Mighty Men of Valor

The bible is full of stories of valor and courage. Many of these courageous people are listed by name… Joshua, Jephthah, Jesse, Benjamin, Naaman, Jeroboam to name a few and many more who were not mentioned by name. Some of them followed God and others did not.

The one thing all these men had in common was they were called to fight for their beliefs and their countries and did so without hesitation. To some of them courage came easily. To others it did not.

We find the story of Gideon in the book of Judges. Now Gideon was like many of us. When he was called to action he requested a sign. In other words, he tested God. He was insecure in his own abilities and was emotionally beat down by his circumstances.

God had yet again delivered and honored Israel. He had given them victory in battle and had provided for them a land that would feed them and where they could live in peace as His children.

After 40 years of experiencing God’s grace and provision, Israel “did evil in the sight of the Lord” (Judges 6:1). Once again those of God’s chosen people who had never experienced oppression allowed themselves to give into the lusts of their flesh. God had set these people in the middle of a land where those around them worshipped other gods as a shining star reflecting the Glory of the One true God.

Because they chose to dishonor all He had done for them, God turned them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Israelites lost all their crops and livestock and “became greatly impoverished” (Judges 6:6).

It was during this time that God sent an angel to Gideon to tell him the Lord was with him. In his bitterness Gideon questioned this but God saw the valor in Gideon’s heart and told him that he was going to deliver the Israelites.

Seeing in the natural, Gideon could not understand how he could accomplish this task and questioned God again and asked for a sign. Gideon prepared a sacrifice of a young goat, unleavened bread and broth and put them on a rock. When the angel of the Lord touched the rock “fire came up from the rock” (Judges 6:21) and the sacrifice was consumed. This miracle caused Gideon to finally believe.

That night God told Gideon to tear down the altar his father, Joash, had built to Baal. He did as he was instructed and God was with him.

Gideon was able to gather a large army but still questioned God. He set out a fleece which was wet when all around it was dry and then another fleece that was dry when all around it was wet (Judges 6:36-40) and finally Gideon believed.

Through a series of tests (Judges 7:1-8) God whittled Gideon’s massive army down to just 300 men…These were might men of valor. It was with these 300 men that God delivered Israel from oppression once again and returned it to its former glory.

Fast forward to today. God has positioned many men, and women, of valor in our great nation. For many years He has kept us from harm, provided for us in abundance, and caused all the other nations of the world to fear our strength. Unfortunately, like Old Testament Israel, we have forgotten where our strength has come from. We have worshipped the gods of money, lust and human intelligence. We use the very gifts God has put in us for our own selfish gain.

We have tested God time after time but still have removed Him as ruler of our nation. We, as a nation, rely on our own reasoning to decide right from wrong. We have folded in the face of adversity rather than allowing our weakness to glorify God’s strength. We have become fat, lazy and complacent… a haughty people believing we are entitled to wealth rather than honoring God to bless us as He sees fit.

Is it any wonder then that our nation is in turmoil? Is it any wonder that we live in fear of the future?

God is calling us, mighty men and women of valor, to stand up for His truth and submit to Him even to the giving of our very lives. Only when we return to Him will the famine of our souls be filled. Only when we honor God’s order for our family structure will our children, elderly and widowed not go hungry. Only when we honor Him above all He has given us will we return to the abundant lives He so graciously has promised us.

Where are you men and women of valor? Show yourselves “approved to God”, workers who do “not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy:15) that we will be acceptable to God. Let us take back our nation and serve God without reservation. Let us honor those who selflessly give of their own lives for our country and its principles rather than those who seek only their own selfish desires. Let us not be tolerant unto the death of our souls and the souls of our children.

Riding the whirlwind of God’s grace, love and mercy.

L

val·or - [val-er] noun

boldness or determination in facing great danger,especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/valor

cour·age -  noun \ˈkər-ij, ˈkə-rij\

mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courage?show=0&t=1346589438

Romans 14:18
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

2 Corinthians 10:18
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

2 Corinthians 13:7
Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.

1 Thessalonians 2:4
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.