The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 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 6:11-14

Gideon lived during a time of incredible oppression that led to poverty. Due to their inability to listen, God allowed the nation of Israel to experience the heavy hand of a foreign people who regularly took Israel's resources. People were frustrated. Gideon reflected the popular opinion among the people, wondering where God was in all of this mess. God's response will challenge you, as a man, to the core.

God answered Gideon with a question that would stop any man dead in his tracks. God put the ball back in Gideon's court saying, "Am I not sending you?" When God intervenes, He uses willing men.This is an observable pattern throughout all of Scripture. Being used by God is not about position or capacity. The man willing to do something for God will be used by God. Look around, feel convicted, and be God's willing man.

DO THIS TODAY: Stop waiting for someone else to step up.