Judges, Chapter 6. Gideon, the Sixth Judge.

11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Mighty warrior in the eyes of God; hiding in a wine press to others. But ready, willing and able. Good lesson for life and faith. Doing nothing goes nowhere. And the next thing is a good place to start. And start again, and again and again.

When Gideon was called to serve, he was like many in the nation of Isreael — hiding away from the Midianites who were ravaging the land. Hidden away in a winepress threshing his wheat in a small space to avoid the evildoers from swooping down and taking his grain.

And yet, the angel showed up and said “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Yeah, right.

But, in that position, in the place, and doing those small things. Gideon got up and did the next thing that was asked of him.

Great or small, powerful or not so powerful, alone or in a group, everyone has to be somewhere for no matter where you go, there you are. Always in a position to lead and do the next thing.