Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

“Then Jerubaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.  And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto the, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with the, the same shall not go.  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.  And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.  So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.”  (Jud 7:1-8) 

It started with 32,000 able bodies who gave off the appearance of being  “true soldiers”, “warriors”, armed and ready for battle.  However it ended with only 300 men of God whom after being tested, were proven to be indeed ready for battle, and by the power of Almighty God were victorious in defeating their enemies.    The battle was won in such a way, where only God would receive the Glory.  

Israel was under great distress once again, as the Lord had delivered them into the hand of the “Midianites” for 7 years because of their disobedience, and they were severely oppressed.  Hearing the cries of their distress, the Lord sent word to one name Gideon, a man of valor chosen by Him, that he would be used to save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.   The Lord also confirmed to Gideon with signs that he would indeed be with them, and that they would surely defeat the Midianites.     

32,000 from the children of Israel set off to battle, but being large in number, the Lord did not want them to Glory in themselves after having defeated the Midianites, thus he tested them for the purpose of elimination.  The first test was to eliminate the fearful from among them.  Thus, the word was spoken: “Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.”  And 22,000 of the people returned back leaving 10,000 remaining.  There were yet still too many for what the Lord desired to do for HIS Glory, thus they were given a second test.  This test involved the drinking of water, yet the true testing was that of separating the “common”, from the “Highly Esteemed”, the “humble” from the “proud”, the “GOD PLEASERS”,  from the “Man Pleasers”.  How one would drink the water would determine this.  Those who drank more “gracefully” in a more “dignified” manner were focused mainly on themselves, how they looked, how they were perceived by others, what others may say and/or think about them.  While those who drank by “lapping” the water, in a “less graceful”, “less dignified”  manner were more focused on quenching their thirst.  They were unconcerned as who were watching them, and what others thought of them.  300 of them lapped their water as a dog would, while the remaining 7,000 drank the water in what would be considered by most, a more “acceptable” manner.  These 7,000 were sent home, and the Lord formed his army with the remaining 300 who were NOT afraid, and were NOT proud.   

Today, within the church, within the Body of Christ we are undergoing the same testing as did Israel.  They had somewhat of an advantage however, as they were able to physically SEE their enemies.  Our battles, on the other hand are not that which is seen as we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Thus, all the more our trust should be in HIM.  But before we engage in battle the Lord may say to us as He did Israel: Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart….. Many of us may profess with our mouths courage, strength and fearlessness, but if this be of TRUTH, what has kept so many of us from sharing the gospel and love of Jesus Christ our Lord to a lost and dying world?  Is it not fear?   What has kept us from sharing with the forgotten, the outwardly unclean, with who would be considered by most as the Lowest of Low, the murderer, prostitute, drug addict, the atheist?  Is it not fear?  What has kept us from boldly and openly coming against the filth of sin that has infested the body, Is it not fear? What has kept us from walking in love, showing the love of Christ to all people regardless of race, heritage and background?  Is it not fear?  In truth, I personally would hope it is because of fear,  and NOT because we simply DO NOT CARE about a lost soul, about sharing the Love of Christ, about a poor and dismembered body that perceives itself to be WHOLE.  For if it is fear, His perfect love could cast it out if we so desired.  But what of an uncompassionate, unloving, uncaring, and selfish heart?  Within the “Church”, how many “holy”, “righteous”, “highly dignified” folk do we have and how many are “simple”, “common”, “humble”, and “lowly”.  How many are truly “God Chasers”, “God Pleasers”, “lovers of God more than of man” and how many focus MORE on just pleasing “man” in the manner of speech, in holding back the truth when sin has been made known.  Many of us profess our undying love for the Lord, yet our actions profess of our undying love for man.   We worship MORE the creation, rather than the CREATOR.

When all the testing is over, when all the trials have ceased, when there are no more battles to face, when the Lord calls for HIS church, HIS people, HIS body,…..I would wonder: “How Many Are left Standing”……..How many past the tests……..

I love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always…….

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God