A need for grace - Judges 1-6

The Book of Judges finds the Israelites caught in a vicious cycle - they would rebel and serve other gods, God would judge them by delivering them into the hands of their enemies, they would repent and come back to God, and God would restore them. 

In chapter 6, the people of Israel found themselves beginning such a cycle; for their judgement or chastening, the Lord had delivered them to their fiercest attacker yet - Midian. For 7 years they suffered from famine and poverty at the hands of the enemy. God is a jealous God and He is just; He continued to allow their oppression while they continued to wander away from His commands. 

When Israel had finally had enough they cried out to God for deliverance, and He heard them. He heard them and began to remind them how far He had already brought them. His reminder serves as a rebuke for their distrust:

"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice." Judges 6:8-10

God's grace and mercy is so evident in His seemingly gentle reminder. You and I may have been finished with these Israelites a long time ago. I mean how many times do they need to be reminded!?

While God reminded Israel of His ever present care, He was already preparing their deliverance. He chose Gideon, a nobody-special-nothing-spectacular-to-boast-about guy. 

"Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, 'The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.'... And he (Gideon) 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." Judges 6:11-12 

Gideon obviously thought he was an unworthy choice for Israel's leader, but God called him a "mighty man of valor." He had all the credentials he needed to be used by God.

Throughout these few chapters we can become frustrated with Israel's lack of trust and obedience to God. God had brought them through so much yet they still continued to rebel against Him. Before we get too hard on these people though, how often are we caught in the same vicious cycle? God has given us Jesus, He's given us His Word filled with promises, He's provided for us,..and yet we continue to fall short, continue to lack faith, continue to rebel. We continue to do all these things, yet when we turn back to Him He's there with open arms and full of grace. Every time. 

When we continue to choose obedience and continue to trust His Word, we are able to be used just as Gideon was. God is looking for a heart ready and willing to be used by Him. He is not looking for "man made credentials." Gideon was God's instrument through which His glory was revealed. He went on to lead the Israelites to victory, not through anything he could do, but through God's almighty power.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." 2 Corinthians 4:7