Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. – Judges 8:4

 Today's Scripture Reading (April 28, 2025): Judges 8

Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) said, 

If you, dear brethren and sisters, will give yourselves wholly to God's work, although you will      never get tired of it, you will often get tired in it. If a man has never tired himself with working    for God, I should think he never has done any work that was worth doing" (Charles Spurgeon). 

Spurgeon's comment reminds me of another phrase I used in the past but haven't thought much about recently. "If you aren't living on the edge, you're taking up too much space." If God has called you to do something, it is worth the exhaustion you will sometimes experience. 

A friend once commented that she was glad God hadn't given her any spiritual gifts. She was wrong about her gifting, but her comment was directed toward the gifted ones she had watched work themselves into exhaustion. Sometimes, we become fatigued in doing what we do. The older I get, the more I find that I need my summer break just to sit back and recharge my batteries so that I can do it all again. What my friend misses, though, is that while we are exhausted, we know that God is using us to make a difference. There are times when we need that reminder. At least, I know I need to be reminded that God is making a difference through me. In the wake of such encouragement, I am energized to keep going.

Gideon had defeated the Midianite forces that were threatening his land. The Midianites were in retreat, but Gideon and his forces continued to pursue them. It was a moment when Gideon was attempting to instill the maximum amount of fear into his enemy. 

The Midianite army likely thought that getting across the Jordan River and closer to home would get them to safety and maybe give them a chance to rest, regroup, and decide on the next steps. But Gideon was not going to give them that chance. Even though they were tired, he crossed the Jordan with his army and continued his pursuit. Gideon wanted to ensure that the enemy would never come back.

An amazing transformation has happened inside Gideon. When this story began, he was hiding in a winepress, trying to thresh his grain because he feared his Midianite adversaries. And now, Gideon is at the head of an army, chasing the Midianites out of Israelite territory so that no one would have to thresh grain in a winepress ever again.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ruth 1

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my Grandson, James. Seven is a great number.