“The present hour is an hour of crisis worldwide. I think these are the most critical days that we as a nation have ever faced, and since we are citizens of the United States of America, we must not turn our backs upon our beloved Motherland in her most critical hour. I do not think I have ever stood before a group of people when the urgency was greater than it is right now.”
With those words, I began my message on October 26, 1980—some 46 years ago. America did survive that present hour and many such since, but only by the grace of God. There will be critical hours yet to come. Gideon, 1,250 years before Christ, faced such an hour when God called him to lead his nation to victory—against all odds of winning. What Gideon learned about facing crises, we—and all the nations of the world—would do well to remember now and in the days ahead. Here is what Gideon learned, and every nation under God needs to know:
- There was—and is—a cause. In Gideon’s day, there was spiritual dearth, Judges 6:1; there was physical drought, 6:6, and there was national despair, 6:13. Like Israel of old, we are living in troubled times and dire days. Henry Blackaby put it this way: “If you put the U.S. up against the Scriptures, we’re in trouble. I think we’re very close to the judgment of God.” (Quoted at a Billy Graham Training Center Conference, May 22, 1999)
- There was a call, Judges 6:11, 12. It was a call from God to a man—not a prophet, but a courageous young man threshing wheat by the winepress because he was not willing to give what little bit of wheat he had left to the enemy. “If our call is from God, we do not have to bother ourselves currying to the favor of man.”
- There was a confirmation, Judges 6:21—through the fire (v. 21) and through the fleece (vss. 36-40). A lot of what is done today in the name of a “fleece” is just foolishness. God generally doesn’t consume sacrifices with fire from heaven today; He does, however, lead us by His Holy Spirit.
- There was a conflict, Judges 7:2ff. It required preparation, vss. 2-8, disqualification because of fear and the flesh—the arm of the flesh will fail you. There was also a promise, vss. 9-14, by God’s word and for God’s work (I Cor. 15:57). Finally, there was a plan, vss. 16ff. It was to be through God-ordained leadership. Nothing is inconsequential; there is a right way and a wrong way. Basic rules are universal—and little things are big things.
- There was a conquest, 7:19: It was without carnal weapons but through obedience, faith, prayer, and dedication. It was a divine/human effort. God could have chosen angels or prophets, or He could have enlisted nature to His service. But God chose to use a man and a few faithful soldiers.
“When God plucks a soul from the jaws of hell, he uses a soul-winner; when He plants a church that will bring glory to Him, he sends a missionary; when He builds a home that will reflect His love, peace and harmony in a world disjointed by sin, He uses a man and a woman; When He leads a church to spiritual maturity and productive growth, He raises up a man of God to be its leader, a pastor; when God brings a child from infancy to independent adulthood, He has done it by a parent or parents. ‘God has always brought about His will upon this earth through His sovereign power in accord with His sovereign purposes and in conjunction with the instrument of a surrendered person or persons.’” (copied)
God give us men. God give us some 21st century Gideons!
What makes a nation great, whether in 1250 B.C. or 2026 A.D.?
“Not serried ranks with flags unfurled, not armored ships that gird the world; not hoarded wealth nor busy mills, not cattle on a thousand hills, not sages wise, nor schools nor laws, not boasted deed in freedom’s cause—All these may be, and yet the state in the eye of God be far from great.
That land is great which knows the Lord, whose songs are guided by His Word; where justice rules ‘twixt man and man, where love controls in art and plan; where, breathing in his native air, each soul finds joy in praise and prayer—thus may our country, good and great, be God’s delight—man’s best estate.” (Alexander Blackburn, 1844–1921, “What Makes a Nation Great?”)
“Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)