IDENTITY PROPELS CALLING

“Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” – Judges 6:14b

Another destiny-defining truth is that IDENTITY PROPELS CALLING: “Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Jud.6:14). The story of Gideon aptly portrays the Power of Identity in propelling God’s Call upon a life. Who God has called me to be (Identity) will propel what God has called me to do (Calling), and potentially define what I ultimately accomplish (Destiny).

Israel was living under persistent oppression from the Midianites. Meanwhile, a young Israelite named Gideon was hiding from the enemy in a winepress, threshing wheat. God then sent His Angel to Gideon, with a Calling into Service that revealed his true Identity and God-ordained destiny: “…The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? … Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Jud.6:12-14).

When the angel called Gideon a ‘mighty man of valour,’ he was calling him by his God-given identity. In the Bible, a given name is often synonymous with God-ordained identity or destiny. The name Gideon means ‘cutter down’ or ‘destroyer’; and Gideon was destined to be a leader who, with God’s help, would overthrow Israel’s powerful enemy. Gideon, however, saw himself differently – as insignificant, incapable, and helpless. The angelic pronouncement of Gideon’s divine identity set in motion a chain of events that propelled him out of hiding into the pathway of fulfilling God’s Calling on his life, making history, and potentially accomplishing destiny!

Here are three life-transforming lessons from Gideon’s story, about Identity, Calling, and Destiny: (1) God initiates our Identity; (2) His Calling turns our weaknesses into His Strength; and (3) It takes a close relationship with Him to fulfil destiny!

God Himself Initiates our Identity and Destiny: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). God stepped into Gideon’s everyday life with a Divine Call, announcing His intention for him. His purpose for our lives is not our own alluring idea of what we would like to be or do; it is His Plan: “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel – that will stand” (Pro.19:21). God’s destiny for our lives will be consistent with how He has wired us: our unique experiences, passion, abilities, talents, and gifts. Yet, He cannot be limited by any of these. He took Gideon by surprise and can do so with anyone else!

God’s Call turns our weaknesses into His Strengths: “For you see your CALLING, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Cor. 1:26-27).  Gideon did not comprehend his unique identity, but was behaving contrary to divine design. He was fearful, hiding from the enemies; whereas his identity was to be bold. He felt himself to be the smallest and least significant, but God’s calling propelled him into leadership.

Our identity and destiny are usually beyond our natural abilities. Many of those whom God used powerfully had histories of weakness or failure in their very areas of strength. But God uses our inadequacies, hurts and wounds. He helps to overcome those flaws, and turns them into points of strength and areas in which to minister to others.

Ultimately, it takes an intimate Relationship with God to wholly fulfil Destiny. This, we shall meditate upon tomorrow, by God’s Grace! It is sufficient today to reflect on how far the revelation of Identity is propelling your calling and purpose in life.