Deborah was a prophet judging Israel. She called out Barak and told him he would lead an army. (He said he would if she’d go with him.)
14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. 15 When Barak attacked, the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. 16 Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera’s warriors. Not a single one was left alive. Judges 4:14-16, NLT.
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The sun rose the same as any other day. Gideon was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. He was doing what he needed to do to survive. Around him–oppression.
11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Judges 6:11-13, NLT.
The Lord is with us. He is in the daily, in the midst of conflict, hardship, oppression.
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Jesus speaks of the future–wars, insurrections, earthquakes, famines, plague and persecution.
16 Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. 17 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish! 19 By standing firm, you will win your souls. Luke 21:16-19, NLT.
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Where are the miracles? In the New Testament widow’s faith of giving all she has–alone, invisible, and poor. In the Old Testament fleece set out in anticipation and for assurance.
Gideon, who had yet to see the bigger picture of it all, didn’t even know he was part of the miracle.
When we ask for a sign, will we see it?
29 Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. 30 When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. 32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:29-36, NLT.
Every day.
37 Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. 38 The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him. Luke 21:37-38, NLT.
The Lord is with us.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 