Dave and I live in a place where our front porch faces the mountains. We have an unobstructed view and get to enjoy the beauty of the sunsets. So peaceful. It is an amazing view!
Some nights, it’s a “take your breath away” beauty and others, it’s a simplistic “take a deep breath and relax” type of moment. For the last twenty years we have lived in homes that we have named Casa de Paz, House of Peace. God has truly blessed us and we don’t take it for granted.
This morning my Bible reading ended with these words, “The Lord is Peace”. Yes, that’s exactly what I experience most days.
Now, let me tell you what I was reading this morning. I am in the book of Judges, chapter 6, and today I began reading about Gideon. The Israelites were living under the harassment and attacks of the Midianites and had been for seven years.
Every year at harvest time they would come and steal the grain and other crops that the Israelites had planted. Gideon was the youngest son of the family and he was threshing wheat in a hole where he could hide and be undetected. That’s where the Lord found him.
“ The angel appeared and spoke to Gideon, “The Lord is helping you, and you are a strong warrior.” 13 Gideon answered, “Please don’t take this wrong, but if the Lord is helping us, then why have all of these awful things happened? ” Judges 6:12-13 CEV
Gideon saw himself as weak and defeated. God saw him as a strong warrior.
“ Then the Lord himself said, “Gideon, you will be strong, because I am giving you the power to rescue Israel from the Midianites.” 15 Gideon replied, “But how can I rescue Israel?…everyone else in my family is more important than I am.” 16 “Gideon,” the Lord answered, “you can rescue Israel because I am going to help you! Defeating the Midianites will be as easy as beating up one man.” 17 Gideon said, “It’s hard to believe that I’m actually talking to the Lord.” Judges 6:14-17 CEV
The story goes on and Gideon asks the Lord for a miracle so he will know that this is truly the Lord speaking to him. When God proved Himself to Gideon, Gideon became even more fearful and was afraid he was going to die. Then the Lord said this:
“ Calm down!” the Lord told Gideon. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re not going to die.” 24 Gideon built an altar for worshiping the Lord and called it “The Lord Calms Our Fears.” Judges 6:23-24 CEV
I had someone tell me once that “I’m not sure that I believe in God”. That came from an honest heart. I told them, “That’s ok. He believes in you and if you ask Him to show Himself to you He will. He wants you to believe”. That’s exactly what Gideon was saying to God and God calmed his fears.
In Hebrew this verse says Gideon called the place “Jehovah-Shalom”. God is our peace!
What is it that is robbing your peace? A physical enemy, an emotional distress, finances, health, relationships, bitterness or resentment?
“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Corinthians 3:17 NLT
Let me repeat the words of the Lord. “Calm down! There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Learn the lesson that Gideon did, The Lord is Peace!