But the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; but if I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go." Judges 7:4 NIV
In this scripture, Gideon, the self proclaimed weakest member of his tribe, has been called by God to deliver the children of Israel from the Midianites. When God calls him, he is afraid and request several confirmations from God, "the putting out of the fleece", to reassure him of victory against the Midianites.
Interestingly, once Gideon accepts the challenge and garners his army, God tells him that he has too many men. At God's request, Gideon tells the men that are afraid to leave. Twenty two thousand men left and ten thousand remained. God responds that there are still too many men which is the background for the opening scripture.
Yes this is a lesson on deliverance, but more importantly the sifting process that we all must go through before we can do great exploits for God. Notice that God tells Gideon which one of his fighting men shall stay and which ones shall go.
Has God called you to a great work? Get ready for your friends, family and foes to be sifted. Everyone can't go with you to the next level in God.
I encourage you this week to release the people that God is sifting in your life. Don't resist what He is doing. He is positioning you and others for your next level of warfare. God wants the glory from your life and in order to receive it, He must move some people and things that you have relied on in the past. Don't be discouraged when longstanding friends exit your life, that's an open door for God to enter. Be encouraged...God is your deliverer.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. |
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