Ready for the Gospel
Judges 7:4–8
Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink. Judges 7:5
In Ephesians 6:15 we are told to have our feet “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (NIV). In my judgment the apostle Paul is emphasizing the readiness Christians are to have to make the gospel known. Any Christian already knows the gospel; he would not be a Christian if he did not. But is he ready to share the Good News with others at any time? Are you fitted with the soldier’s boots that will carry you from place to place, ready to speak about Jesus?
I think here of that interesting battle involving Gideon, one of the judges of Israel. God told Gideon to collect an army and use it to drive out the occupying Midianites. So Gideon did. He collected an army of 32,000 men. Gideon probably thought that 32,000 soldiers were barely enough for the task ahead of him, but God told him that there were actually too many. So in obedience to the Lord, Gideon told any who were afraid to fight to go home. Over 60 percent, 22,000, left. Only 10,000 remained behind. Gideon must have been shaken by that. But still 10,000 soldiers are a large fighting force—if they are good soldiers. He might have thought, Well, I suppose we can get by with these.
God said, “There are still too many.”
How many more can we spare? Gideon must have wondered. Fifty? A hundred?
God told Gideon to take the army to some water where they could get a drink.
He was to watch them. He was to see which ones dropped down on their knees to drink, probably putting down their shields and weapons, and which ones stood ready for battle and merely leaned over to scoop up some water with their hands.
To Gideon’s dismay 9,700 men knelt down, dropping their armor. Only 300 stood at attention and scooped the water up. But God took these 300 ready individuals and used them to defeat the Midianites soundly and drive them from the land (see Judges 7).
It does not take a vast number to do God’s work, but it does take men and women who are equipped and anxious to share the gospel with others. Are you kneeling (or lying down) on the job? Or are you “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15)?
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.