God at Work 神在动工
Dexu Xia
Gideon replied. “Give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.” Judges 6:17
Today's Scripture. Judges 6:36-40
Today's Insights God’s power at work amid human frailty is showcased in Gideon’s life. Though he doubted that God could use him (Judges 6:11-18), He had assignments for Gideon as well as the divine and human resources needed to fulfill them. When Gideon highlighted the frailty of his family (v. 15), God answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive” (v. 16). He also made sure He Himself would get the credit for victory by reducing an army of more than thirty thousand to just three hundred. When Gideon took the men “down to the water” to drink, He instructed him to “separate those who lap . . . with their tongues . . . from those who kneel down to drink” (7:5). He defeated the Midianites “with the three hundred men that lapped” (v. 7). Today, God still watches over us and is at work in our lives in ways we often can’t explain.
Today's Devotion Jay owned a Gideon Bible, yet his analytical mind didn’t permit him to accept its miracles. One thing haunted him, though: the genuine faith of his friend. So Jay offered a strange prayer. He told God, “If you want me to believe in You, then do something I can’t explain.”
One day, something drew Jay to look for his Bible. It was gone. How could that be? He never lost track of things.
He drove in the rain to his teaching job at the University of Zurich. Stepping out of his car, he spotted a Gideon Bible on the wet pavement. That’s strange, he thought. Picking it up, he noticed the Bible was totally dry despite the rain. Something he couldn’t explain!
Gideon Bibles are named for an Old Testament hero of Israel. When God chose Gideon to lead Israel into battle against a vast army, Gideon had huge doubts. He told God, “I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece . . . , then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand” (Judges 6:37). God answered Gideon’s challenge not once but twie (vv. 39-40).
Doubt-filled prayers aren’t a pattern for us to follow. They can, however, reveal God’s character. Gideon led a tiny army to a smashing victory (ch. 7). Jay put his faith in Jesus, recognizing that his prayer had been answered by a loving God who does things we can’t explain.
Reflect & Pray
What experiences have you had that seem beyond explanation? How do they help you see God at work?
Thank You, dear Father, that You hear my honest prayers and meet me where I am. By Tim Gustafson
基甸回答说:“求你给我一个凭据，证明真的是你在跟我说话。”（士师记 6:17）
今日经文：士师记 6章36-40 节
今日洞见 基甸的生平彰显了神如何在软弱的生命中动工。尽管基甸曾怀疑神能否重用他（士师记 6:11-18），但是神不仅赋予他使命，还为他提供了完成使命所需的神圣与属世资源。当基甸强调自己家族的微弱卑微时（15节），神回答说：“我必与你同在，你就必击打米甸人，像击打一人一样”（16节）。为确保胜利的荣耀来自上帝，祂将一支三万多人的军队缩减为仅三百人。当基甸带人“下到水边”喝水时，神指示他将“用舌头舔水的人”与“跪下喝水的人”分开（7:5）。最终，祂借着那“三百个舔水的人”击败了米甸人（7节）。
今天，神依然看顾我们，并以我们往往无法解释的方式在我们的生命中动工。
今日灵修 杰伊有一本基甸会赠送的圣经，但他那讲求逻辑分析的头脑使他无法接受圣经中讲述的神迹。然而他对自己的一位朋友那份真诚的信心却百思不得其解。于是，杰伊做了一个不同寻常的祷告，他对神说：“如果你要我相信你，那就做一件我无法解释的事吧。”有一天，杰伊的圣经不见了，某种力量促使他去寻找那本圣经。这怎么可能呢？他向来是个妥善保管物品的人。他当冒雨开车前往苏黎世大学去教书，下车时，他发现在湿漉漉的地面上躺着的就是基甸会赠送的圣经。真奇怪，他心想。捡起圣经时，他发现尽管外面下着雨，这本圣经却完全是干的。这正是他无法解释的事情！
“基甸圣经”是以旧约圣经中一位以色列英雄的名字命名的。当神拣选基甸率领以色列人迎战一支庞大的军队时，基甸心中充满了疑虑。他对神说：“我把一团羊毛放在禾场上；如果只有羊毛上有露水……我就知道祢必借着我的手拯救以色列人”（士师记 6:37）。神不仅一次，而是两次回应了基甸的请求（39-40节）。基甸那充满怀疑的祷告并非我们要效法的榜样，但他祷告的结果却彰显了神的性情。基甸最终率领一支微小的军队取得了辉煌的胜利（7章）。杰伊祈求耶稣帮他建立信心，他意识到自己的祷告已蒙一位慈爱的神所应允，这位神行事如此奇妙，往往超乎我们的理解。
反思与祷告 你有哪些看似无法解释的经历？这些经历如何帮助你看见神的作为？ 亲爱的天父，感谢祢垂听我真诚的祷告，并在我当下的光景中与我相遇。
作者：蒂姆·古斯塔夫森