I grew up in Zimbabwe and had the opportunity of living on what was considered as the ‘wrong’ part of town and then moved to what was considered the ‘right’ part of town. You know how it is. If you live in a suburb that is not considered very affluent, then you will be living in the wrong part of town. I went to Frank Johnson Primary school and for half of my high school years, I went to Lord Malvern.
These were not schools in the affluent part of Harare. In my third year of high school, I moved to Chisipite! That was going from the wrong side of town to the right side of town. I went to Oriel Girls High school. Now that was impressive.
I knew what it was to go from the least part of town, in the weakest area and to move to the strongest. It was such a great experience for me. I learned a lot about human nature and it enabled me to mix with everyone!
Of course, what is ironic is that while I in my ignorant youth, considered these areas to be ‘wrong’ and ‘right’, there were hundreds of thousands of people who would have looked at me living in the so-called wrong part of town and envied me. Income and social status is along a spectrum and while I may have been on the wrong side of the middle, I was by no means at the end of the wrong side.
This morning I was reminded that God has a completely different view of these things.
The weakest and the least – I was so interested in reading those words this morning. It’s not often, in this day and age that anyone will select the weakest and the least of anything. Everyone wants the strongest and the most. If you employ someone, you want them to be good at what they do and have the most skills.
God didn’t.
He selected Gideon. Gideon did not have a great opinion of himself or his ability. Humility comes to mind.
Judges 6:12
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
Mighty Warrior!?
Gideon didn’t think so.
Judges 6:15
“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
Weakest and Least.
Judges 6 vs 16
“The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you…”
That right there is the difference.
We might be weak and feel the least, but if the Lord is with us, we can be might warriors.
His mighty warriors.
We need nothing more.
These are the days!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂