We are not accustomed to seeing ourselves as spiritual Samsons. Focused on our natural weakness, we often feel less than mighty. But here’s some good news. The Holy Spirit can show Himself strong through us regardless.
We know He can because Gideon felt the same way. Yet the Lord called him a “mighty man of valor.” He told Gideon he’d been divinely chosen to head up an army and slay the Midianite enemies that had oppressed Israel for
seven years.
At first, Gideon didn’t believe it. After all, the Midianites were a super force. He was just the opposite. He was not only from the poorest clan in Manasseh, he was the least in his father’s house (Judges 6:15).
But, as Gideon quickly found out, such weaknesses are no problem for the Comforter. When the time came for him to attack the Midianites, the Spirit of the Lord simply “clothed Gideon with Himself and took possession of him, and he blew a trumpet and...gathered” the troops (v. 34 Amp.).
These days, gathering troops may not sound like a very big accomplishment. But in Gideon’s day, it was a miracle. The Israelites had spent years so terrified of their enemies that they’d been hiding in caves. The last thing they wanted to do was go out and fight.
So why did they so readily respond to Gideon’s trumpet?
Because that’s another aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. The word comforter sometimes refers to a rallying call, especially calling troops in time of war. It means to urge each other on, cheering the soldiers to fight. That’s exactly what Gideon did. He rallied together an army of 30,000 Israelites. Then the Lord told him to send all but 300 of them home because He wanted the battle to be won not by human might but by the Spirit!
You probably know what happened. Gideon, with the Holy Spirit resting upon him like a suit of clothes, marshaled his miniature militia and totally whipped the massive Midianite forces. He rose up with power and bravery equal to the challenge he was facing. He triumphed against all odds.
The Comforter will enable us to do the same. He’s not just here to console us and sympathize with our situation. His business is to lead us out in victory. And He’ll do it, no matter what we’re going through, if we will lean into Him by faith and let Him operate through us.
(Minneapolis: Lynne Hammond Ministries) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”
