In Judges 6 we read the account of the sorry state the children of Israel find themselves in. They had displeased the Lord in their evil ways and broken their side of the covenant with Him. Their disobedience to the Lord cost them the loss of the divine authority and power over their enemies that had been part of their birthright for following the Lord. The consequence of their wrong choices broke the covering of divine protection over them and their enemies. The Midianites, the Amalekites and the children of the east, stole from them and oppressed them at every turn. They destroyed their crops and stole their cattle, leaving the Israelites greatly impoverished and devoid of divine power and authority.
Judges 6:6 records the children of Israel crying out to the Lord in their distress. The Lord responds by sending a prophet to remind them how He delivered their forefathers out of the bondage of Egypt and gave them the Promised Land for an inheritance. The problem was with them, as they had disobeyed the Lord and were, therefore, suffering the consequences of their disobedience.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon who was hiding from the Midianites, threshing wheat in the winepress. He greets Gideon with these words: “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour”, Judges 6:12. A discourse takes place between the two. Gideon pours out his woes to the angel. At this time he does not see the bigger picture and the responsibility of choice. Gideon questions the lack of God’s miracles in the Israelites present state, feeling forsaken by God who has delivered them into the enemy’s hands. Gideon questioned the angel’s call on his life. He was a fearful man and declared: “…..How shall I save Israel? My family is poor and I am the least in my father’s house,” Judges 6:15. (So many people do not realise that their insignificance is the very credential God requires in a vessel in order to display His power and glory. (See 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31)).
The angel of the Lord refuses to enter in to Gideon’s complaining but continues to encourage him saying: “Go in this thy might and you shall save Israel from the Midianites: have not I sent you?” (v.14). The discourse continues as Gideon wrestles with his understanding of the call of God on his life. The Lord says to him, (v. 23): “….Peace be unto you, do not fear, you shall not die”. The record continues and God, through Gideon, and a much reduced army of men, miraculously deliver the Israelites from the invading enemy, (Judges 7). As they obeyed the Lord, divine power and authority was restored.
There is so much we can glean from this historical record of a man and his life struggles. Israel had lost their godly power and authority because of their disobedience to the Lord. When they repented, God answered their cry. When the Lord appeared to Gideon, Gideon was hiding from his enemies, full of fear, but the Lord declared to him: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour”. When God speaks, His words create. Who God calls, He equips and sends. Only a sent man is effective. What God demands, He supplies.
In the worldly system, authority is rank and position, but in the kingdom of God, authority is function, not status. Whatever God has called us to in our every day lives, is function. The anointing, the power of God, is not just for “platform ministry, musical worship”, but for everything we set our hands and minds to do. We all need unction on our function. With the call, comes the equipping to be what the Lord made me to be, and to do what He requires me to do, to His glory. God is ALL IN ALL…….in all!
1 John 2:20 “But you have an anointing (unction) from the Holy One….” Has the church made a mistake in thinking anointing is only on spiritual gifting? We do not deny the anointing on those who are equipped to preach or play musical instruments. Many have witnessed anointed preaching in Gatherings, but do I realise that the anointing ON someone’s words, where I have received revelation from God, is not IN me, until I have taken them into the school of life and applied them to situations and relationships? Once I have applied them and continue to, then they become a lifestyle. Then that anointing is IN me!
The anointing from the Holy One is necessary in whatever task I lay my hand to, whatever my call in life is to be, whatever relationships I have, for God’s glory. We are called to do all, to the glory of God, (1 Corinthians 10:31). God is in the detail of our lives and wants to be wanted, included in all. I need to see my need of Him in everything, to have His unction on my function and to remember:
If I do not consult God, I insult God!
Proverbs 3:6 “In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths”.
Is there an area in my life that lacks God’s power and authority, my birthright? As the Holy Spirit convicts, dear Lord, teach me Your ways, that I may humbly repent and be a vessel of honour, fashioned by Your hands, for Your glory.
Photo by Elia Pellegrini on Unsplash
