AI Summary
5 min readIn the book of Judges, the Israelites have already made it to the Promised Land. But instead of living in it, they are hiding in caves. The enemy—the Midianites—is running rampant, and God’s people have vacated the territory He gave them. Ben Graves, a pastor from San Diego, uses this image to frame a central question for the episode: What if the war you think is out there is actually in your own backyard? And what if the thing keeping you from leading your family and influencing the next generation isn’t a lack of resources or skill, but a hidden altar you have refused to tear down?
The Cave and the Calling
Graves argues that every person has a sphere of influence—a domain God has given them to lead as an ambassador. But when that sphere feels overwhelming, the natural instinct is not to fight but to hide. He describes this as a modern, comfortable phenomenon: “Hiding in 2026 is bougie, easy, and accessible. You ain’t even gotta go find a cave. You can just hop on your phone.” He confesses that as a stressed father, he would take bathroom breaks and disappear into YouTube Golf, until he felt convicted: “You’re hiding. That’s the domain I’ve called you to lead in. And you’re hiding.”
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:18) **Episode Opening & Guest Introduction** - Steven Furtick introduces the podcast and the service begins with worship and a call for a spiritual awakening.
- 2 (07:19) **The Core Thesis: You Are an Ambassador** - Graves reads 2 Corinthians 5:20 and establishes the central idea that believers are now Christ's ambassadors, not someday, but right now.
- 3 (11:09) **Scripture Foundation: Judges 6 and the Problem of Hiding** - Graves turns to the story of Gideon in Judges 6 to illustrate how God's people can vacate their promised land.
- 4 (16:30) **Identifying Your "Midianites" and the Culture of Hiding** - Graves explains that everyone has "Midianites"—recurring sins, trauma, or pressures that make them want to hide.
- 5 (19:58) **God's Pattern of Meeting People in Caves** - Graves surveys biblical characters who hid in caves (Elijah, David, Mary & Martha, even Jesus' tomb) to show that God specializes in showing up in dark places.
- 6 (24:10) **Gideon's Encounter: Identity Before Action** - Graves returns to the text where the angel calls Gideon a "mighty warrior" while he is threshing wheat in a winepress out of fear.
- 7 (28:58) **Overcoming the Excuse List** - Graves highlights Gideon's list of reasons why God cannot use him (weak clan, least in family) and God's simple, powerful reply: "I will be with you."
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Show Notes
When life feels like it’s beating you up, it’s tempting to just slip away and hide. But God hasn’t called you to a cave; He’s called you to contend for a legacy.
If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond HERE: http://ele.vc/tIepfr
Scriptures Referenced:
Judges chapter 6, verses 11 through 16 – An angel finds Gideon hiding, calls him mighty warrior
Judges chapter 6, verses 25 through 32 – Gideon tears down his father's altar to Baal
Judges chapter 1 – Israel let defeated enemies stay in the land
2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 20 – Paul calls believers ambassadors for Christ
Romans chapter 5, verse 8 – Christ died for us
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