40 Weeks of your Life: Judges
05-25-2006
by Vicky Beeching

Israel were dwelling in their new land. There was much to fight for and conquer, much to figure out in a new habitat and culture, many questions to answer and the need for great leadership. Israel needed help and guidance in knowing how to survive and thrive in a new country and season.

In a small way, it reminds me of my move to the United States! I was out of my comfort zones, freaked out by driving on the 'wrong' side of the road and in need of good advice and support!

God answered my prayers and sent me some wonderful friends and colleagues to help me settle into life State-side! God answered Israel's prayers not by giving them another Moses or Joshua, but by providing a number of leaders called "Judges" who each watched over the nation for a short season.

Sadly Israel didn't truly follow their God-given 'Judges', and spiralled into a cycle of disobedience, repentance and further disobedience. It's heart breaking to read how they continually turned their back on Yahweh and His love.

Various Judges come and go throughout the book's storyline, but I want to 'pause the movie' on a couple of my favourite scenes and characters. The first is Deborah. I probably like her so much because she was a seriously God-loving chick who obeyed His call and was powerfully used by Him! For all you girls out there, read her story again and let it impact your heart. She is a brave woman and a great role model - as the leader of the nation, she didn't just rule from a distance. When Israel went to war, she was there at the very front line of battle. Even though Barak, one of the key military leaders was terrified and refused to go to battle alone, she chose not to fear and instead trusted in the God who could deliver His people.

Deborah also models to us the response of praise and worship. In Chapter 5 we have "the song of Deborah"- a beautifully written lyric about God the faithful deliverer. It reminds us to sing to our King when we see answered prayer and experience His merciful deliverance.

The other Judge I want to shine a spot-light upon, is Gideon. He is an encouragement to anyone who feels afraid or too small for the task ahead! In 6:11 we read that Gideon was 'beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites". He was beating wheat in a bizarre location because he was terrified of his enemies and was hiding.

When the angel appears to him, he describes Gideon as a "mighty man of valour". This shows that God sees us through HIS eyes. Even though we may be at our weakest and even in hiding, God sees the potential He has placed in us. We may feel timid but He sees the courage He has put within us. We may feel unable, but He knows the gifts and strength He wove into our being when He formed us in the womb.

Gideon is famous for laying out a "fleece" of wool on the ground. We use the phrase commonly today - "I'm laying a fleece…" and this is where is comes from! Gideon asked God a funny thing - to confirm His word by making the ground wet and the fleece dry. As if once wasn't enough to test God, he asked again, this time asking that the ground be dry and the fleece wet! The whole scenario speaks to me of the tender patience of God - that He listens to our funny and strange requests for confirmation and assurance, and frequently answers us with the confirmations our hearts need. He knows we are 'made of dust' and his compassion towards us is so precious.

Each of the Judges show how God can take a life and use it to shape history. Each person was raised up for a specific season and task, to help call Israel back to faithfulness to Yahweh. I like that there is no single hero in Judges. Not one of them shines as brightly as a Moses or Joshua - it is instead a mixed cast of actors who appear in this movie. That reminds us that God doesn't look for super stars these days. He looks for lots of willing and surrendered lives that He can use for whatever task and season He chooses.

Let's surrender our lives again, and ask that He would use us - ordinary and fragile people - to make a difference in this world.