Thursday, July 6, 2017
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When you grow up in the city like I did, your neighborhood usually has a neighborhood bully. Ours did. His name? Boomer! For the little kids on our block, Boomer was like the original terrorist. He'd beat us up for nothing, he'd take our stuff and generally intimidate us. One day I got tired of it! Yep! See, he took my White Sox cap. I was just a little guy. I was no match for him. But I walked boldly down our street to where no kid dared to go - to the corner apartment building where Boomer lived. I can picture it to this day. I went to the back porch, I knocked on the door, and I asked for my hat back. You say, "What a brave little boy you were." There is one detail I left out - my father went with me. And that made all the difference. See, Boomer was bigger than I was. But my father was bigger than Boomer was!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Why Little People Beat Big Bullies".
If we were to think of possible subtitles for the Bible, one of them should be, "The Story of Unlikely Heroes." From cover to cover, God tells about these little people, unlikely people who took on some of life's biggest bullies and won. They are zeroes who become God's heroes. Because of five power-packed words from God that always made the difference. For them, for you.
Our word for today from the Word of God is Exhibit A - Gideon. He lived at a time when the Midianites were invading Israel every year and taking, destroying whatever they wanted. A hero was desperately needed. Judges 6:11 says, "The angel of the Lord came and sat down...where Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.'" Excuse me, mighty warrior...right. He's hiding in a hole in the ground! But God has plans for Gideon.
He says to Gideon, "'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?' 'But, Lord,'... (Here's where we all have this little conversation isn't it?) 'But, Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest...and I am the least in my family.'" Gideon answers the Lord's summons in much the same way you may have responded to His calling on you. "I think You've got the wrong guy. I think you've got the wrong girl. I don't think I have what it takes." Translation: Boomer is bigger than I am.
"The Lord answered, (Here are those five power-packed words.) 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.'" Translation: your Father is going with you, Gideon. And I am bigger than your Boomer!
Throughout the Bible, that "I will be with you" that's the difference. It's what makes unlikely, inadequate, unqualified people into the very people God uses to win some of His greatest victories. When Moses shrank from God's challenge to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage - Moses said, "Who am I that I should go?" (Exodus 3:11) - God answered, "I will be with you." End of discussion. When we say, "But who am I, Lord?" God answers, "No, who am I?" This isn't about who you are. It's about who He is.
And when Jesus was commissioning eleven disciples to "Go make disciples of all nations." Now there's a mission impossible for eleven guys. He concludes by saying, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:19, 20). Is there a theme here you think? The assignment is much bigger than you are, I am going with you and I am much bigger than the assignment!
As you look at what God is asking you to do and you see how huge it is and how small you are, don't hold back. Listen to your Lord speak the words that empower little people to tackle big things, "I will be with you."
Sure, your Boomer is bigger than you are, but your Father is bigger than every Boomer you will ever face!