He was the least important child in the least important family of his tribe, in a nation oppressed for seven long years. Watched by the angel of the Lord from beneath a tree, Gideon threshed wheat in hiding down in a winepress, where the Midianites wouldn’t find him or his precious grain. He believed God had forsaken them, despite their unfaithfulness to Him. When the Angel approached Gideon to declare God was with him, Gideon spoke the honest, desperate words of a man whose daily life had worn deep ruts in suffering’s path. “Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us …?” (Judges 6:13a).
Valley moments
Tired of being beaten down from his start on the lowest of places, Gideon asked what the honest among us will admit to wondering, “If God is with us, why is life so hard?”
Last week I created a spiritual life map of my journey with God. Some of my greatest discoveries about who God is came in my darkest places. I noticed that “valleys” were often followed by strength and advance. Gideon was in a low place when the angel of the Lord came and patiently answered his honest question. It wasn’t until the weary Israelite realized, “I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face” (v.22) that his desperation turned to fear. As if things weren’t bad enough, Gideon went from fragile to freaked out. Can you relate?
Peaceful moments
The Lord answered him where he was: “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” (v.23)
The only thing worse than being insignificant and insecure in the face of a marauding enemy is understanding how insignificant you are in the face of a holy God. Realizing he was part of a divine encounter with the God who had NOT forsaken him, Gideon built an altar of worship and named it for the discovery of his darkest moment: Jehovah-shalom. The Lord is peace. (Judges 6:11-24)
When we’re under attack, uncertain, in need, and painfully aware of our weakness, the world only offers illusions of temporary feelings suggesting peace. Jehovah-shalom IS peace, so He can promise, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, not let it be fearful” (John 14:27).
Past our understanding moments
Gideon couldn’t conceive of what happened in the wine press that day, stunned as he served meat and unleavened bread to the angel of the Lord. The peace he found “passed understanding;” he encountered true peace in the midst of hardship. He discovered what God offers each one of us reading now: real peace.
“… do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).
Yes, it surpasses understanding, but it can guard our hearts and our discouraged thoughts when we find ourselves in the wine press, hiding from our hardships and fighting fear. We can know the peace of Jehovah-shalom. We are meant to know the peace of Jehovah-shalom.
Let’s climb out of the wine press and get down on our knees, so Jehovah Shalom can cover us in peace that’s out of this world!
Have you had a “wine press” experience when God gave you His peace?
This is a wonderfully applicable post for those of us who face living with chronic illness and chronic challenges. I think those moments when you achieve the peace of God, while living in the midst of pain aptly portray climbing out of that wine press. Thank you for sharing this name of God – one I was not aware of.
I know that the times when I am able to stay calm when my heart is banging around inside of me (I deal with atrial fibrillation), are evidence of His work in my life.
My mom has dealt with that same condition, and I know it’s not easy to “stay calm” when it feels like your heart is going to jump outside of you. It is, indeed, a chronic challenge that can be a heavy weight. I just returned from ministering to several missionary women around the world, and each one deals with some kind of physical challenge that threatens to keep them “in a wine press.” The enemy loves to take us there. I will pray, Deni, that God will give you great peace and even physical calmness to experience victory in those moments of trial.
We are in the middle of a heat wave here in Rhode Island, and it never fails to upset me to find out how little it takes for me to get worn out during the day just by doing my usual everyday activities. I used to have a real problem with epileptic seizures, and can still have one if I get too tired or push myself too much, but when it’s hot like this I’m twice as vulnerable and it scares me. I have had a headache for a couple of days, which is usually a sign for me that things are not right inside, and when I saw this blog the first thing I thought was, “That winepress is in my skull – no wonder it aches.” As I read on, I was reminded of all the times that my body was not cooperating with my brain, and I would hear God whispering, “Rest – it will be all right, child. I will make sure nothing happens to you.” That peace is so comforting.
Dear Melanie, I just got back in the country from a missions trip with my family, but I’m praying that the Lord gave you sweet rest and relief from your headaches. Our physical weaknesses can be so oppressive and even scary, and it sounds like you’ve had to learn to be very “in tune” with how your body is feeling. You are wise to recognize physical signs that the Lord uses to invite you to rest. I will stop right now and pray for His peace to be complete for you today and for you to feel total “permission” to rest .. up out of the wine press. Blessings, Melanie.