When you grow up in the city like I did, your neighborhood usually has a neighborhood bully. Ours did. His name? Boomer! I don't know if he was born with that name or if he earned that name. All I know is that for the little kids on our block, Boomer was like the original terrorist. He would beat us up for nothing, he'd take our stuff, and generally intimidate us. But one day I got tired of it - he had taken my White Sox cap. Sure, I was just a little guy. Sure, I was no match for him. But I walked boldly down our street to where no kid dared to go - to the corner apartment building where Boomer lived. I went to the back porch, knocked on the door, and asked for my hat back. You say, "My, what a brave little boy." There is one detail I left out - my father went with me. And that made all the difference. See, Boomer was bigger than I was. But my father was bigger than Boomer was!
Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You about "Little People and Big Bullies."
If we were to think of possible subtitles for the Bible, one of them should be, "The Story of Unlikely Heroes." From cover to cover, God tells about these little people, unlikely people who took on some of life's biggest bullies - and won. They are zeroes who becomes God's heroes. Because of 5 power-packed words from God that always made the difference.
Our word for today from the Word of God is Exhibit A - Gideon. He lived at a time when the Midianites were invading Israel every year and taking and destroying whatever they wanted. A hero was needed. Judges 6:11 - "The angel of the Lord came and sat down...where 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.'" "Mighty warrior." He's hiding in a hole in the ground. But God has plans for Gideon.
He says to Gideon, "'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?' 'But, Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save Israel? My clan in the weakest...and I am the least in my family.'" Gideon answers the Lord's summons in much the same way you may have responded to His calling on you. "I think You've got the wrong man/woman. I don't have what it takes." Translation - Boomer is bigger than I am.
"The Lord answered, (here are those five power-packed words) - 'I will be with you - and you will strike down all the Midianites together.'" Translation - your Father is going with you, Gideon. And I am bigger than your Boomer!"
Throughout the Bible, that "I will be with you" is the deciding difference. It's what makes unlikely, inadequate, unqualified people into the people God uses to win great victories. When Moses shrank from God's challenge to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage - Moses said, "Who am I that I should go?" (Exodus 3:11) - God answered, "I will be with you." End of discussion. When we say, "But who am I, Lord?" God answers, "Who am I?" This isn't about who you are, it's about who He is.
And when Jesus was commissioning 11 disciples to "Go make disciples of all nations" - now there's a mission impossible - He concludes by saying, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:19-20). Yes, the assignment is much bigger than you are. But I am going with you - and I am much bigger than the assignment!
As you look at what God is asking you to do - and you see how huge it is and how small you are - do not hold back. Listen to your Lord speak the words that empower little people to tackle big things - "I will be with you." Sure, your Boomer is bigger than you are. But your Father is bigger than every Boomer you will ever face!