Gideon is a character in the Bible. After we had sent off our dossier-I took part in a Simulcast Bible Study with some women from our church on Gideon. Learning more about his life and how God shaped his story (and Derrick's three syllable requirement) it was our favorite name option if our adopted child was a boy. Then, we received this particular referral. For our tiny fragile boy, it was perfect. It's one of the stories I read over and over the week we prayed for God's peace in accepting (or denying) this sweet boy's referral. So grateful we accepted and are ready for the ride God has placed before us.
"...And he said, I will stay till you return." Judges 6:18 - The Lord WAITED on Gideon. If you hadn't heard yet, we've been waiting and will be waiting for quite some time. Our prayerful timeline is that we'll travel to meet Gideon sometime this summer and pass court then go back before the holidays of 2014 and bring him home. We have no idea if this is realistic or not-many many people say the timeline could be shorter. Many others say it'll be longer.
In Judges 6:36-40, Gideon was weak and scared and asked God to show him specific signs to know if he was to actually do as God told him. The week we were contemplating Gideon's referral and potential medical needs we prayed over and over for peace. Just a specific indescribable peace that covers fear. God delivered. We were weak and doubting. God was not and for that I am forever grateful.
Judges 7: As Gideon's pre-battle story begins, God keeps lessening his army's numbers. God makes it harder and harder and seemingly impossible for Gideon to win this battle. Given our Gideon's potentional medical risks and now, with Ethiopia's international adoptions hanging in the balance- It feels like our journey to bring our baby home is getting harder and harder and maybe even impossible. Judges 7:2 explains that God is lessening his numbers so the Isrealities do not believe they have won by their own hand - like the way our adoption funds have been raised - it was ONLY through God we had nothing to do with it. There is no other way to describe it. The way our son was brought to us and already had families praying for him and for him to find a family without knowing us. Only God. So, the next steps that can only be through God: There is a minister of the Ethiopian government that will be requesting to SHUT DOWN international adoptions (meaning Gideon would never be ours.) Please pray the Prime Minister and rest of parliament will decide otherwise-with a focus on lessening poverty and other issues that create the orphans-rather than holding those children who need help now in an orphanage forever. Pray that the Prime Minister continues the international adoption. With changes and a more transparent process, of course. But not shutting it down. Pray with us. Please.
So, that's how we arrived at the name Gideon. All those reasons are why we chose to name our son after this great Bible character. We're waiting. We've had times where we are scared. And it's getting harder by the day. In the end of the Bibical story of Gideon, he wins. He wins the battle it seems impossible for him to win. We are praying the same for our son (and us I guess). This is what winning would like look like for us: Our Gideon is brought home to a forever family and we are all changed for the better, forever. He receives great medical care in the areas he needs (which is largely unavailable in Ethiopia-especially where our sweet boy is) and all our kids learn the redemptive saving grace and love of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, Gideon begins on his knees in prayer. But not just in prayer. Praising God for a victory. Will you do the same with us? Praise God for our son and the victory given in his life.
Thank you!
