The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive. (Judg. 6:16)

The call of Gideon took place in two revelations from God. The first revelation is found in Judges 6:11–24. In verse 13, we learn of God appearing before him in the form of an angel. Some scholars believe that the angel’s appearance to Gideon was a theophany—an Old Testament appearance of Jesus in human and bodily form. It is obvious that Gideon did not recognize the visitor, for he complained to him that the oppression upon his people was evidence that the Lord was not with Israel. The Lord still believed in the heart and willingness of Gideon, though Gideon felt inadequate to the task, and called him to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Midianites.

The second revelation is found in Judges 6:25–32, where God tells Gideon in a dream to tear down the altar of his father and erect an altar and sacrifice a burnt offering to God. So first God acknowledged Gideon, and then Gideon responded, acknowledging him as his God.

As theologian Richard Parker reminded us, “God doesn’t call people who are qualified. He calls people who are willing, and then He qualifies them.” You might not have all the qualifications in your repertoire, but are you, like Gideon, willing to accept God’s call? What is the Lord calling you to do for him today?

Hand over your all—mind, emotions, will, and body—for God’s use.

Jeremy Summers serves as multiplication pastor at Alive Wesleyan Church and adjunct professor at Southern Wesleyan University.

© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.