A Culture of Despair?
During the times of the judges, Israel was suffering under oppression from the Midianites. Their harvest was being stolen, and they had to thresh their meager wheat in hiding. When they cried out to God, the only response was a prophetic word of woe.
"The LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. Also I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed My voice."'" (Judges 6:8–10 NKJV)
It seemed to be a culture of despair. God had forsaken them due to disobedience.
A Bigger Prophetic Perspective
Yet, the very next verses reveal a bigger prophetic perspective.
"Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, 'The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!'" (Judges 6:11–12 NKJV)
Gideon quotes the doom-and-gloom prophetic word back to the angel. "The Lord has forsaken us" (v. 13), he stated. Yet, God was not done speaking. The angel of the Lord began to shift Gideon's outlook and rebuild his faith... the idols were coming down, and the glory was rising.
God Is Sending Angels and Raising up New Warriors!
What happens when things look dark and even prophetic words may not offer a redemptive outlook? We must not only observe what God is saying but also what He is doing. (Photo via Piqsels)
In the darkest times, God is sending angels and raising up new warriors! Just as Gideon's 300 men overcame hordes of oppressors with unconventional weapons of torches, pitchers, and trumpets, these new warriors will not walk by might or power but by the Spirit. They will walk so closely to the anointing, and heavenly strategies will be revealed to release the anointing upon earth.
Watch for the Gideons
Strong prophetic words are often needed to bring repentance and alignment within the Church, yet they are not always God's final word. We must repent and also recognize that the Great Commission never stopped being effective. Heaven is still about raising up Kingdom warriors, and we must be about the Father's business.
Watch for the Gideons the Lord is raising up. Encourage them! Even when they may not see it within themselves, be willing to agree with the Lord and say, "Hail, mighty man of valor. The Lord is with you!"
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Rebecca Friedlander
The Potter's House Creative Ministries
Email:Â office@rebeccafriedlander.com
Website:Â www.rebeccafriedlander.com
Rebecca Friedlander has been in full-time ministry for over eighteen years, ministering both locally and internationally using creative arts and music. She is an ordained minister with The Missions Church International, has authored ten books, and her films and TV series have aired around the world on multiple television platforms. She has a BA in Christian Creative Arts, a master's in Celtic Studies, and is a published author with Baker House Publishing.
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