Finding Shalom

Finding shalom is something I suspect we would all like to be able to do. Defining true shalom, however, is something different in the original Hebrew than in the English language. Peace is not a sufficient translation of what shalom is. 

Shalom means nothing broken, nothing missing. It is peacemaking, as opposed to peacekeeping, because when something is broken it requires dealing with the brokenness, not maintaining the status quo. To go more in depth with true shalom, please click here, because today I would like to talk briefly about shalom and Gideon.

Gideon was raised in an era when “everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes.”  [read: evil] If you don’t know the story, or even if you do, I encourage you to read Judges chapters 6 & 7. There was very little shalom in the land.

Afraid of the of their oppressors, most chose to hide in the hills. Gideon was hiding in a winepress up in the hills when an angel appeared to him. Addressing Gideon he said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” 6:14

As I probably would have replied, he basically answers: “ WHO ME???” Followed by, “YEAH BUT. . . .” But he did not run away.

Gideon began, perhaps reluctantly, by building an altar called “YAWEH Shalom.” God is my peace and wholeness. . . .” Almost as if to say, “OK God, if you say so!” He knew he did not have shalom, but God could provide. 

In the course of these two chapters, Gideon makes excuses, questions, and asks the Lord for signs. And the Lord delivers! Personally, I believe our Abba wants us to trust Him. When He calls us to a goal, He will confirm to us that He is indeed, The Great I AM. 

These demonstrations of confirmation, encouraged Gideon to trust YAWEH Shalom.

Believers tend to give Gideon a really hard time for needing signs to prove directions from the Lord. They ask, “Why doesn’t he just believe?”

Gideon is great because he is real. From the place of his real insecurities, fears and uncertainty, he didn’t just say, “No Way!” Rather, he was willing to take one step at a time, allowing God to prove Himself to be YAWEH Shalom. As he humbly watched God confirm his call, and Himself, Gideon was finding shalom. By stepping out in faith and obeying the word of the Lord, Gideon grew. He became the name the angel called him when they first met. “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” 

Today, I am calling for the Gideons, including myself, to stand with the Lord. Just like Gideon’s day, “everyone is doing what was right in their own eyes,” so we need full shalom. With the presence of our Lord giving us hope, courage, and wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can experience true shalom.

It is time to stop doing everything that is right in our own eyes so we can become the mighty people God made us to be.  

May we all, in our own ways, be both open, and discerning, to the ways and call of God on our lives, finding shalom, and might, along the way.