When God calls

 

Are you familiar with the story of Gideon in the bible? Like me, you may have heard it a while ago in Sunday school but not too much since then.

There’s something to be learnt in every story of the bible and Gideon’s story found in the Book of Judges, chapters 6 to 8, is no different. We first encounter Gideon in chapter 6, verse 11 but before we get there, here’s a little back story – you know there’s always a back story.

Again the Israelites did what the Lord said was wrong. So for seven years the Lord allowed the Midianites to defeat the Israelites. – Judges 6:1 (ERV)

Yes, once again, after all they’ve experienced with God, the Israelites have been disobedient to God, so He allows the Midianites to subjugate them. Things were so bad that they were forced to hide out in the mountains and store their food in caves.

They did that because the Midianites and Amalekites from the east always came and destroyed their crops. – Judges 6:3 (ERV) 

These people left the Israelites with absolutely nothing; they destroyed their crops and stole everything they could put their hands on. Even the cows, sheep and donkeys were fair game.

They came into the land and ruined it. – Judges 6:5 (ERV)

The Israelites were left destitute and desperate, so they did what they always do when they find themselves in a predicament.

Turn to the Lord and pray to him, now that he is near. Let the wicked leave their way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the Lord, our God; he is merciful and quick to forgive. – Isaiah 55:6-7 (GNT)

They cried out to God for help and in His mercy, He sent a prophet to them with a message,

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘You were slaves in the land of Egypt. I made you free and brought you out of that land. I saved you from the powerful Egyptians. Then the Canaanites hurt you, so I saved you again. I made them leave their land. And I gave their land to you.’ Then I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You will live in the land of the Amorites, but you must not worship their false gods.’ But you did not obey me.” – Judges 6:8-10 (ERV)

Sometimes we need to be reminded or to remind ourselves, like David, of all the things God has done for us.

As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you, because you have always been my help. – Psalm 63:6 (GNT)

Those Israelites had short memories, they really needed to remember and that was a message to jog their memories.

Now, Gideon enters the story. He gets a call from God – not a text, not an email, not on WhatsApp, not a dream or a vision; Gideon gets a visit from not just any angel but from the angel of the Lord; pre-incarnate Jesus came directly to him and when God calls, you know it’s serious and you better pay attention.

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.” – Judges 6:11-12 (ESV)

This is such a lovely verse, the way God calls the things that are not, as though they were (ref. Romans 4:17). God speaks who we are before we even become, before we even have a clue of the person we truly are.

God proceeds to send Gideon on a mission to save the Israelites, but he doesn’t see himself as the mighty man of valor; Gideon sees himself and his entire family as the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh (v 13).

Gideon does not feel able to do what God wants him to do. He respectfully protests and even though God reassures him that because He will be with him, he will be victorious, Gideon still asks God for proof. Gideon wanted a sign from God.

Sounds familiar? Don’t pretend that it doesn’t resonate with you.

 Just like Gideon, we forget that when God calls, He equips and enables us to do whatever it is He calls us to do, even if we believe that we’re not strong enough, or too young, or too old, or afraid, or don’t have the right connections, or we are uncomfortable, or think that we are simply not able to accomplish the task.

When God calls, He already knows who He is calling; God did not call you by accident, it’s not a wrong number situation. God has your contact number and when He calls it you need to answer, “Here I am! Send me.” (ref. Isaiah 6:8). God is probably preparing you for a job all now but hasn’t called you yet.

Beloved, when God calls you, trust Him completely, with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know (Proverbs 3:5 GNT). God won’t send you out on your own, He will be with you every step of the way; He will provide you with everything you’ll need to get the job done.

Spoiler alert…

Gideon defeated the Midianites, but you should read the whole story for yourself. 

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “When God calls” © 2026 July 7, 2026