You Can Make a Difference
Copyright ©2020 by The Good Elder. All rights reserved.
Recently, I found myself in a low place emotionally. I reflected upon that scripture found in 1st Samuel 30:6. It is much easier said than done. Still, sometimes, we have to be the change that we want to see in the world; or we at least may have to make an effort toward that change. We can make a difference. I expanded upon these contemplations below...
Sadly, we live in a society which acculturates the people to be sheep that follow the crowd; and, for the most part, we comply. While an argument can be made that such an arrangement is beneficial, say, when it comes to acceptable standards of living and morality, it is clear that such an existence does not often lead to a fulfilling life experience. For one thing, what voice do the docile sheep have in the direction that they are going? And, what about an individual's inner yearnings toward creative self-expression? Who gets to decide where the people are led, and for whose good or benefit and toward what agenda are they led that way?
In places and times where change is called for, there has always been at at least one person whose inner yearning for change was stronger than their loyalty to a path of mediocrity and the preservation of the status quo. Often, we remember the names of these brave souls who pushed humanity to a better version of itself. We can call the roll: Imhotep, Martin Luther, Fredrick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Mohandas Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai... All of these (and countless others) were just one among many living in unpleasant or less-than-ideal conditions. These ones, however, found enough courage to resist the tide of opposition and demand better.
We look at these (and others) in retrospect and think to ourselves, "I can't be that great! I'm not like them..." as we forget that, up until they made the pivotal decisions in their lives, they too were just "regular people." In fact, they remained "regular people", but they were willing to commit themselves to act in righteousness and with courage and conviction for the betterment of others. Because of their selfless choices, we still remember them today, decades or centuries after some of them lived, because they made a difference. And, yes, you can make a difference, too!
Gideon1 was among the Israelites who were given into the hands of the Midianites. As usual, it was their own fault, but that's not our focus today. When the angel first appeared to Gideon, Gideon's response was the same as many other faithful ones who find themselves needing the LORD but not perceiving or discerning His presence: "Where is the LORD?" "If God is here, why are we in this predicament?" "Why hasn't He delivered us?" Of course, the text informs us that a unnamed prophet explained the reason that Israel is in dire straits, but it is not clear whether Gideon was privy to the prophet's message.
The LORD chose Gideon to lead the revolt against Midian, and He affirmed to Gideon, "I am with with you!" But, Gideon laments what, to him, was a lowly patriarchal status: "my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." The LORD was un-phased by Gideon's feelings of insufficiency, asserting that "Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."
The angel gave Gideon a sign, and he began to believe. However, God commanded him to step out further from his comfort zone with a very brazen act of desecrating the altar of Ba'al and setting up an altar for the LORD. Of course, this outward act brought a lot of criticism his way, even death threats.
The criticism and the threats perhaps caused Gideon to doubt. Perhaps he pondered within himself, "I don't like living under the oppression of the Midianites. But, if I keep doing these revolutionary types of thing, will I be alright?" So, Gideon asked for a sign--twice--and God gave them to him!
We can take several lessons away from Gideon's story, lessons that we can apply in our own lives to truly feel empowered by God to help bring about positive change in our own lives, and especially in the lives of others. We can see, from the initial introduction of Gideon, that he was already a small scale revolutionary, working in secret to keep his people fed. He probably thought it to be a small thing, absolutely necessary and not at all praise worthy. This little bit, however, was already enough to get him in trouble or get him killed. Yet, he did it, without ego, even under the threat of punishment. And God was watching and waiting.
Gideon was learning subterfuge, which he would need later; but again, he probably thought nothing of it beyond self preservation. And God was watching and waiting.
He knew enough about God to openly wonder, "Where is God?" and "Why is He letting this happen?" But, even more than his complaints and lamentations, Gideon knew about God's greatness, calling to mind the stories of Him delivering Israel from Egyptian bondage with signs and wonders.
He also knew enough about God to understand that 1) God establishes relationships with people, and 2) God appears to (or sends angels to appear to) people whom He commissions to do a Work. He may have been from a poor family, and he may have been the least in that poor family, but, when the angel appeared, and when God spoke to him, he didn't immediately dismiss it out of hand. Instead, Gideon asked for signs. "Prove it! Show me that You're with me! Show me that You've sent me!" And God gave him those signs.
With signs shown, Gideon stepped out on faith, and we know the rest of the story. And 3,000 years later, we still talk about Gideon, one man who, with the blessings of God, made a difference in the history of his people.
Certainly, few people embark upon such noble work (and stick with it) for vain reasons, like popularity, wealth and acclaim, and comfort. For, as history shows, such noble people (in their own time) tend to resist the calling, and are often poor, vilified, threatened, and suffering. Accepting such a call would be just that much more work; and yet, they did it!
We think back to Martin Luther King, Jr., for example. The sanitized story we have of him today is a far cry from what "they" thought of him in the heat of his battle. He was called a communist, constantly vilified, his life was threatened (and he was eventually assassinated). But one man made a difference and was a significant figure in the history of the USA and the world.
For us (and the masses in general) there is a prevailing disbelief at the power that one person can have to influence change and make a difference in the world. Specifically, there is the disbelief that God would reach out to us or use us to do a noble work. People would call one a cracked pot before they'd believe that one was a divinely inspired visionary or leader.
Of course, there are some who fake it for the sake of popularity or power, but in short order, their works (or lack thereof) exposes their hypocrisy.
However, for the real and true workers, those who really can make a difference, they may believe in God, but perhaps are not fully sold on the personal, delivering, way-making, saving God. Even for the honest and diligent workers who believe in a personal God, there may be fear of becoming target of negative attacks. They wonder and worry about their well-being and safety, and that of their family and loved ones.
In an enlightened society, these fears and worries would be much less or non-existent, for who would seek to thwart the divine self-expression of any of God's people? But alas, we're living in dreadful days and perilous times, a time when the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full2.
Even in these times, "if thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, you will find Him..."3 and it is the presence and power of God makes all change possible! Thus did the Psalmist write, "The LORD is my Light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear...?"4
We won't all be called to lead a revolt or even be in the public eye. Sometimes, we'll offer sage advice quietly and confidentially. Sometimes, we'll be the steadying presence in the office or in the family. Maybe we'll demonstrate a living example of an inspired daily life, or give a helping hand to countless others. My father always said, "Everybody is somebody to somebody!" You can make a difference! What, to you, might be an obvious statement or a retrospective look on past mistakes could be life changing for someone else!
If we fear or are in disbelief that God might have really chosen us, if guilt from past mistakes tempts us to disqualify ourselves, repent, pray, and ask for a sign. But, if you get that sign, be ready to move! Whatever God has for us to do, the most we can do is prepare ourselves to be a suitable vessel or instrument. It is up to God to bring the instrument into His hand and determine how He will use it.
Sometimes, we contribute to the problems we complain about. If God decides to use you to bring a change or remedy, will you complain, or will you act? You CAN make a difference!
1See Judges 6:11-16, 36-40
2See Genesis 15:13-16
3See Deuteronomy 4:25-31, especially verse 29
4See Psalm 27:1
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