Placed In The Pit

Peyton Johnston

November 6th, 2017

Judges​ ​6:11

Threshing​ ​was​ ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​dividing​ ​the​ ​grains​ ​of​ ​wheat​ ​from​ ​the​ ​worthless​ ​outer​ ​shell​ ​called chaff.​ ​This​ ​was​ ​normally​ ​done​ ​in​ ​an​ ​open,​ ​spacious​ ​area​ ​so​ ​that​ ​the​ ​wind​ ​could​ ​easily​ ​blow away​ ​the​ ​lighter​ ​chaff​ ​when​ ​the​ ​farmer​ ​tossed​ ​the​ ​beaten​ ​wheat​ ​into​ ​the​ ​air.​ ​But​ ​if​ ​Gideon​ ​had put​ ​himself​ ​in​ ​plain​ ​sight​ ​to​ ​do​ ​this,​ ​he​ ​would​ ​have​ ​also​ ​been​ ​putting​ ​himself​ ​in​ ​great​ ​danger. You​ ​see,​ ​had​ ​Gideon​ ​stepped​ ​into​ ​view​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​his​ ​task,​ ​he​ ​would​ ​have​ ​been​ ​an​ ​obvious target​ ​for​ ​the​ ​bands​ ​of​ ​raiders​ ​who​ ​were​ ​overrunning​ ​the​ ​land.​ ​So​ ​instead,​ ​he​ ​used​ ​wisdom​ ​and decided​ ​to​ ​thresh​ ​his​ ​wheat​ ​in​ ​a​ ​winepress​ ​-​ ​a​ ​pit​ ​that​ ​was​ ​well​ ​hidden​ ​from​ ​view​ ​and​ ​that​ ​was​ ​a totally​ ​unsuspecting​ ​place​ ​to​ ​find​ ​a​ ​farmer’s​ ​crops.

When​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​our​ ​lives,​ ​we​ ​all​ ​would​ ​much​ ​rather​ ​be​ ​standing​ ​on​ ​a​ ​hill​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​in​ ​a​ ​pit. Especially​ ​in​ ​our​ ​service​ ​and​ ​ministry​ ​to​ ​God’s​ ​Kingdom,​ ​am​ ​I​ ​right?​ ​We​ ​crave​ ​the​ ​thrill​ ​of​ ​the mountaintop​ ​moments​ ​and​ ​begrudge​ ​the​ ​trying​ ​times​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ditch.​ ​We​ ​often​ ​desire​ ​convenience over​ ​sagacity,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​want​ ​to​ ​stand​ ​in​ ​a​ ​place​ ​where​ ​our​ ​hard​ ​work​ ​can​ ​be​ ​appreciated.

But​ ​sometimes​ ​being​ ​in​ ​that​ ​secret​ ​place​ ​out​ ​of​ ​others’​ ​view​ ​is​ ​the​ ​only​ ​thing​ ​keeping​ ​you​ ​safe. Just​ ​because​ ​God​ ​has​ ​called​ ​you​ ​to​ ​do​ ​something,​ ​doesn’t​ ​mean​ ​you​ ​may​ ​not​ ​have​ ​to​ ​complete it​ ​in​ ​the​ ​pit​ ​-​ ​a​ ​place​ ​where​ ​you​ ​feel​ ​you’re​ ​working​ ​overtime,​ ​yet​ ​still​ ​no​ ​one​ ​else​ ​notices​ ​your accomplishments.​ ​Be​ ​careful​ ​not​ ​to​ ​resent​ ​those​ ​times​ ​when​ ​you​ ​feel​ ​misplaced​ ​in​ ​your​ ​ministry, for​ ​God​ ​is​ ​never​ ​unintentional.​ ​Sometimes​ ​God​ ​may​ ​take​ ​you​ ​off​ ​a​ ​high​ ​place​ ​and​ ​set​ ​you somewhere​ ​lower​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​you​ ​from​ ​unforeseen​ ​sins,​ ​circumstances,​ ​or​ ​even​ ​people​ ​that​ ​could ultimately​ ​hinder​ ​you​ ​in​ ​the​ ​long​ ​run.​ ​And​ ​keep​ ​in​ ​mind​ ​that​ ​it’s​ ​often​ ​in​ ​the​ ​unsuspecting​ ​places that​ ​God​ ​teaches​ ​and​ ​forms​ ​the​ ​most​ ​powerful​ ​laborers​ ​for​ ​His​ ​kingdom.​ ​So​ ​the​ ​next​ ​time​ ​you find​ ​yourself​ ​placed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​pit,​ ​don’t​ ​try​ ​to​ ​attain​ ​a​ ​different​ ​position.​ ​Understand​ ​that​ ​sometimes the​ ​wisest​ ​place​ ​to​ ​be​ ​is​ ​the​ ​most​ ​unsuspecting​ ​place,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​God​ ​is​ ​using​ ​this​ ​time​ ​to​ ​either teach​ ​you​ ​or​ ​protect​ ​you.

Pray:​ ​​“Lord,​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​ever​ ​a​ ​time​ ​in​ ​my​ ​life​ ​where​ ​being​ ​on​ ​the​ ​hill​ ​would​ ​be​ ​a​ ​hindrance,​ ​give me​ ​the​ ​wisdom​ ​and​ ​discernment​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​Your​ ​direction​ ​to​ ​a​ ​lower​ ​place.​ ​I​ ​pray​ ​that​ ​You​ ​would help​ ​me​ ​to​ ​have​ ​patience​ ​during​ ​the​ ​times​ ​that​ ​I’m​ ​in​ ​a​ ​pit,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​I​ ​would​ ​come​ ​out​ ​stronger​ ​in You.”