Confidence and Thorns

The Olympics fascinate me. It's the only time that people get CRAZY about competitive swimming and track running. One thing I really enjoy is the confidence that athletes must have to win on what is probably the biggest possible stage of their lives. Just think: if Gabby Douglas didn't believe in her training and coaches, how well would she be able to compete on the floor exercise? If Michael Phelps didn't have total confidence in his backstroke, would he have won the 200-meter medley? Odds on, these athletes, as talented as they are, would not be as successful as they are if they lacked confidence in these kinds of things.

Sometimes, however, personal confidence can only get you so far. Sure, it may help one not slip up in a race, but how about capturing kings and saving your nation? Those are a bit bigger tasks than representing Team USA, no?

This is the task given to Gideon in the book of Judges. He was chosen by God to be His instrument to deliver Israel from the oppressive rule of the Midianites. After whipping the Midianites, Gideon and Co. are chasing down the kings of Midan, Zebah and Zalmunna. Then...

Gideon and the 300 men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit. He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give some loaves of bread to the people who are following me, because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army?”

Gideon replied, “Very well, when the Lord has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will trample your flesh on thorns and briers from the wilderness!” He went from there to Penuel and asked the same thing from them. The men of Penuel answered just as the men of Succoth had answered. He also told the men of Penuel, “When I return in peace, I will tear down this tower!” -Judges 8:4-9, HCSB

That, my friends, is confidence in the Lord. Gideon knew that he was on a mission from God, and was so confident in His Lord that he told people that he would "trample their flesh on thorns." That's some intense stuff, yo.

What's even better is that he followed through. If you read further, you'll see that Gideon caught up to the kings and captured them, dragged the kings up to Succoth and Penuel, and then proceeded to whip the two cities. He literally drug the men of Succoth through thorns, and he tore down the tower of Penuel. These people had doubted in the mission of the Lord, and they paid the price.

Have you been confident in God, just like Gideon? Do you believe that God will use you for a purpose, or do you feel like He only uses others?