Judges 7, 16 Ruth 1, 1 Samuel 3, 16, Psalm 23
I find it very strange how different the people that God uses are. Today we read about Gideon, Samson, Ruth, Samuel, Saul, and David. 6 people with 6 completely different personalities and outcomes.
Gideon (as we read yesterday) starts his story by hiding in a cave. He is very reluctant to lead the Israelites. He struggles to trust God at all, in fact he "tests" God twice.
I personally think having an angel come and talk to me would be proof enough, but Gideon asks God to give him 2 miracles. So, Gideon is a very hesitant leader.
Samson is God's man from the day he was born. His mother probably told Samson his whole like that he was God's chosen leader. Samson never doubts himself or his strength.
And in the end, his pride leads to his destruction. Well pride... and womanizing. But even before Samson hooks up with Delilah, he is eating honey from a lion's carcass and "celebrating his wedding (probably involved alcohol)." God gives Samson 3 commands and Samson breaks all three.
Ruth isn't even Hebrew. Ruth is a Moabite. Yahweh isn't even her God, except through marriage. But Ruth is loyal to Naomi. Oh yeah, and she's a woman. In those days, women were "less human" than men. And she was a widow. She had the odds stacked against her, but she chose to follow God.
Samuel is an interesting story. His mother really, really, really wants a baby. God gives her Samuel and she gives him back to God. Samuel is being trained from a young age by Eli to be a priest of God. His whole life is preparing him to serve God.
Saul is voted king of Israel... because he is tall and good looking. Saul doesn't even want to be king, but the Israelites make him king. He follows God for a little while, but ends up rejecting God's laws and starts to be very hateful towards God's chosen man, David.
David comes from a big family. He is the youngest of 8 brothers. His father doesn't even think he is worthy to come to the house to see the prophet anoint one of his brothers. David is still out watching the sheep. Nobody would've picked David... except God.
6 different people... 6 different stories... 6 different backgrounds... and yet, God uses every single one of them.
Gideon takes 300 men into battle against a giant army, and God gives Gideon the victory.
Samson kills thousands of Philistines throughout his life and finally in his death and saves Israel.
Ruth ends up marrying Boaz and being the great grandmother of David.
Samuel spends his life serving God as a prophet. He anoints King Saul and King David. One of which turned out pretty well for Israel.
Saul obeys God for a little while and leads Israel to military victories. He ends up rejecting God and spending the last part of his life trying to kill David, who God has chosen as the next king.
David kills Goliath, becomes the most powerful king in the world, makes some big mistakes, but in the end... continues the family line (ironically through Bathsheba) that leads to the coming Messiah.
The only thing that these 6 people had in common was that at one point they chose to obey God. They all came from different backgrounds. They even came from different countries and ethnic groups. But when God called, they all said "yes." And God used them to change the world.
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