God tells Gideon to go fix the problem he sees).  Finally, we have the person complaining, who is asked to solve the problem they see, tell us they have a reason they can’t be involved in the solution.   This is a normal happening every day in almost every organization we know.   It is especially true about people who complain about the way society is and refuse to get involved or lift even a finger to help.   We complain about poverty but we won’t give in of “our” money to solve it.  We complain about corrupt politicians and then don’t vote.  We complain about the anger in society and then yell at the person who cuts us off in traffic.   

Gideon was presented a problem and then argued with God that he was incapable of solving it.   God calls Gideon and he eventually is given all the support he needs to fight the Midianites and gain victory over them, setting Israel free from their oppression.   But, not at first.   He was very much a reluctant leader.   He admits his own weakness.  He confesses he is not strong, popular or mighty.    Yet, God uses him in a mighty way.   When we see a problem we ought to ask God to use us, despite our weakness and our fears.   Gideon is full of fear.  He is not strong.  Yet, God used him.  A couple of old saying holds true for this story:

1. If you want a problem solved, solve it yourself. 

2. One plus God is a majority.  

Gideon was a reluctant-full-of-excuse-fearful-hesitant leader.   Yet, God used him in a great way to bring God glory and solve a problem.   He can do the same for us.