Valiant Warrior

"The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.'" -Judges 6.12

Once again Israel has done what is evil in the sight of God, and God has allowed them to be oppressed, this time by Midian. Israel cries out to God and God prepares to deliver them once again. This time God's chosen champion is a young man named Gideon.

When God shows up to talk to Gideon he is hiding in the wine press, beating wheat, in order to hide the grain from the Midianites. He is the youngest member of the family, that is least in the tribe of Manasseh. But when God comes to him, He doesn't give him the identity that Gideon gives himself, or that others have probably given him. God comes to him and identifies him as a valiant warrior. This is how God sees him, and this is his true identity.

Men, how do you see yourself? Are you the youngest? The weakest? The one always chosen last? Are you hiding away doing a task so that your work isn't taken from you? God doesn't see you as inferior, as useless, or as a coward. God sees you as the valiant warrior He created you to be. God sees you as bold and courageous. God sees you as brave and heroic. God sees you as worthy and excellent. God sees you as He created you to be.

The question becomes what do you do with the title God has offered to you? Do you stay hidden away working on your task simply hoping to survive? Or do you grab hold of the identity God offers to you and begin living it? God created you to be a valiant warrior, and that is how He sees you. That is what you have it in you to be. What do you choose to do with that?

Let us be men who see ourselves through God's eyes. Let us claim the title He gives us and make it our identity. Let us be valiant warriors.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Give Your Children an Identity

"Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor. When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, 'Do not fear, for now you have another son.' It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)." -Genesis 35.16-19

Jacob, now Israel, has been given a new identity by God. He has received his true name, one of honor. We see that Rachel is pregnant, and the time has come to give birth, which would be her last act on earth. As with all of Israel's other children, the mother names her son. With her dying breath she names him Ben-oni, which means "the son of my sorrow". That's the identity that his mother gave him. It's a reminder of shame, and a name of dishonor. How is a boy to grow up with a name like that?

But fortunately for the son, his father has recently received a new identity. He is a new man, and for the first time in his years as a father, Israel names his son. He steps in and names him Benjamin, "the son of my right hand". Benjamin is a name of strength and honor. It is a name with a solid identity foundation. He begins life not with a mark of shame, but of dignity. And that is what can happen when a father steps in and gives an identity to his children.

Men, what identity have you given to your children? This passage is about a son, but the same need is there with daughters. What have you named them? What have you called them and led them to believe about themselves? Have you named them "Ben-oni" filling them with shame? Or have you named them "Benjamin" giving them pride?

Men, you have incredible power over your children. You give them an identity, but the question is what identity do you give them? You can build them up or tear them down. If you have been given your true identity from God, you will build them up. You will help them see who they really are in God's eyes. You will help them see God as a loving father who can be trusted, not as an angry tyrant to be feared.

You will give your children an identity, what will it be?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Changed by God

"So he said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' He said, 'Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.' Then Jacob asked him and said, 'Please tell me your name.' But he said, 'Why is it that you ask my name?' And he blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, 'I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.' Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh." -Genesis 32.27-31

Jacob has endured the night long wrestling match, and is now holding on for the blessing of God. He is asked for his name, and gives it. And here again we see a name change. Jacob "the trickster" becomes Israel, "he who strives with God". He has endured hardship and difficulty, and he has overcome it all. And God changes his name to his true identity. Jacob leaves his encounter with God changed, and bears the sign of it for the rest of his life.

When we get alone with God, we cannot help but be changed by God. Even a life full of shame and deceit can be transformed by God. I've wondered if I should share this, and up until now I've decided not to, but I feel like God wants me to write it here. I'm not going to air out all the dirty laundry, but I feel I need to share a little.

My family name is not something I'm proud of. My family history is full of abandonment, alcoholism, adultery, and unwed parents. Over the past few years I've learned a lot about how the events of the past went down, and I came up with two options. One, I could change my name and start over. With this option I could completely separate myself from everything and create my own family. But as I've thought about it I've realized the heartbreak it would cause to some people I really don't want to hurt, and to be completely honest I don't know that I've always considered this option with the right motives.

That leaves me with option two. I work to bring restoration. I start fresh with my family, and I set the standard for the name Gunsalus. I become the patriarch, and I work to paint a new image, write a new family history, one that is worthy of honor. And when it comes to being a man, option two requires a man.

To do what I know I need to do, I must strive with God. There is so much that I've had to work through, and there is so much I'm working to help restore. I don't want my children to hear their last name and think of all the negative things that I do. My dad told me a few months ago, "All Gunsaluses do is get divorced and have kids with people they aren't married to." But by the grace of God I've already started to break that. And to be fair, my dad has tried to to an extent, he and my mom are together.

If we would change, we must be changed by God. He is the only one who can bring restoration, and if we would find it, we must strive with Him. God wants to restore you, but restoration comes at a steep price. Jesus has paid it, but because this gift is so precious, we must want it as desperately as God wants to give it. We must wrestle with Him all night, and refuse to let go until He blesses us. When He asks for our name we tell Him everything. We give Him the hurt and the shame, but then He does what only He can do. "No longer are you ashamed but honored." Honor comes at a steep price, but the marks we bear are badges of honor. They are hard earned, and symbols of God's restoring touch.

Men, let us get alone with God so that we may be changed by God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Identity Source

"Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, 'Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.' Then she conceived again and bore a son and said, 'Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.' So she named him Simeon. She conceived again and bore a son and said, 'Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.' Therefore he was named Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “'This time I will praise the Lord.' Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing." -Genesis 29.32-35

We find an interesting thought here, Leah, the first wife, the one that Jacob never wanted but got landed with, was unloved. God saw this and had compassion on her giving her children, while Rachel, the favorite wife, was barren. Leah conceives and has a son. She believes because of it Jacob will love her.

How many men want a son? I'll be honest, I do. I want someone to lead and guide on the masculine journey. But as I've thought about it over the past few days I've wondered how many men make a son their source of identity. I think for many it's just that. Men want sons, but why? I think for many it's a source of identity. And this is a problem.

As a father, it is your responsibility to make the world safe for your children. Your strength is there to protect and provide for your family. And yet you find your identity in a new born infant. This is a shaky foundation that can't hold up, because you've put your identity on someone who hasn't found their own yet, and needs you to help them find it.

Where is your identity found? What happens if you never have a son? How do you help someone find there identity when you base yours on them?

Men, if we would be men of God, our identity must be found in Him. And once we have our identity firmly rooted in God, we can help our sons find theirs.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor