Judges 6:1-40
So the Israelites went, again, through their vicious cycle with God, this time being handed over to the Midianites and plagued by their constant bullying and domination. They were left without so much as food to eat at the hands of this nation. So, once again, they cried out to God and he heard them. Once again, he had to remind them of all he had done for them and the little that he asked in return and how they failed to do it.
I really, really, really am amazed by and thankful for God's patience and mercy. I would have started over so many times with a brand new group of people by now. But God is great and greatly to be praised! Instead of completely giving up on them and abandoning them, he showed his eternal love for them by raising up Gideon as the next judge.
But Gideon had the Moses complex. You know the one where God calls you and you come up with every excuse in the book as to why he shouldn't have or you can't? I know I've been there a few times in my life. When the angel of the Lord showed up to call him out, he blamed God for the current malady of the Israelites; claimed he wasn't even around. But the angel insisted that he was the one.
So he protested again with something like, 'Okay, let's say God hasn't completely abandoned us, how am I supposed to lead these people? I'm the least of the least amongst them all. There's no way they'll listen to me, much less follow." But, again, the Lord insisted and promised to be with Gideon and fight for him so it would seem as easy as fighting against one person rather than a whole nation.
But Gideon still wasn't completely convinced. He needed more proof - a sign or two or three. So he asked the angel to stay there while he went to get a sacrificial offering, if in fact he was truly of God. So he did, and Gideon brought his offering and made his sacrifice. When it was consumed by fire from the rock on which he had laid it and the angel disappeared, Gideon believed...and was afraid. But the angel reassured him that he would not die (a real possibility for looking upon the Lord directly), so he built an altar called Jehovah-shalom, or the Lord is peace.
God instructed Gideon to tear down his fathers idols, including an altar to Baal and an Asherah pole, and use their pieces as a burnt offering. He did it, but only under the cover of darkness for fear of what others in the community might think. I've been there to; God says do something and I feel the need to sneak and do it because people might think I'm crazy or weird. Sure enough, when it was discovered the next morning, the people were angry and ready to kill Gideon. But, Gideon's father, Joash, stood up for him. It was his stuff that Gideon destroyed, he had been doing the wrong thing in the sight of God, but when the time came, he did what was right. He stood behind his son's leadership and challenged the mob to let their god defend himself against the true God.
That seemed to be convincing enough for the angry mob to just let it go. But, Gideon was still struggling with this whole hero thing. When the other nations formed an alliance against Israel, Gideon sounded a call to arms and readied the troops for battle, but he still had his doubts. He asked God for another sign that he would be with him - a wet fleece on dry ground. God did it. Yet, Gideon doubted and knew he was wrong for it. But at least he was honest with God about it. He asked for one more sign - dry fleece on wet ground - before he went, begging the Lord not to be angry with him in the process. So God did that too, and he was not angry.
God has so much patience with us and mercy on us, when we disobey, doubt and everything else. He is always ready to forgive and care for us as though we had done nothing wrong. He understands us in ways we'll never understand ourselves and loves us more that we could ever love him (or ourselves). He truly is amazing! I love you, Lord, as much as I can. Help me to love you even more. Thank you for your patience and forgiveness. Thank you for your love. Please continue to be a beacon of encouragement and hedge of protection. Increase my faith, so I will follow you willingly and without protest. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
So the Israelites went, again, through their vicious cycle with God, this time being handed over to the Midianites and plagued by their constant bullying and domination. They were left without so much as food to eat at the hands of this nation. So, once again, they cried out to God and he heard them. Once again, he had to remind them of all he had done for them and the little that he asked in return and how they failed to do it.
I really, really, really am amazed by and thankful for God's patience and mercy. I would have started over so many times with a brand new group of people by now. But God is great and greatly to be praised! Instead of completely giving up on them and abandoning them, he showed his eternal love for them by raising up Gideon as the next judge.
But Gideon had the Moses complex. You know the one where God calls you and you come up with every excuse in the book as to why he shouldn't have or you can't? I know I've been there a few times in my life. When the angel of the Lord showed up to call him out, he blamed God for the current malady of the Israelites; claimed he wasn't even around. But the angel insisted that he was the one.
So he protested again with something like, 'Okay, let's say God hasn't completely abandoned us, how am I supposed to lead these people? I'm the least of the least amongst them all. There's no way they'll listen to me, much less follow." But, again, the Lord insisted and promised to be with Gideon and fight for him so it would seem as easy as fighting against one person rather than a whole nation.
But Gideon still wasn't completely convinced. He needed more proof - a sign or two or three. So he asked the angel to stay there while he went to get a sacrificial offering, if in fact he was truly of God. So he did, and Gideon brought his offering and made his sacrifice. When it was consumed by fire from the rock on which he had laid it and the angel disappeared, Gideon believed...and was afraid. But the angel reassured him that he would not die (a real possibility for looking upon the Lord directly), so he built an altar called Jehovah-shalom, or the Lord is peace.
God instructed Gideon to tear down his fathers idols, including an altar to Baal and an Asherah pole, and use their pieces as a burnt offering. He did it, but only under the cover of darkness for fear of what others in the community might think. I've been there to; God says do something and I feel the need to sneak and do it because people might think I'm crazy or weird. Sure enough, when it was discovered the next morning, the people were angry and ready to kill Gideon. But, Gideon's father, Joash, stood up for him. It was his stuff that Gideon destroyed, he had been doing the wrong thing in the sight of God, but when the time came, he did what was right. He stood behind his son's leadership and challenged the mob to let their god defend himself against the true God.
That seemed to be convincing enough for the angry mob to just let it go. But, Gideon was still struggling with this whole hero thing. When the other nations formed an alliance against Israel, Gideon sounded a call to arms and readied the troops for battle, but he still had his doubts. He asked God for another sign that he would be with him - a wet fleece on dry ground. God did it. Yet, Gideon doubted and knew he was wrong for it. But at least he was honest with God about it. He asked for one more sign - dry fleece on wet ground - before he went, begging the Lord not to be angry with him in the process. So God did that too, and he was not angry.
God has so much patience with us and mercy on us, when we disobey, doubt and everything else. He is always ready to forgive and care for us as though we had done nothing wrong. He understands us in ways we'll never understand ourselves and loves us more that we could ever love him (or ourselves). He truly is amazing! I love you, Lord, as much as I can. Help me to love you even more. Thank you for your patience and forgiveness. Thank you for your love. Please continue to be a beacon of encouragement and hedge of protection. Increase my faith, so I will follow you willingly and without protest. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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