04.06.04

Now it came to pass the same night that the LORD said to him, "Take your father's young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down." So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the LORD had said to him. But because he feared his father's household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night. - Judges 6:25-27.

It was a time for action when 11-year-old Hannah Thompson’s arm was grabbed by an Australian crocodile. The girl had been swimming with some other children in Margaret Bay, which is in Queensland. When Ray Turner heard the screams and the shouts of “Crocodile!”, he took action. Being a former crocodile hunter, (he hunted crocs in Papua New Guinea) Ray knew what to do. He jumped on the back of the 10-foot crocodile and did what needed to be done. Turner says, “I landed fair on its back and I got a finger in its left eye - I missed the right eye - but he got a fright and let go. They will always let go when you go for an eye because it's their vulnerable point and their livelihood.” Hannah was taken by helicopter to the hospital and suffered lacerations and puncture wounds to her arm but she is in stable condition. Hannah was saved due to the quick and courageous action of Ray Turner.

Gideon was faced with a situation presented to him by the Lord that required action and courage as well. Gideon was not a retired crocodile hunter and he was not a retired military leader - he had no training for the action that God called upon him to do. In fact, Gideon was not very excited about what God wanted but when confronted by the angel of the Lord he was convinced to take action. However, Gideon took action at night because of his fear. He tore down the altar to the false god Baal and built an altar to the Lord God. Even though he took this action by night, others found out and were very angry with Gideon. They were ready to kill him until Gideon’s father took action standing up for his son and the one true God. God used Gideon in a powerful way; however, there was a time when a decision had to be made as to whether or not Gideon would take action. Gideon was reluctant to move but he did. Gideon’s father also took the action needed to save his son’s life.

As enemy nations came against the children of Israel Gideon though reluctant raised an army to fight them. God reduced that army to just 300 men to fight against thousands. Those 300 men had to take action. They had to believe that God had given Gideon the right plan and the time to work that plan had come. They believed, they acted and the victory was won.

We can plan, pray, and have committee meetings but eventually there will come a time for action. At times, the moment for action is not weeks, months, or years away - the moment for action is now. We must be ready. Ray Turner was ready. Gideon was reluctant but became ready. Gideon’s father was ready. The 300 brave men of Gideon’s army were ready. Are you ready to serve your Lord?