Objection Rejection

“The angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress... The angel  appeared to him and said, ‘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? 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.’  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.’  And the Lord said to him, ‘But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.'” Judges 6:11-16

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong.'” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Gideon began his conversation with the angel of the Lord warily: if the Lord was indeed with him, why was Israel being oppressed? When the angel gave him a charge, he at first demurred, claiming insignificance and incapability. The Lord persisted. His power would be in the call and in His presence. Gideon, drawn by the Spirit of God, sought confirmation, acknowledged and worshiped God, and began to obey in faith. Bringing each doubt and need to the Lord enabled him to experience His divine answers and sufficiency. (Judges 6:17-28,33-40)

We get into habits of making plans, structuring time to fulfill personal desires and strategies. We get used to beating out our wheat and not tuning in to interruptions, different considerations, or changes of course. We go about our days with limited faith because it is not required when we are driving. When God does show up and call us to a new assignment, we often object due to unease in the unknown.

Yet, when we continue steadfastly on routine paths with ears open to God, we can be drawn into conversing with Him through ordinary means. His Spirit draws us to attention, speaks through His word, responds to our stated limitations, and urges us forward. If we want to stride and strive in His flow, we must reject our objections, and obey.

Where is the Lord asking us to step out anew, trusting ‘I will be with you’ as enough? What already-made decision needs to be fully executed? What difficult conversation needs to take place? What habit needs putting away once for all? What new assignment are we to seize in faith?

What objections do we have for the Lord’s directives at present? What excuses for disobedience or procrastination do we claim? How can we change the conversation? We can converse with the Lord and decide to say no, or we can risk our comfort, yield our will, and say yes to the great adventure of obedience. (Exodus 3:7-12; 4:10-13)

Lord, help me say a wholehearted, unequivocal yes to You always.