The Spirit Took Control

The Spirit Took Control

Judges 6:32 – So that very day he (Joash) named Gideon Jerubbaal, that is, “Let Baal fight,” since he had torn down his altar. 33 – Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and certain groups from the east gathered together, crossed the Jordan River, and set up camp in the Jezreel Valley.

Verse 34 – So the Spirit of the LORD took control of Gideon, who blew a trumpet, mustering the descendants of Abiezer to follow him into battle. 35 – He sent messengers to the entire tribe of Manasseh, calling them to follow him, and he also sent word to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, calling them to meet him.

It had been revealed to Gideon that the person he was talking with who referred to him as “valiant warrior” was none other than God Himself! Gideon concluded that God had come to him in peace and that he would be strengthened and accompanied on this mission to defeat the Midianites.

Gideon had followed God’s instructions to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and he cut down the Asherah pole to use as wood for the fire on God’s altar. He was delivered from his own people who wanted to take his life and then the Holy Spirit took over.

Check out these verses from the Apostle Paul:

Ephesians 6:13 – For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.

Verse 18 – Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints. 19 – Pray also for me, so that, when I begin to speak, the right words will come to me. Then I will boldly make known the secret of the gospel,…

After Gideon had done all that he was instructed to do, the Holy Spirit took control of him and gave him the right things to do and say to get his people to follow him.

Let us not leave anything undone of all that God is asking us to do. May the Holy Spirit take control of our lives so that we, too, like Gideon and Paul, may be effective gospel messengers inviting many more to follow Jesus.