(upbeat music)
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- Oh, yes sir, stay right there,
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stay right there
I'll be right back.
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Hey, welcome everybody to A
Talking Donkey International
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and our new television
series, Country Wisdom.
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- Let's set the tone
for this new series of ours,
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it's found in Proverbs four,
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let your eyes
look directly forward
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and your gaze be
straight before you,
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ponder the path of your feet
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and then all your
ways will be sure.
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- Join us now
for a Country Wisdom.
00:00:36.97\00:00:38.53
In judges, chapter six,
these words in verse one,
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and the children
of Israel did evil
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in the sight of the Lord.
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God basically backed
away and other nations came
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and pretty soon the results
were famine, desolate, dry arid,
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nothing growing because
it said they would come down
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and they would take everything.
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They would destroy every crop,
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they'd take everything that
these people had worked for.
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Maybe all their lives.
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In verse five it says,
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they came up with
their cattle, their tents.
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They came as
grasshoppers for multitude
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for both they and their
camels were without number.
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Imagine that without number,
coming down all the hills
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everything filling the valleys.
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What were these people to do?
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They had certainly
sinned against God.
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It was time to call upon God.
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(dramatic music)
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- Hey Janice.
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- Hey, look I
found little baby grapes.
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- Oh cool, it's gonna be
mama's and Papa's someday.
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- Yeah, it'll take a while,
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but eventually
there'll be worth eating
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if they give you water.
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You know, I grew up in
great country, Lodi, California.
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In fact, its claim to fame
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and might still
be as claim to fame.
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It's the Tokay
grape capital of the world
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and the big social event.
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When I was growing up every
September, the great festival,
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and they would make whole murals
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out of different
varieties of grapes.
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They would wipe them
in oil, rolled them in oil
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and then make these murals
out of all the different colors
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and grapes were
such a big thing,
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when it was time
for that harvest.
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I mean, everybody was
getting in a good mood
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because it was like
holiday time and Lodi.
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But I can tell from
looking at this vineyard
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that it doesn't look like
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it's been
particularly well cared for.
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- I don't think it's
gotten any water at all.
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- No, it looks like this
one is just kind of been left
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to whatever water it
can get from mother nature.
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But it's not being pruned,
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it's not being taken
care of the way they should.
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- No, that's basically
what happened with Israel.
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You know, they, every
time they'd get out and try
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and do something in the
field, the enemy would show up.
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They might get killed stampede
and stomped on whatever.
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But even if they grew something
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the enemy would take it all.
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So they'd get nothing anyway.
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Matter of fact one day,
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story that I like
is a guy named Gideon
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but Gideon is a
real chicken heart.
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(Janice laughing)
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it's on him, this
goes, he's hiding someplace.
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I get the feeling around a
vineyard where the wine press is
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so he can kind of hide
down in the wine press.
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But he's got a
little bit of wheat.
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He found a little bit of wheat.
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So he's threshing the
wheat in the wine press
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out of the sight of everybody.
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- He was hiding.
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- Absolutely hiding yeah.
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He was scared to death
as everybody else was too.
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But the
interesting thing is it says,
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the children of
Israel cried unto God.
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God says, okay, now
I can work with that.
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Now you calling to me.
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I can work with that.
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And I imagine you've
experienced that too.
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- Oh yes.
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Why is it that it's not until
we're really really in trouble
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that we tend to
go, God, I need you.
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I'm always the
sort I'm thinking of,
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okay, this has
happened so I can do this.
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I can pull it out.
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If I work harder, if I do
this and then it's finally
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after I've exhausted
everything, I can do.
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That I go, oh, maybe I
should talk to God about this.
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- Yeah.
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- And it's every time I say,
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and why wasn't
that, what you did first?
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I don't know, stupid human.
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- We all do that kind of thing.
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You know, we do everything
else, and then we say,
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oh, now let's pray,
you know, last situation.
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But here's
Gideon now he's hiding.
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And the angel of
the Lord shows up, says,
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Gideon you mighty man of valor.
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This is the- -
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- The same Gideon that was
hiding from the Midianites.
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- It still is.
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- And he's a
mighty man of valor.
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- Yeah, yeah, think about that.
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You know how many
times have you thought
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that God can't do
anything through you?
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- Oh, well, daily, you know
me, I'm pathologically insecure.
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- Yeah, but here's- -
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- So I really relate to that.
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First of all, the
hiding from problems.
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- Yeah, yeah.
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- That's a specialty of mine,
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and not thinking to call on God
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until I'm at the end of my rope,
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rather than calling on God
at the beginning of my rope.
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- Yeah.
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- But having God
see you in a way that
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you don't picture yourself.
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- Through his eyes, yeah, yeah.
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- That's incredible
that he would see Gideon,
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hiding in a wine press and say,
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you mighty man of valor,
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Gideon must've stood
there and said, you know- -
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- Yeah.
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- Is there someone
else in here with me?
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- Now the real interesting
thing is getting and says,
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you're coming to me and you're
expecting me to something.
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Where have you been?
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You know, have you
looked at the grapes,
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have you looked at the land,
do you know what's going on?
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And you expect me to do
something, should I trust you?
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And basically, you know
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the angel continues
on slowly and gently.
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You know, where
they, he tells Gideon
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you're going to save Israel.
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Gideon says, what
have you looked at?
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- Nobody would have bet
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on Gideon saving Israel. - No,
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do you know who my family?
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Well, our family is the lowest
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on the the wrong of the nations.
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And what have you done for us?
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But the angel continues to
assure him, you need to do this.
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Now he
continues on a little bit.
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And basically he tells him,
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look you need to go and destroy
your father's worship area.
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His father, who was an
Israelite worship Baal.
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So he had a statue.
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He had everything
else and getting- -
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- The problem right there.
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- Yeah, would like
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- Why would anyone in Israel,
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have an altar
that was not to God.
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- Exactly, but not only that.
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How would you like to
go against your father?
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- No.
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- How many children?
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- You have to
obey my father, no.
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- Yeah, yeah, you know,
but the angel says to do it.
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So basically finally do it.
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Well, the next day
there is an absolute
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you know, fury in the
village they're ready to kill,
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you know, And
finally, finally- -
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- They don't
know who destroyed it.
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They really did
not know who well,
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they kind of
did, they kind of did,
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but here's the situation
they're ready to kill him.
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And one of them comes,
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you're gonna kill somebody
here for destroying a false God.
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Well, that kind of
calmed everything down.
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Then the angel
continues on and he says,
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look you're going to now
deliver the whole nation.
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I want you to
get an army together.
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You know, a small army,
and I want you to meet with me.
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Look, he said,
yeah, this is Gideon.
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Look, look, he said
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I really wanna know it's
you, really wanna know it's you,
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and the cheer God and the
cheer who you say you are.
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And I'm gonna put out
a fleece if it's okay,
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Lord, I don't, I
don't mean to get bold here
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but I'm gonna put out a
fleece and tomorrow morning
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if that fleeces
absolutely soaking wet
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then I'll believe you.
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He gets up the next morning,
I imagine pretty excited,
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he runs out, he
grabbed the fleece.
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It's so heavy
with water he rings out
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and the Bible quotes
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how many cups of
water came out of that.
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- I can relate because
there are times I want to know.
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Okay, did that
thought really come from God?
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Or is that just some
random thought of mine.
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- The pizza from last night.
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- Or the pizza from last night?
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So I like that God works
with us and we'll tolerate.
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He doesn't go, you
want a sign for me?
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No, off with you.
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- Yeah, God what you're
just saying, God is patient.
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- Yes.
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- Patient, gentle,
lead to step-by-step.
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Now get in he's
a little more bold.
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Lord pre adventure I just
ask you one more thing Lord,
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pre adventure in the bible
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I don't know. - Like
he asks he has to know.
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- Yeah, yeah, but he
said, Lord, look, you know,
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nature could have done this,
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nature could have
gotten that thing wet.
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So Lord, how about I
put out the fleece tonight
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and everything else will be wet
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and my fleece will be bone dry.
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And the Lord says, I
agree to it, I agree to it.
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He gets up the next morning,
flies out picks up that fleece.
00:09:08.54\00:09:11.35
And there is nothing.
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And the ground is
soaking wet everywhere else.
00:09:12.65\00:09:15.32
So God answered his prayer.
00:09:15.32\00:09:17.22
No, it is so
amazing what God will do
00:09:17.22\00:09:20.59
for each one of us to
lead us slowly, slowly, slowly.
00:09:20.59\00:09:23.89
And what you
said earlier, Janice,
00:09:23.89\00:09:26.29
about the whole situation
of our relationship to God,
00:09:27.66\00:09:32.10
a man of valor.
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He wasn't a man of
valor, but God is leading.
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- A man of valor, who
knew he was a man of valor.
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Wouldn't be saying, all
right, Lord, I want a sign.
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And then when he
gets the sign going,
00:09:42.18\00:09:44.21
just to make sure see that's
me, I would be doing that.
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But that's because I'm
not particularly brave.
00:09:48.32\00:09:50.25
- But God is leading him
step-by-step to God's vision
00:09:50.25\00:09:54.19
of what he knew he
could do in his life.
00:09:54.19\00:09:56.66
- And he needed that confidence.
00:09:56.66\00:09:58.29
God knew that Gideon needs
this assurance more assurance
00:09:58.29\00:10:02.80
than maybe some
people of faith would need
00:10:02.80\00:10:05.17
but he needed to know
00:10:05.17\00:10:07.60
without any question
that God was with him.
00:10:07.60\00:10:10.34
- Yeah, yeah, I can't help,
00:10:10.34\00:10:12.41
but think of a
story so many times
00:10:12.41\00:10:14.61
you know, it's
the devil that says,
00:10:14.61\00:10:16.44
God does this and God does that.
00:10:16.44\00:10:18.15
And God is mean,
and God has vengeful.
00:10:18.15\00:10:20.55
- Or making us doubt.
00:10:20.55\00:10:21.68
- Yeah, but
that's not God, you know,
00:10:21.68\00:10:23.85
I remember years
ago we had a car.
00:10:23.85\00:10:26.55
Well, it was a van actually
00:10:26.55\00:10:27.66
kind of one of
those little camper vans
00:10:27.66\00:10:28.99
and had the pop up top
with a fiberglass top, right.
00:10:28.99\00:10:31.89
We parked it over
in a neighbor's area
00:10:31.89\00:10:35.06
because there's
a big storm coming
00:10:35.06\00:10:36.93
and we wanted to
get it off the street.
00:10:36.93\00:10:39.07
Well, the next morning
we go and this huge limb
00:10:39.07\00:10:41.54
of this tree had fallen
right down through the thing
00:10:41.54\00:10:43.54
and broken it.
00:10:43.54\00:10:45.11
I call up the
insurance company and said,
00:10:45.11\00:10:46.94
storm last night
it busted the top.
00:10:46.94\00:10:49.84
And they said, well, I'm
sorry, that's an act of God.
00:10:49.84\00:10:52.45
(Janice laughing)
00:10:52.45\00:10:53.85
And I said, how about
if I take you to court
00:10:53.85\00:10:55.98
and prove it was
an act of a devil,
00:10:55.98\00:10:58.29
there was
silence on the other end.
00:10:58.29\00:11:00.06
We blamed God
for so many things.
00:11:01.16\00:11:02.12
- We do.
00:11:02.12\00:11:03.46
- And you continually
find Old and New Testament.
00:11:03.46\00:11:05.59
God has such a
heart for each one of us.
00:11:05.59\00:11:08.16
You know, he leads us,
00:11:08.16\00:11:09.40
he calls us, he
nurtures us with his vision
00:11:09.40\00:11:12.50
of what we will
be in the future.
00:11:12.50\00:11:14.80
I know he's done that with you.
00:11:15.77\00:11:17.11
- Oh, yes, there are many
times I have argued with God.
00:11:17.11\00:11:20.98
It might be
something as simple as,
00:11:20.98\00:11:23.51
I feel moved to go and
call someone or to visit someone
00:11:23.51\00:11:28.58
or to speak up
and say something.
00:11:29.65\00:11:31.49
And I go, I don't
want to sound crazy.
00:11:31.49\00:11:34.56
I don't want someone to think
I'm one of those Jesus freaks.
00:11:34.56\00:11:38.69
- Yeah.
00:11:38.69\00:11:40.30
- I don't want to sound
like I'm a Bible thumping,
00:11:40.30\00:11:44.23
you know, the bad image
that some Christians have.
00:11:44.23\00:11:46.90
And more often than I
would like to admit, I hesitate.
00:11:46.90\00:11:51.87
And that moment is
lost, but God keeps with me.
00:11:53.07\00:11:57.85
And other times
I've had the courage.
00:11:59.01\00:12:01.68
Partly I think because I failed
00:12:01.68\00:12:03.79
and I know what
it felt like to fail.
00:12:03.79\00:12:05.59
And I feel awful for that,
00:12:05.59\00:12:07.56
but God isn't
making me feel awful.
00:12:07.56\00:12:09.52
It's just gives
me the determination.
00:12:09.52\00:12:11.66
God, if I ever have
that opportunity again
00:12:11.66\00:12:14.10
I won't blow it this time.
00:12:14.10\00:12:15.93
- Yeah.
00:12:15.93\00:12:16.77
- He has patient.
00:12:16.77\00:12:18.17
- And by God's power living
in you, you won't, you know,
00:12:18.17\00:12:21.07
that's the case,
Jesus living in you,
00:12:21.07\00:12:23.61
Jesus can do all things in you
00:12:23.61\00:12:25.61
when he's living in you
because it's him doing it all.
00:12:25.61\00:12:28.41
That's what's so cool.
00:12:28.41\00:12:29.51
- And his view of
us is far different
00:12:29.51\00:12:32.08
from our view of ourself.
00:12:32.08\00:12:33.55
- No, you know, I tell you,
00:12:33.55\00:12:35.28
God's got a lot
more for Gideon here.
00:12:35.28\00:12:37.15
And he says, tell him,
00:12:37.15\00:12:38.22
go get an army
now, go get an army.
00:12:38.22\00:12:41.19
(soft upbeat music)
00:12:41.19\00:12:44.26
- I don't like surprises.
00:12:59.41\00:13:01.28
I like to know
what's going to happen.
00:13:01.28\00:13:03.24
And when it's going
to happen, I make lists.
00:13:03.24\00:13:06.85
And I always have a
plan A, B, and sometimes C.
00:13:06.85\00:13:11.62
Needless to say in
today's uncertain world
00:13:11.62\00:13:14.06
I struggle with an
embarrassing amount of anxiety.
00:13:14.06\00:13:18.16
If that sounds familiar,
00:13:18.16\00:13:19.89
you need to send
for this free pamphlet,
00:13:19.89\00:13:22.63
Certainty in an Uncertain World,
00:13:22.63\00:13:25.63
to order your free copy go to,
00:13:25.63\00:13:27.57
TalkingDonkeyInternational.org
00:13:27.57\00:13:30.34
and request offer number 121,
00:13:30.34\00:13:33.44
and find hope for
today and tomorrow.
00:13:33.44\00:13:37.15
- I've had the
opportunity to travel
00:13:39.88\00:13:41.68
and film in many
countries of the world.
00:13:41.68\00:13:43.99
You see, I hate
doing the same old thing,
00:13:45.09\00:13:47.82
filming in a studio.
00:13:47.82\00:13:49.46
No that's boring, maybe cheap,
00:13:49.46\00:13:51.89
but who wants to
watch, very few people.
00:13:51.89\00:13:55.40
(upbeat music)
00:13:55.40\00:13:56.60
I found that
people love programs
00:13:56.60\00:13:58.40
that take the viewer
outside into the field.
00:13:58.40\00:14:01.27
They like programs that
take the viewer on a journey.
00:14:01.27\00:14:03.67
That's what Talking
Donkey International does.
00:14:03.67\00:14:06.78
Our team decided it was time
00:14:06.78\00:14:08.14
to create
innovative produce programs
00:14:08.14\00:14:10.58
that go beyond the
cookie cutter approach
00:14:10.58\00:14:12.71
to television production.
00:14:12.71\00:14:14.48
So the Lord is
returning very soon.
00:14:14.48\00:14:16.92
We need to act like
it didn't work like it.
00:14:16.92\00:14:19.05
That's why I'm committed,
00:14:19.05\00:14:20.46
that's why Talking Donkey
International is committed
00:14:20.46\00:14:22.62
to doing all we can
for as many as we can
00:14:22.62\00:14:25.19
for as long as we can in
new creative and exciting ways
00:14:25.19\00:14:29.56
please partner with us today.
00:14:29.56\00:14:31.07
Your prayers and
financial support are needed
00:14:31.07\00:14:33.60
to take this
ministry around the world.
00:14:33.60\00:14:35.67
So Gideon gathers all
the men, all the warriors.
00:14:40.71\00:14:43.75
He brings them
basically before God.
00:14:43.75\00:14:45.88
And God said,
Gideon, it's too many men.
00:14:45.88\00:14:48.45
And I can imagine Gideon
say, "Too many men Lord?"
00:14:49.82\00:14:52.75
- That's exactly
what I would be thinking.
00:14:52.75\00:14:54.59
I'd be going, no, I
need two or three times that.
00:14:54.59\00:14:56.99
- Yeah, don't
you understand Lord,
00:14:56.99\00:14:58.29
did you look out
over the hills over there
00:14:58.29\00:15:00.80
and see how many
there are the enemy.
00:15:00.80\00:15:03.37
Anyway, God says, too many.
00:15:03.37\00:15:05.30
He said, get rid of them.
00:15:05.30\00:15:07.04
Tell them if you're scared,
if you're afraid, go home.
00:15:07.04\00:15:09.84
And the- -
00:15:10.64\00:15:11.74
- Mine would be the
first-hand in the air.
00:15:11.74\00:15:12.74
- Yeah, 22,000 men went.
00:15:12.74\00:15:15.68
Now the next thing he says,
00:15:15.68\00:15:17.65
and I'm going to
let you hold my Bible.
00:15:17.65\00:15:18.88
I'm gonna demo
this a little bit,
00:15:18.88\00:15:20.55
because the Bible some people
may not understand exactly
00:15:20.55\00:15:23.52
what happened here but God says,
00:15:23.52\00:15:24.79
okay, take those
10,000 men down to the water.
00:15:24.79\00:15:27.29
They get down to
the water and God says,
00:15:28.52\00:15:30.33
I want you to test these men.
00:15:30.33\00:15:31.86
So Gideon is still
thinking what is going on?
00:15:33.13\00:15:36.10
God says, let the men drink.
00:15:36.10\00:15:38.53
So you've got
your guys that get down
00:15:38.53\00:15:40.74
and they're in there in
the water and all falls.
00:15:40.74\00:15:43.24
Then you've got the other group
00:15:43.24\00:15:44.97
that they're
lapping up their water.
00:15:44.97\00:15:47.98
Actually, the Lord
refers to it like a dog.
00:15:47.98\00:15:51.25
So they're lapping up
00:15:51.25\00:15:52.31
the water like- -
- But the first group
00:15:52.31\00:15:53.38
had just put their
faces right in the water.
00:15:53.38\00:15:54.48
- Right there, just
sucking the water up.
00:15:54.48\00:15:56.52
And here's the difference.
00:15:56.52\00:15:57.82
The group that are down in
there, they can't see any enemy.
00:15:57.82\00:16:01.22
They're not watching anything.
00:16:01.22\00:16:03.22
But the second
group we're lapping water.
00:16:03.22\00:16:05.36
These are real soldiers,
00:16:05.36\00:16:06.39
these are real men who are ready
00:16:06.39\00:16:08.16
for the enemy at any moment.
00:16:08.16\00:16:09.83
- They stayed alert
and we're looking around.
00:16:09.83\00:16:11.40
- Exactly, and God, now
he separates this group.
00:16:11.40\00:16:15.20
There's what, we had 10,000.
00:16:15.20\00:16:18.71
He gets rid of 9,700 more.
00:16:18.71\00:16:21.54
So we've got- -
00:16:22.74\00:16:24.08
- 300. - 300 left.
00:16:24.08\00:16:26.28
That's Gideon's army.
00:16:26.28\00:16:28.28
That's the entire 300 men.
00:16:28.28\00:16:29.82
How would that make you feel?
00:16:29.82\00:16:31.99
- I would have been in
the first group of 22,000.
00:16:31.99\00:16:34.42
That said,
they're not enough of us.
00:16:34.42\00:16:37.13
I am out of here, you
know, they got permission,
00:16:37.13\00:16:40.30
when he said, if
anyone's you know,
00:16:40.30\00:16:42.26
getting a little nervous
about this, that would be me.
00:16:42.26\00:16:46.70
I am always anxious.
00:16:46.70\00:16:49.44
- Yeah.
00:16:49.44\00:16:50.57
- That would have
just the level of anxiety.
00:16:50.57\00:16:52.04
My cortisol levels
would have been here.
00:16:52.04\00:16:55.08
- This a real
moment of truth for Gideon.
00:16:55.08\00:16:57.25
Am I going to stay where I am?
00:16:57.25\00:16:59.45
Or am I going to go with
God and go with God's plan?
00:16:59.45\00:17:03.02
You know, that's what,
we've all got to decide, right?
00:17:03.02\00:17:05.39
Whether we stay
here, go with God.
00:17:05.39\00:17:07.29
You know, after the
creek, which was, you know
00:17:13.70\00:17:15.86
probably a lot
more gorgeous than this.
00:17:15.86\00:17:18.63
They found
themselves here, the Midianites,
00:17:18.63\00:17:21.30
the Amalekites, all the nations.
00:17:21.30\00:17:23.44
Let me read
something to you here.
00:17:23.44\00:17:25.47
It's judges
chapter seven and verse 12.
00:17:25.47\00:17:28.21
It kind of sets the, you know,
00:17:28.21\00:17:30.98
the idea of what was going on.
00:17:30.98\00:17:33.01
And the
Midianites and the Amalekites
00:17:33.01\00:17:35.08
and all the
children are of the East.
00:17:35.08\00:17:37.09
How many?
00:17:37.09\00:17:38.42
- [Janice] All.
00:17:38.42\00:17:39.22
- All, lay along in the valley
00:17:39.22\00:17:41.39
like grasshoppers for multitude
00:17:41.39\00:17:43.83
and their camels
were without number
00:17:43.83\00:17:46.39
as the sand, by the
seaside for multitude.
00:17:46.39\00:17:50.00
- There were so many
00:17:50.00\00:17:51.13
that they couldn't
even estimate a real number.
00:17:51.13\00:17:53.57
- Yeah, this picture in my mind
00:17:53.57\00:17:54.80
this writer is
trying to, you know,
00:17:54.80\00:17:57.17
God gives him
the either the vision
00:17:57.17\00:17:59.77
or he was right there
and he's looking at this
00:17:59.77\00:18:02.88
and it's like, how
do you even number them?
00:18:02.88\00:18:04.48
You know, they're
just covering the landscape
00:18:04.48\00:18:06.78
the landscape as
far as the eye can see.
00:18:06.78\00:18:09.12
So it's pretty daunting.
00:18:09.12\00:18:12.02
And all these guys are out there
00:18:12.02\00:18:14.12
and God tells Gideon, you know,
00:18:14.12\00:18:15.42
now, okay, it's
time now, you know?
00:18:15.42\00:18:17.63
And still Gideon, remember we
talked about the man of valor.
00:18:17.63\00:18:21.90
(Janice and Jim laughing)
00:18:21.90\00:18:23.23
And so he starts
instructing his fellows.
00:18:23.23\00:18:26.53
Okay, we're gonna go up
on the mountains over here.
00:18:26.53\00:18:29.04
We're gonna need
to take a pitcher.
00:18:29.04\00:18:30.31
We're gonna put a
torch inside there.
00:18:30.31\00:18:33.17
So it's covered up,
00:18:33.17\00:18:34.84
and then we're
gonna just take a trumpet.
00:18:34.84\00:18:36.48
- That's not
normally what soldiers take
00:18:36.48\00:18:38.45
into battle with them.
00:18:38.45\00:18:40.12
- Yeah, and how
many guys is this?
00:18:40.12\00:18:42.18
- 300.
00:18:42.18\00:18:43.02
- 300, that's it.
00:18:43.02\00:18:44.85
How many soldiers are out there?
00:18:44.85\00:18:46.76
- There were more
than they could even count.
00:18:46.76\00:18:49.19
- Yeah, without number.
00:18:49.19\00:18:50.49
- I mean, you talk
about a situation of God,
00:18:50.49\00:18:54.83
better be in control.
00:18:54.83\00:18:56.36
That's the only way
you'd get me out there.
00:18:56.36\00:18:59.00
- Yeah, but how
do you even know,
00:18:59.00\00:19:00.97
you know, I mean,
how do you know that,
00:19:00.97\00:19:02.84
how do you know
that God is in control?
00:19:02.84\00:19:04.31
That's a real question.
00:19:04.31\00:19:05.74
- But he gave him clues.
00:19:05.74\00:19:07.31
- Early on, yeah.
00:19:08.34\00:19:09.41
- Early on, he
gave them those signs
00:19:09.41\00:19:11.65
to reassure him
that he was with them.
00:19:11.65\00:19:13.92
So there are only 300
that didn't get sent home
00:19:13.92\00:19:17.05
at the creek and now they
get a trumpet and a pitcher
00:19:17.05\00:19:22.12
at that point, I might
be thinking, can I go home?
00:19:23.49\00:19:26.73
- Yeah, I think of myself
if I was Gideon, you know,
00:19:26.73\00:19:31.47
and I get up over
the top of that hill
00:19:31.47\00:19:33.77
and I'm looking
over those vast armies.
00:19:33.77\00:19:35.70
I mean, all the men of the
East, all the men of the East
00:19:35.70\00:19:40.78
and Midianites and
Amalekite without number,
00:19:42.04\00:19:43.75
sands of the sea of their
camels and everything else.
00:19:43.75\00:19:45.91
Well, they
brought all the camels
00:19:45.91\00:19:47.68
because somebody
wrote on those camels.
00:19:47.68\00:19:49.58
So there is the sands of the sea
00:19:49.58\00:19:51.79
and I've gotta be thinking,
00:19:52.92\00:19:54.16
whoa, what did
I get myself into?
00:19:54.16\00:19:56.89
- Right, it's like,
what are we doing here?
00:19:56.89\00:19:58.96
Can we go home now too?
00:19:58.96\00:20:00.70
- Yeah.
00:20:00.70\00:20:01.73
- Maybe I should have left
00:20:01.73\00:20:02.80
with the first
group that went home.
00:20:02.80\00:20:03.90
- Maybe I made a
mistake, you know
00:20:03.90\00:20:05.70
have you ever
done that in your life?
00:20:05.70\00:20:06.97
- Have I ever made a
mistake, let me count the ways.
00:20:06.97\00:20:10.81
(Janice laughing)
00:20:10.81\00:20:12.41
- Well, yeah, we,
you know, we all do that,
00:20:12.41\00:20:14.98
we all, even as
Christians, you know,
00:20:16.01\00:20:17.31
you believe in God, but there's
always things that come up
00:20:17.31\00:20:20.32
and you kind of, well,
did I make the right decision?
00:20:20.32\00:20:22.62
Did I find myself in a
really tough spot, God- -
00:20:22.62\00:20:25.29
- I second guess
myself all the time.
00:20:25.29\00:20:27.39
That's why I relate to Gideon,
00:20:27.39\00:20:29.32
hiding myself, asking
God over and over again.
00:20:29.32\00:20:33.13
Now, are you sure?
00:20:33.13\00:20:34.46
You know, can you
make it a little clearer
00:20:34.46\00:20:36.23
because I'm not the kind
you can just whisper in my ear.
00:20:36.23\00:20:39.70
I have often told him, you
know, if this is what you want
00:20:39.70\00:20:42.74
you have to hit me upside
the head with a two by four.
00:20:42.74\00:20:45.91
- I remember when
I first a Christian,
00:20:45.91\00:20:48.54
I would go outside in
the middle of the night
00:20:48.54\00:20:50.55
and I'd look up
at the stars and say,
00:20:50.55\00:20:52.68
God, if you're really there,
00:20:52.68\00:20:54.42
just move one
star just a little bit.
00:20:54.42\00:20:56.38
That's not a big deal for you.
00:20:56.38\00:20:57.85
If you're really
God, just one star, Lord,
00:20:57.85\00:21:00.26
and I'd sit and
I'd look and I'd pray,
00:21:00.26\00:21:02.76
not a single star
ever moved, you know.
00:21:02.76\00:21:04.96
And I imagine God just
kind of laughed a little bit
00:21:06.29\00:21:07.66
because after a
while, you know, I learned
00:21:07.66\00:21:10.30
and there were other
things that God did in my life
00:21:10.30\00:21:12.10
that showed very
plainly God was in charge.
00:21:12.10\00:21:15.37
- There've been
periods in my life.
00:21:15.37\00:21:17.47
When you know that
cloud of depression
00:21:17.47\00:21:20.18
is kind of
hovering and getting deeper
00:21:20.18\00:21:23.98
and just ordinary
tasks can seem overwhelming.
00:21:23.98\00:21:28.12
I remember one time
sitting on the hearth
00:21:28.12\00:21:30.95
in front of the wood stove
00:21:30.95\00:21:32.85
I needed to go to the
next town to do some shopping.
00:21:32.85\00:21:36.66
And that seemed, I didn't
even know how to go about it.
00:21:36.66\00:21:40.16
It's like I didn't
have the energy to get up.
00:21:40.16\00:21:42.70
And I kept wishing I
had someone to go with me
00:21:42.70\00:21:45.30
but as depression will,
00:21:45.30\00:21:47.40
I couldn't think of anyone
00:21:47.40\00:21:49.00
who would actually
want to go with me.
00:21:49.00\00:21:52.44
I mean, that's how
crazy my brain can get.
00:21:52.44\00:21:55.01
Where just ordinary
things seem unmanageable
00:21:55.01\00:21:59.25
but you know what
God did for me then,
00:21:59.25\00:22:02.68
my phone rang and
thankfully I answered it
00:22:02.68\00:22:06.19
and it was a friend
just calling to chat.
00:22:06.19\00:22:08.79
Said, well, what
are you doing today?
00:22:08.79\00:22:10.83
And I found the courage to go,
00:22:10.83\00:22:12.76
well, I was thinking of
going, I have to go to the mall.
00:22:12.76\00:22:16.40
And it just, you know, I wasn't
sure if I could do it today.
00:22:16.40\00:22:19.17
She goes, "Oh,
well, I'll go with you."
00:22:19.17\00:22:21.34
And while I'm
sitting there with the phone,
00:22:21.34\00:22:24.81
going, well, thank you God,
00:22:24.81\00:22:26.81
that clearly was
an answer from you.
00:22:26.81\00:22:28.71
My phone rang again,
00:22:28.71\00:22:30.45
another friend and she
said the same thing, you know,
00:22:30.45\00:22:33.72
what are you doing today?
00:22:33.72\00:22:35.05
And I tell her, and she goes,
00:22:35.05\00:22:36.99
"Oh, that sounds like
fun, I'll go with you."
00:22:36.99\00:22:39.65
So I hadn't even
specifically said,
00:22:39.65\00:22:42.09
"God would you send me a friend?
00:22:42.09\00:22:44.33
So I have the
courage to go face the mall.
00:22:44.33\00:22:46.70
In spite of the fact
that I feel so horrible."
00:22:46.70\00:22:49.83
And he just did it
and it made me laugh.
00:22:49.83\00:22:52.50
- You know, the thing
is, God knows your heart.
00:22:52.50\00:22:54.97
He knows everybody's
heart, he knew Gideon's heart.
00:22:54.97\00:22:56.91
He says, Gideon if
you're really scared,
00:22:56.91\00:22:58.71
I want you to
go down the valley.
00:22:58.71\00:23:00.64
I want you to listen to what
those men are talking about.
00:23:00.64\00:23:03.28
And if you're really scared
to take your servant with you.
00:23:03.28\00:23:05.75
So he finally decides to go
into any sneaks down the camp
00:23:05.75\00:23:08.92
and he listens in to what
these guys are talking about.
00:23:08.92\00:23:11.55
And these guys are
talking about Gideon,
00:23:11.55\00:23:13.05
the one says I just had a dream.
00:23:13.05\00:23:14.46
And this Gideon, basically the
idea he wiped out the nation.
00:23:14.46\00:23:18.63
We're scared to death.
00:23:18.63\00:23:20.20
Well, Gideon that
gave him some courage.
00:23:20.20\00:23:21.80
- Oh, yes.
00:23:21.80\00:23:22.90
- He goes back up
the hill, you know,
00:23:22.90\00:23:24.40
and tells everybody
it's time, get ready.
00:23:24.40\00:23:26.74
And he's got
his 100 men with him
00:23:26.74\00:23:28.20
and he's got the
other group of 100
00:23:28.20\00:23:30.04
and another group of
100 on the other hills.
00:23:30.04\00:23:32.44
And all of a sudden, he said,
00:23:32.44\00:23:33.51
when I blow the
trumpet, he blew the trumpet.
00:23:33.51\00:23:36.44
Everybody blows their trumpets
00:23:36.44\00:23:38.28
and they start
yelling and screaming
00:23:38.28\00:23:39.75
and they break their vessels
00:23:39.75\00:23:41.78
that they had
concealing the lights.
00:23:41.78\00:23:44.05
And all of a sudden it
looks like this vast armies
00:23:44.05\00:23:46.19
on all the
mountains and they're yelling
00:23:46.19\00:23:48.02
and screaming and God
caused all the armies down
00:23:48.02\00:23:51.49
below to begin
fighting one another.
00:23:51.49\00:23:53.33
They got so scared.
00:23:53.33\00:23:54.10
They started killing one another
00:23:54.10\00:23:56.20
and began
rooting the entire army.
00:23:56.20\00:23:59.03
Then God says, okay,
now call the rest of Israel
00:23:59.03\00:24:01.60
and go chase these
guys and get rid of them.
00:24:01.60\00:24:03.34
I'm the one who did the work.
00:24:03.34\00:24:04.41
So now you can, you know, go on.
00:24:04.41\00:24:06.91
- So they really
didn't need their own spears.
00:24:06.91\00:24:09.54
God had it worked out that
trumpet and a pitcher was enough
00:24:09.54\00:24:14.12
because the enemy
was wiping itself out.
00:24:14.12\00:24:17.05
- But it's so
interesting how God uses us.
00:24:17.05\00:24:19.05
God works with us, you know,
00:24:19.05\00:24:20.92
gets us to be a part
of it, a part of his work.
00:24:20.92\00:24:23.73
- And look at the
result of Gideon's decision.
00:24:23.73\00:24:27.13
When he was in the wine press,
00:24:27.13\00:24:28.43
when the angel came to him,
00:24:28.43\00:24:30.33
when he was hiding,
not feeling courageous,
00:24:30.33\00:24:33.97
he could have said no,
00:24:33.97\00:24:36.04
because God doesn't
force us to do things,
00:24:36.04\00:24:38.97
he encourages
but he doesn't force.
00:24:38.97\00:24:41.41
Gideon could have said,
no, you got the wrong guy.
00:24:41.41\00:24:45.05
Try the one in the wine press,
you know, the next one over.
00:24:45.05\00:24:48.72
But he didn't.
00:24:48.72\00:24:50.09
He may have needed some
signs, some encouragement,
00:24:50.09\00:24:53.56
but he stepped
out and he did it.
00:24:53.56\00:24:57.13
And that's what
inspired Israel to quit hiding,
00:24:57.13\00:25:00.80
it inspired Israel
to fight the Midianites.
00:25:00.80\00:25:04.90
It inspired those 300 men
to go up that hill with him
00:25:04.90\00:25:08.67
with a trumpet and a pitcher
00:25:08.67\00:25:12.11
no weapons against
an innumerable army.
00:25:12.11\00:25:16.34
That one little courage, bit
of courage that Gideon found.
00:25:16.34\00:25:20.95
And the result was monumental.
00:25:21.75\00:25:23.62
- I think about
monumental results.
00:25:26.09\00:25:29.06
Would you like
monumental results in your life?
00:25:29.06\00:25:32.36
There's a text found in
Isaiah chapter 41, verse 10.
00:25:32.36\00:25:35.66
I'd like to share
with you, it says,
00:25:35.66\00:25:37.40
fear thou not, for I
am with thee, who, God,
00:25:37.40\00:25:42.04
be not dismayed,
for I am thy God,
00:25:42.04\00:25:45.34
I will strengthen thee yay.
00:25:45.34\00:25:46.88
I will help the yay.
00:25:46.88\00:25:48.64
I will uphold thee
with my right hand,
00:25:48.64\00:25:51.38
my right hand of righteous.
00:25:51.38\00:25:53.25
That's the God we serve.
00:25:54.38\00:25:55.52
That's the God
that Gideon got to know.
00:25:55.52\00:25:58.45
He didn't know
God too well early on,
00:25:58.45\00:26:00.79
but God let him
step by step by step.
00:26:00.79\00:26:02.92
He drew him.
00:26:02.92\00:26:04.96
He was patient with him.
00:26:04.96\00:26:06.86
God will be patient with
you too just call upon God,
00:26:06.86\00:26:10.23
call upon him right
now, he'll answer you.
00:26:10.23\00:26:12.60
He'll take his right hand.
00:26:12.60\00:26:14.24
He'll lift you up, help
you go through any battles
00:26:14.24\00:26:16.94
and trials that
troubles of this world.
00:26:16.94\00:26:19.81
There are no problem with God.
00:26:19.81\00:26:21.18
There is never anything
that catches God unawares.
00:26:21.18\00:26:23.95
I never find in the Bible any
place, Janice where God says,
00:26:23.95\00:26:27.15
oh man, I never
saw that one coming.
00:26:27.15\00:26:28.92
- Oh, nope.
00:26:28.92\00:26:29.98
- It just doesn't happen.
00:26:29.98\00:26:31.15
They're not a trial in your life
00:26:31.15\00:26:32.32
that God doesn't know about.
00:26:32.32\00:26:33.72
And that he can't handle.
00:26:33.72\00:26:35.36
Please choose God
today call upon him.
00:26:35.36\00:26:37.49
- I don't like surprises.
00:26:38.93\00:26:40.93
I like to know
what's going to happen.
00:26:40.93\00:26:42.86
And when it's going to happen,
00:26:42.86\00:26:45.33
I make lists and I always have
a plan A, B, and sometimes C.
00:26:45.33\00:26:50.37
Needless to say in
today's uncertain world
00:26:51.41\00:26:53.64
I struggle with an
embarrassing amount of anxiety.
00:26:53.64\00:26:57.75
If that sounds familiar,
00:26:57.75\00:26:59.48
you need to send
for this free pamphlet
00:26:59.48\00:27:02.28
Certainty in an Uncertain World,
00:27:02.28\00:27:05.29
to order your free copy go to,
00:27:05.29\00:27:07.16
TalkingDonkeyInternational.org.
00:27:07.16\00:27:09.99
And request offer number 121
00:27:09.99\00:27:13.09
and find hope for
today and tomorrow.
00:27:13.09\00:27:16.77
- [Narrator] Introducing,
Talking Donkey International,
00:27:19.03\00:27:21.64
God once used a
donkey to spread his word
00:27:21.64\00:27:24.67
but he'd rather use all of us.
00:27:24.67\00:27:26.71
It's time to
prepare quality programming,
00:27:27.84\00:27:30.15
created to attract and
reach viewers of the world.
00:27:30.15\00:27:33.05
Not just those
of our denomination.
00:27:33.05\00:27:35.45
Together, we can carry
the final advent message
00:27:35.45\00:27:38.32
to the
individuals of planet earth
00:27:38.32\00:27:40.62
and hasten the
return of our Lord.
00:27:40.62\00:27:42.99
Please pray for and
support the successful mission
00:27:42.99\00:27:46.03
of Talking Donkey International.
00:27:46.03\00:27:48.16
(upbeat music)
00:27:49.66\00:27:52.30
- Hey, thanks for
joining us for Country Wisdom.
00:27:53.64\00:27:56.10
- See you next time.
00:27:56.10\00:27:57.17
(upbeat music)
00:27:58.67\00:28:01.31