Where You Lead Me . . .

... Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers
has been foremost in this trespass ...
Ezra 9:2

There is something about human nature that follows the model of sin much easier than the model of godliness. God created man with a ‘follow’ mode. You see it even in the earliest footprints of Eden. Eve didn’t just pass by the tree one day and randomly reach thoughtlessly for the fruit because stomach pangs sent a ‘hunger’ message to her brain. Indeed, Eve hungered, but it reflected a hunger born elsewhere. A hunger stirred by the follow mode ... by her desire, in ready conflict with the Word ... in ready conflict with the One in Whom she enjoyed Eden in the cool of the evening.

Freedom of choice, a blessing and a bane, remains dependent on that inbuilt follow mode.

People of a nation are no different. We see it reflected here in Ezra’s words. The pages of history tremble with what happens when leaders of a country, a civilization, turn deafened ears to the Voice we were created to follow. Heaven mourns. Man stands covered in shame. This past century alone bears out the frightful evidence of such following.

Man’s follow mode will never be found in the off position. Following makes up the fabric of our day, every day. The only question remains follow what ... follow who?

Ezra grieved. Those who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered in grief. Why? Because the leaders and rulers had led the people straight into godlessness.

Yes, man is wired to follow, it’s an inevitability, but the follow mode doesn’t eradicate choice. Eve chose. Abel chose. Cain chose. Israel’s leaders chose. The people chose. You ... and I ... choose.

Just as our follow-mode daily runs in high-geared operation, we are never left with a single choice, which would be no choice. God always speaks. And we, we always choose.

True, following God’s voice often isn’t easy, or temporally pleasant, or from the world’s perspective blessing-filled. Scripture overflows with the times God called forth ... and Jonah ran, Jeremiah wept, and Hosea didn’t look forward to the mud pit. But, ultimately, they each chose obedience to their Creator rather than obedience to the creation’s twisted desire. Neither, I’m sure, did Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego look for the heat to be turned up. But they followed God in the midst of difficult obedience, and walked in His presence in the midst of flames ... flames they discovered couldn’t burn them.





Almighty God, Eternal grace and love, daily stir up within this heart of mine a reminder that my own ‘follow-mode’ sits in the activated position. That I can never point to another to justify my choices. Grant me abiding understanding that no one can lead me where I am not willing to follow. That is why my obedience to Your voice rises a sweet fragrance to Your throne, a blessing to Your heart. Thank You, Lord, for Jesus, for His sacrifice to become like me, walking this same sod. For His example of unwavering obedience to You that grows sweeter to this heart each day. By Your mercy may I abide in Him daily, and He in me, and through a willingness to be conformed daily to His imagine, may I only chose to follow You.


© 14 June 2005
DeAnna L. Brooks

Hidden Message in a Winepress

Yesterday, today and forever the same.... I love the consistency of God, and He knows His creation well. I was reminded of that while reading these words, “the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree” (Judges 6:12 NKJV).

There is something about the Old Testament. I lose myself in it when I read its words. It paints pictures of my life, and all I can do is stand back in awe as I read my own story. Scattered throughout its pages, from Genesis to Malachi, I find bits and pieces of myself, my journey, my struggle to find my way home to God’s heart, my yearning to dwell there secure in His love. And these words are no exception. They put me in mind of another visitation ... of God visiting Abraham the same way He now visits Gideon (Gen. 18), and a stirring begins, deep in my soul, an expectation that leaves me with bated breath.

God’s visitations always move something unseen in me, something daring to breathe, something longing to burst forth singing hope’s song. These visitations arrive not in fear-generating garb, but in a manner indicative of desiring relationship, communion. I can’t help but wonder ... was Gideon also aware of the Lord’s previous visit beneath a terebinth tree?

I only know God’s first words to Gideon. “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

God saw Gideon for who he would be, saw him acting in the fullness of his potential, despite Gideon’s standing on a threshing floor in a wine press, hiding from the enemy. Not dressed in warrior’s guise, but covered from head to toe with the itchy, beaten pieces of chaff clinging to every part of his sweating body. And what God saw Gideon to be, in all the victory of what would come, is how God addressed the man standing before Him.

Can you hear those words, falling about this beaten man like a soothing, comforting balm on his bruised and questioning soul? I love how God loves us! He isn’t afraid of our questions. He understands the ‘eyesight’ battles we have. He meets us where we are .... in the midst of our own winepress, built for pressing a river of life from bruising grapes, even if we’re using it to hide in ... even if we’re covered with chaff ... itchy, scratchy, prickly chaff. And he reminds us that we are warriors. Warriors who are mighty in Him. That we are not alone, despite the myopia of our vision. That it is He, Himself, who is with us.

I recognize the Gideon who stands here. His heart beats with my own, his questions and observations about the life he’s immersed in echo mine. A prisoner not just to physical bondages, but spiritual darkness lies all about him, and he doesn’t understand. He’s lost hope. He doesn’t even try any more.

Can you see, can you feel, the despair that must have filled Gideon’s soul when, suddenly, God appears to Him? Not in chastisement. But, wonder of wonders, in gentle encouragement, in assuring love. And all the questions, all the despair, all the frustration bursts forth from Gideon’s mouth, and God ... loves Him forward, with gentle grace.

“Go in the strength you have...”

I can just see Gideon, eyes popping open, head jerking back. Even stumbling, as he takes a step or two backwards, simply trying to keep his balance.

In the strength I have??? Doesn’t He see where I am? I’m hiding .... here .... in a winepress, but its me being pressed. Every drop of strength pressed out, till I am empty. In the strength I have??

I can hear the hollow laughter filling that chamber like an empty whisper, can’t you? Then, a dawning, so very dim at first, begins to light Gideon’s eyes. What was but a spark begins to grow, until his eyes take on a glowing of understanding ... of hope.

The strength I have is You, Lord. The only strength remaining in me is Your presence, Your heartbeat...in harmony with mine. You will be with me, Lord? You are with me! Even here, even now.

The voice speaks again, filling the winepress and reverberating throughout Gideon’s being, into my own heart, meeting my own need.

“Surely, the Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

I love how God loves us, how He sees us, how He meets us ... in Himself!

In the midst of your own winepress, when you feel that last drop of strength which you’ve clung to in desperation finally escape your grasp, may you know your visitation. May you hear the Lord’s voice address you, and may you discern that, indeed, in Him, you are mighty in valor ... a warrior already victorious!


© 29 March 2005
DeAnna Brooks