God's Sovereign Plan
Verses:Judges 7:9-12 says, "That night the Lord said to Gideon, 'Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah so that you may hear what they are saying. And the Lord said, 'You will hear them talking, and then you will have the courage to attack the camp.' So Gideon and Purah his servant went down to the edge of the camp. The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.'"
This passage illustrates a profound truth about our relationship with God. When God sends us to a task, if it is His work, He does it perfectly even before we involve ourselves. The complete display of the victory or the fulfillment becomes expressed when we involve ourselves faithfully. In other words, God's sovereign plan is already in motion, and our role is to participate in it with faith and obedience.
Gideon's story is a remarkable example of this truth. Before the battle with the Midianites, God told Gideon that He had already given the enemy into his hands. This was not a promise, but a prophecy - a declaration of what God was going to do. And then, to reassure Gideon, God allowed him to overhear the enemy's conversation, which revealed their fear and confusion. This was God's way of showing Gideon that the victory was already won, even before the battle began.
This truth has profound implications for our lives. When God calls us to a task, we often feel overwhelmed and uncertain. But the truth is that God's sovereign plan is already in motion, and our role is to participate in it with faith and obedience. We don't have to worry about the outcome, because God has already taken care of it. Our job is simply to trust Him and follow His lead.
As we walk with God, we must learn to discern the difference between a promise and a prophecy. A promise is something that benefits us, whereas a prophecy is a declaration of what God is going to do. When God speaks to us, we must listen carefully to understand what He is saying. Is it a promise that requires our faith and obedience, or is it a prophecy that declares what God is going to do?
As we reflect on Gideon's story, let us remember that God's sovereign plan is already in motion. Our role is to participate in it with faith and obedience. Let us trust Him and follow His lead, knowing that the victory is already won, even before the battle begins.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the reminder that Your sovereign plan is already in motion. Help us to trust in Your goodness and sovereignty, and to participate in Your plan with faith and obedience. Give us discernment to understand the difference between a promise and a prophecy, and to listen carefully to Your voice. We pray that we may be faithful followers of Yours, trusting in Your victory even before the battle begins. Amen.