Dear Friend,
Last night I taught on Gideon for week three of The Builder's Challenge. Fascinatingly, we learned that an effective strategy helped him win the battle against the Midianites. So while God told Gideon that he was chosen to lead the Israelites to victory, Gideon's strategy got them to the finish line.
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” Judges 6:14
In Judges 6:14, God tells Gideon to go in his strength. The KJV replaces "strength" with "might," which means the power, energy, or intensity of which one is capable. This is important because, with Gideon, God didn't make the first physical move; it was all up to Gideon. As my second-grade teacher used to say, Gideon had to put on his thinking cap. Gideon had to think logically about what the first step should be.
In Judges 6:35, we see the first step of his strategy revealed:
He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.
God didn't tell Gideon to do that. Instead, God told Gideon to go in his strength, and as a thinking and intelligent human, Gideon created a strategic plan. If we continue to journey with Gideon, we learn that God only updated and refined the plan that Gideon initially put into action. In fact, the only reason God found it necessary to do that was that He didn't want the Israelites to think that they won the battle in their strength (Judges 7:2).
Interestingly enough, we don't see God put His super on Gideon's natural until Judges 7:22.
When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.
This means that Gideon was responsible for creating the strategic plan and had to be flexible enough to allow God to update it. He then had to follow the updated instructions and continue leading the Israelites to the battle so God could cause their enemies to turn on each other.
The same is true for you. If God gives you an idea or command, He trusts you so much that He will allow you to take the first step, and then He will build on the step you take. It's not rocket science; it's strategy.
If you have not heard, I recently released my strategy coaching program to help builders like you develop strategic plans. What I've learned working with people is that it's not that they are lazy or uninspired, but they are struggling to start. A strategic plan will not just help you start, but it will help you finish. Book yours today!
If you missed yesterday's teaching, here's the replay!
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