by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

Hebrews 11 has been given several descriptions such as Faith’s Hall of Fame or God’s Honor Roll. We find men and women who in different contextual settings, being made strong out of weakness having obtained and acted upon God’s promises. They went on to receive testimonies of overcoming insurmountable challenges thrown at them individually or as a collective. This week, we will examine two cases that speak to the peculiar situation in my native country Nigeria. Hebrew 11:32a fixes particularly on the nation church, Israel, under judgment for the sin of rebellion against God who they deliberately rejected, turning away from His commandments.

We take the case of Gedeon. Let’s turn for context to Judges 6:1-13. What set Gideon apart that made him of attraction to the great God?

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them. Judges 6:1-3

While those who had seen the days of glory of the nation and the potential sat on their lees having been neutralized and blinded by their gross iniquity, a young man, son of the fallen priesthood, crying and sighing over the distress of his people caught God’s attention. Gideon counted himself powerless and incapable of changing the situation on the grounds of family heritage but was mindful of the testimonies of the acts of the God he had never known! Such was the sincerity of heart that God was seeking, a moldable and teachable spirit that can be taught dependence upon the word of this great deliverer from of old. Through a staggering walk and a questioning heart Gideon came to trust this mighty deliverer, the unchanging God who remains faithful to a thousand generations of those who trust Him.  This is the God who is crying out, where are the Gideons’ in this land? This great God will come through as He did in Ezra 9:4 and Isaiah 3:9, 10.

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