Quote from Forum Archives on April 6, 2004, 11:09 am

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional

(Over 13,000 subscribers in 75 countries)

04.06.04

Time For Action

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?

Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

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