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
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
posted by brooklet | 6:05 AM
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