The following post is an excerpt from Priscilla Shirer’s new Bible study, Gideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength.
Gideon’s story highlights many elements of God’s character. Seeing the Midianites unleashed on the Israelites shows the judgment of God.
Raising up a deliverer reveals the mercy of God.
The victory of Gideon’s 300 over the enemy points to the power of God.
But the story unmasks another divine attribute that should make us eternally grateful: the long-suffering nature of God.
“Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you” (Isa. 30:18).
If there’s anything I can say about my own relationship with Him, it’s that He has patiently pursued me, consistently tolerating my spiritual mood swings.
He hasn’t been unnerved when I’ve taken longer than I should to obey Him, believe Him, or trust His guidance. Instead of swift justice, He has extended mercy, offering me chance after chance.
No one else in the entire world has dealt with me so kindly.
So patiently.
Join thousands of women from around the globe on April 27 to hear Priscilla teach on the story of Gideon. You can also order her new Bible study here.