The Story of Gideon, You & Me - Judges 6
Studied 8 years for PSLE, then 5 years for GCE O Levels, and now, still studying to make up for not doing well at the Os. Talk about been a born loser, I’m one… Are you able to identify with me or at least sympathize with me…or what?
Hey, don’t judge me. These words would always echo in my brain again and again whenever I’m met with disappointment. Even worse, it became a stigma along the way.
Even as I grow older each year, somehow the fact of getting “bad results” in the past would still haunt me, even now! However, as I look back at my life’s journey, it doesn’t seem to be that “bad” after all. Well, for one, at least I’m well, happy and alive today.
Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” – Judges 6:14-15
Out of the many Heroes and characters in the Bible, I can identify best with Gideon. Like me, Gideon was a born loser, the least significant among his peers and not to mention that he was also the weakest among his people (least talented). Whoa! Sounds a lot like you & me right!
Then the turning point came when God sent His angel to commission Gideon to save the nation of Israel out of its enemy’s hand. At that point, it might have crossed Gideon’s mind that God was making a joke out of his misery.
But thank God, He wasn’t! And this actually helped to shed some light on my path (go read the rest of the story for yourself). Gideon trusted God after much testing of his faith and he proceeded to be one of the most noted Bible heroes at the end of the day. What a beautiful ending! What a hope this brings to all losers out there!
Lessons to draw out from the story of Gideon
1) We are not “losers” in God’s sight and so don’t you dare judge me or yourself!
2) Failures are stepping stones in life to help us experience God in a more tangible (real) way; we will become more mature in Christ after overcoming each failure.
3) We must continue to trust God even if things don’t go well for us. This will show us how much we really love God. A time of personal reflection and re-dedication to Christ.
(4) Lastly, it is our choice to be more than Conquerors or to stick to the “fate of a born loser”. Each of us can take failure or loss in a specified way: a graceful loser or a poor loser.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. – Romans 8:28
Joshua Loo - Born a Loser but living as a Conqueror
