March 31

Judges 6-7
The Israelites had turned away from God to the degree that God had finally abandoned them, allowing stronger nations to overcome them. When, at last, they cried out to the Lord, He heard them and delivered them. However, He did it in such a fashion as to demonstrate His power, so that there would be no mistaking who has ultimate control. We see Him using a small, insignificant man, Gideon, with a small band of men, using unlikely weapons, jars, trumpets, and torches, to overcome the Midianites who were so numerous, we're told they were beyond counting! God chooses this manner of deliverance so that the Israelites won't be able to take the credit for themselves. God has not changed. He still desires to act on our behalf, and He still deserves the credit for having done so! How many times have we been delivered from sickness, financial ruin, oppression, etcetera, and then taken the credit for what God has clearly accomplished? It may be subtle, but it's just as damaging. I once knew a man who took credit for his son's life, saying that it was his massaging his son's feet that had healed him of his deadly pancreatitis. Or, how about when we come out of financial ruin and boldly proclaim that it came about because of our own hard work? Even worse, when one is delivered from Satan because God has placed His servant in that person's life, then Christians come up with alternate explanations for the placement, instead of giving glory to God for the active work of His Holy Spirit! As Paul says to the Romans, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)