violent aftermath

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

violent aftermath

Judges 9:34-57 (JDV)

Judges 9:34 So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four groups.
Judges 9:35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Then Abimelech and the troops who were with him got up from their ambush.
Judges 9:36 When Gaal saw the troops, he said to Zebul, “Notice, troops are coming down from the mountaintops!” But Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
Judges 9:37 Then Gaal spoke again, “Notice, troops are coming down from the central part of the land, and one unit is coming from the direction of the Diviners’ Oak.”
Judges 9:38 Zebul replied,”What do you have to say now? You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? ‘ Aren’t these the troops you despised? Now go and fight them!”
Judges 9:39 So Gaal went out leading the landowners of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
Judges 9:40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Numerous bodies were strewn as far as the entrance of the city gate.
Judges 9:41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from Shechem.
Judges 9:42 The next day when the people of Shechem went into the countryside, this was reported to Abimelech.
Judges 9:43 He took the troops, divided them into three companies, and waited in ambush in the countryside. He looked, and the people were coming out of the city, so he arose against them and struck them down.
Judges 9:44 Then Abimelech and the units that were with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two units rushed against all who were in the countryside and struck them down.
Judges 9:45 So Abimelech fought against the city that entire day, captured it, and killed the people who were in it. Then he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.
Judges 9:46 When all the landowners of the Tower of Shechem heard, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
Judges 9:47 Then it was reported to Abimelech that all the landowners of the Tower of Shechem had gathered.
Judges 9:48 So Abimelech and all the troops who were with him went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his ax in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees. He picked up the branch, put it on his shoulder, and said to the troops who were with him, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
Judges 9:49 Each of the troops also cut down his own branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire; about a thousand men and women died, including all the men of the Tower of Shechem.
Judges 9:50 Abimelech went to Thebez, camped against it, and captured it.
Judges 9:51 There was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and landowners of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.
Judges 9:52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
Judges 9:53 But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech’s head and fractured his skull.
Judges 9:54 He quickly called his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, or they’ll say about me, ‘A woman killed him.'” So his armor-bearer ran him through, and he died.
Judges 9:55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
Judges 9:56 In this way, God brought back Abimelech’s evil — the evil that Abimelech had done to his father when he killed his seventy brothers.
Judges 9:57 God also brought back to the men of Shechem all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

violent aftermath

This chapter illustrates the violent aftermath of Gideon’s success. He did what he could, and we celebrate that, but he failed to bring lasting peace. His son Abimelech deals treacherously and murders his brothers. Jotham escapes, and calls down a curse upon Abimelech and the town of Shechem. God honors the curse and brings violence to Shechem, and a violent and ignoble death to Abimelech.

The point of all this is that although God had used Gideon, he did not bring in lasting peace.

LORD, give us the wisdom to do what we can, but to trust you to bring in lasting peace through Christ.

Posted in deliverance, dependence upon God, Jesus Christ | Tagged | 1 Comment

the other shoe

Posted on February 20, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

the other shoe

Judges 9:22-33 (JDV)

Judges 9:22 When Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years,
Judges 9:23 God sent an evil breath between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,
Judges 9:24 so that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the landowners of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers.
Judges 9:25 The landowners of Shechem rebelled against him by putting men in ambush on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed everyone who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.
Judges 9:26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the landowners of Shechem trusted him.
Judges 9:27 So they went out to the countryside and harvested grapes from their vineyards. They trampled the grapes and held a celebration. Then they went to the house of their god, and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
Judges 9:28 Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal, and isn’t Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
Judges 9:29 If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Gather your army and come out.”
Judges 9:30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry.
Judges 9:31 So he secretly sent agents to Abimelech, saying, “Notice! Gaal son of Ebed, with his brothers, have come to Shechem and notice they are turning the city against you.
Judges 9:32 Now tonight, you and the troops with you, come and wait in ambush in the countryside.
Judges 9:33 Then get up early, and at sunrise attack the city. Notice when he and the troops who are with him come out against you, do to him whatever you can.”

the other shoe

Abimelech had murdered seventy men, and it appeared that he had gained the political position he wanted. But God would not allow his treachery and murder to go unpunished. The traitors who helped him to power now turned against him. This is what happens when you gain prominence by deceitfully using others. Sooner or later, the other shoe drops.

God’s message for those who seek leadership is that it has to be earned honestly. His message for those under leaders who lack integrity is that he oversees everyone. No one gets away with anything.

LORD, thank you for watching over the small and the great.

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fire from the bramble

Posted on February 19, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

fire from the bramble

Judges 9:7-21 (JDV)

Judges 9:7 When they told Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and called to them: Listen to me, landowners of Shechem, and may God listen to you:
Judges 9:8 The trees decided to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, “Be king over us.”
Judges 9:9 But the olive tree said to them, “Should I stop giving my oil that people use to honor both God and men, and rule over the trees?”
Judges 9:10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, “Come and be king over us.”
Judges 9:11 But the fig tree said to them, “Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, and rule over trees?”
Judges 9:12 Later, the trees said to the grapevine, “Come and be king over us.”
Judges 9:13 But the grapevine said to them, “Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, and cause disturbance over trees?”
Judges 9:14 Finally, all the trees said to the bramble, “Come and be king over us.”
Judges 9:15 The bramble said to the trees, “If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.”
Judges 9:16 “Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have rewarded him appropriately for what he did –
Judges 9:17 because my father fought for you, risked his throat, and rescued you from Midian,
Judges 9:18 and now you have attacked my father’s family today, killed his seventy sons on top of a large stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the landowners of Shechem ‘because he is your brother’ –
Judges 9:19 so if you have acted faithfully and honestly with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech and may he also rejoice in you.
Judges 9:20 But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the landowners of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
Judges 9:21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and lived there because of his brother Abimelech.

fire from the bramble

Jotham exposed the true motivation behind the Shechemites choice of Abimelech. He warned that their choice of this violent usurper would bring violence and death upon them. The parable of the bramble would soon be played out in their own lives.

Nobody ever wins when we try to oppose God’s will. When we choose leaders who are willing to plow down everyone around them to get their way, our leaders will remain consistent. So, eventually, we will be the ones being plowed down.

Lord, give us leaders who work for peace, and care for those you have placed them over.

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when solidarity is sin

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

when solidarity is sin

Judges 9:1-6 (JDV)

Judges 9:1 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem and spoke to his uncles and to all his mother’s clan, and he said this:
Judges 9:2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the landowners of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, govern over you or that one man govern over you? ‘ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
Judges 9:3 His mother’s relatives told all these words about him in the hearing of all the landowners of Shechem, and they were favorable to Abimelech, because they said, “He is our brother.”
Judges 9:4 So they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used it to hire hollow and violent men, and they followed him.
Judges 9:5 He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he had hidden.
Judges 9:6 Then all the landowners of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together and proceeded to make Abimelech king at the oak of the pillar in Shechem.

when solidarity is sin

Like the landowners of Shechem, we are often tempted to choose one voice over the seventy. In this case, that one voice was a “brother” but also a treacherous murderer.

LORD, give us wisdom to avoid solidarity around anyone except your chosen king, Jesus Christ.

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checkered legacy

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

checkered legacy

Judges 8:22-35 (JDV)

Judges 8:22 Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Govern over us, you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you delivered us from the power of Midian.”
Judges 8:23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not govern over you, and my son will not govern over you; Yahveh will govern over you.”
Judges 8:24 Then he said to them, “Let me make a request of you: Everyone give me an earring from his plunder.” Now the enemy had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.
Judges 8:25 They said, “We agree to give them.” So they spread out a cloak, and everyone threw an earring from his plunder on it.
Judges 8:26 The weight of the gold earrings he requested was 1700 units of gold, in addition to the crescent ornaments and ear pendants, the purple garments on the kings of Midian, and the chains on the necks of their camels.
Judges 8:27 Gideon made an ephod from all this and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. Then all Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.
Judges 8:28 So Midian was subdued before the Israelites, and they were no longer a threat. The land had peace for forty years during the days of Gideon.
Judges 8:29 Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) son of Joash went back to live at his house.
Judges 8:30 Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, since he had many wives.
Judges 8:31 His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.
Judges 8:32 Then Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Judges 8:33 When Gideon died, the Israelites turned and prostituted themselves by worshiping the Baals and made Baal-berith their god.
Judges 8:34 The Israelites did not remember Yahveh their God who had rescued them from the hand of the enemies around them.
Judges 8:35 They did not show covenant loyalty to the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) for all the good he had done for Israel.

checkered legacy

Gideon made some very good choices — like the choice to refuse being named king. He also made some very bad choices — like the making of the ephod which encouraged a plunge back into idolatry.

The problem with a checkered legacy is that no one can be sure of your true motivations. It is much better for us to choose this day whom we will serve and serve wholeheartedly. Our choices should always be results of following the Lord.

LORD, we want to be 100% committed to you.

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pride’s price

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

pride’s price

Judges 8:1-21 (JDV)

Judges 8:1 The men of Ephraim asked him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites?” And they argued violently with him.
Judges 8:2 So he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?
Judges 8:3 God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he said this, their breath against him relaxed.
Judges 8:4 Gideon and the three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit.
Judges 8:5 He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give some loaves of bread to the troops under my command, because they are exhausted, because I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
Judges 8:6 But the princes of Succoth asked, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your grasp that we should give bread to your army?”
Judges 8:7 Gideon replied, “Very well, when Yahveh has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will tear your flesh with thorns and briers from the wilderness!”
Judges 8:8 He went from there to Penuel and asked the same thing from them. The men of Penuel answered just as the men of Succoth had answered.
Judges 8:9 He also told the men of Penuel, “When I return safely, I will tear down this tower!”
Judges 8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and with them was their army of about fifteen thousand men, who were all those left of the entire army of the Qedemites. Those who had been killed were one hundred twenty thousand armed men.
Judges 8:11 Gideon traveled on the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked their army while the army felt confident.
Judges 8:12 Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them. He captured these two kings of Midian and routed the entire army.
Judges 8:13 Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the Ascent of Heres.
Judges 8:14 He captured a youth from the men of Succoth and interrogated him. The youth wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven leaders and elders of Succoth.
Judges 8:15 Then he went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. You taunted me about them, saying, ‘Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your power that we should give bread to your exhausted men? ‘”
Judges 8:16 So he took the elders of the city, and he took some thorns and briers from the wilderness, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them.
Judges 8:17 He also tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
Judges 8:18 He asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “They were like you,” they said. “Each resembled the son of a king.”
Judges 8:19 So he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother! As Yahveh lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.”
Judges 8:20 Then he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them.” The youth did not draw his sword, because he was afraid because he was still a youth.
Judges 8:21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and strike us down yourself, because a man is judged by his strength.” So Gideon got up, killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

In both the confrontation with the Ephraimites, and Succoth and Penuel — the heart of the conflict with Gideon was pride. Neither of these wanted to admit that God was using Gideon and was on his side. Often we choose to be adversaries of people because we are jealous of what they have accomplished. In this case, Gideon’s victories were due to God’s support. It does not make sense to be offended when God is at work. It does not make sense to withhold our support from those whom God is supporting.

LORD, help us to overcome our pride and wholeheartedly support those who you are using to accomplish your will.

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primary allegiance

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

primary allegiance

Judges 7:16-25 (JDV)

Judges 7:16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each of the men a trumpet in one hand and a hollow1 pitcher with a torch inside it in the other hand.
Judges 7:17 “Watch me,” he said to them, “and do what I do. Notice when I come to the outpost of the camp, do as I do.
Judges 7:18 When I and everyone with me blow our trumpets, you are also to blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then you will say, ‘For Yahveh and for Gideon! ‘”
Judges 7:19 Gideon and the hundred men who were with him went to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch after the sentries had been stationed. They blew their trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.
Judges 7:20 The three companies blew their trumpets and shattered their pitchers. They held their torches in their left hands, their trumpets in their right hands, and shouted, “A sword for Yahveh and for Gideon!”
Judges 7:21 Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army began to run, and they cried out as they fled.
Judges 7:22 When Gideon’s men blew their three hundred trumpets, Yahveh caused the men in the whole army to turn on each associate with their swords. They fled to Acacia House in the direction of Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
Judges 7:23 Then the men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.
Judges 7:24 Gideon sent agents throughout the hill country of Ephraim with this message: “Come down to intercept the Midianites and take control of the watercourses ahead of them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they took control of the watercourses as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.
Judges 7:25 They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb, while they were pursuing the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan.

primary allegiance

Gideon is listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:32. Although his faith was not strong, once he was convinced that God was going to use him, he demonstrated faithfulness as a leader. Notice that he called on his soldiers to declare allegiance to Yahveh and himself. He knew that if God was going to do something, it had to be obvious that he was the reason, not Gideon. Gideon was a leader second. He was a follower first.

Such is a case for those in leadership in God’s congregation, and those who lead politically under him. We must make it clear that our allegiance is to our heavenly Father first, and that is the basis for our expecting people to follow us.

Jesus commands us to seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). We are allowed to seek other things, but only once it is clear that our primary allegiance is settled.

LORD, we declare our primary allegiance to you and your kingdom — then to the leaders you have given us.

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too many troops

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

too many troops

Judges 7:1-15 (JDV)

Judges 7:1 Jerubbaal (AKA, Gideon) and all the troops who were with him, got up early and camped beside the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them, below the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
Judges 7:2 Yahveh said to Gideon, “You have too many troops for me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over me and say, ‘My own strength saved me.’
Judges 7:3 Now announce to the troops: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling is allowed to turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'” So twenty-two thousand of the troops turned back, but ten thousand remained.
Judges 7:4 Then Yahveh said to Gideon, “There are still too many troops. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one can go with you,’ he can go. But if I say about anyone, ‘This one cannot go with you,’ he cannot go.”
Judges 7:5 So he brought the troops down to the water, and Yahveh said to Gideon, “Separate everyone who laps water with his tongue like a dog. Do the same with everyone who kneels to drink.”
Judges 7:6 The number of those who lapped with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men, and all the rest of the troops knelt to drink water.
Judges 7:7 Yahveh said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the three hundred men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else is to go home.”
Judges 7:8 So Gideon sent all the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred troops, who took the provisions and their trumpets. The camp of Midian was below him in the valley.
Judges 7:9 That night Yahveh said to him, “Get up and attack the camp, because I have handed it over to you.
Judges 7:10 But if you are afraid to attack the camp, go down with Purah your servant.
Judges 7:11 Listen to what they say, and then you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the troops who were in the camp.
Judges 7:12 Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the Qedemites had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.
Judges 7:13 When Gideon arrived, he noticed a man telling his associate about a dream. He said, “Notice, I had a dream: a loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, hit a tent, and it fell. The loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed.”
Judges 7:14 His associate answered: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him.”
Judges 7:15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s camp and said, “Get up, because Yahveh has handed the Midianite camp over to you.”

too many troops

Often when we consider some new mission, we doubt our ability to do it because we don’t have enough support. Gideon had amassed a considerable army with which he intended to come against the Midianites. But God told him to reduce the number. When the army was reduced to a mere 300 men, God was satisfied, by Gideon was not sure that it was enough. But after a short spying out of the Midianite camp, Gideon realized that God had instilled fear into the Midianite army, and that fear would do the work of thousands of soldiers.

Gideon must have realized that the tests God required were in some way a response to his own insistence on testing God in the past. His greatest weakness was not lack of numbers, but lack of faith. God gently reveals enough to overcome his fear, and so bolsters his faith. As a result, Gideon worshipped.

LORD, thank you for gently walking us through the task you have given us, and making up for our weaknesses with your strength.

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the most unlikely hero

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

the most unlikely hero

Judges 6:25-40 (JDV)

Judges 6:25 On that very night Yahveh said to him, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old. Then tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.
Judges 6:26 Build a well-constructed altar to Yahveh your God on the top of this mound. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood from the Asherah pole you cut down.”
Judges 6:27 So Gideon took ten of his male servants and did as Yahveh had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city to do it in the daytime, he did it at night.
Judges 6:28 When the men of the city got up in the morning, they noticed Baal’s altar torn down, the Asherah pole beside it cut down, and the second bull offered up on the altar that had been built.
Judges 6:29 They said to each associate, “Who did this?” After they made a thorough investigation, they said, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”
Judges 6:30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he tore down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”
Judges 6:31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you argue Baal’s case for him? Would you save him? Whoever argues his case will be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead his own case because someone tore down his altar.”
Judges 6:32 That day he was called Jerubbaal, since Joash said, “Let Baal argue with him,” because he tore down his altar.
Judges 6:33 All the Midianites, Amalekites, and Qedemites gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Jezreel Valley.
Judges 6:34 The Breath of Yahveh enveloped Gideon, and he blew the ram’s horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him.
Judges 6:35 He sent agents throughout all of Manasseh, who rallied behind him. He also sent agents throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, who also came to meet him.
Judges 6:36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you said,
Judges 6:37 Notice, I will put a wool fleece here on the threshing floor. If dew is only on the fleece, and all the land is dry, I will know that you will deliver Israel by my strength, as you said.”
Judges 6:38 And that is what happened. When he got up early in the morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung dew out of it, filling a bowl with water.
Judges 6:39 Gideon then said to God, “Don’t be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me to make one more test with the fleece. Let it remain dry, and the dew be all over the land.”
Judges 6:40 That night God did as Gideon requested: only the fleece was dry, and dew was all over the land.

the most unlikely hero

If you want to use this passage as a proof-text for testing the LORD to see if he is in something you are planning, or to determine whether a certain option is his will or not – go ahead. But I do not think that is the point of the passage. The author of Judges was showing the weakness of Gideon to highlight the LORD’s strength. He was showing Gideon’s fear to highlight God’s patience and grace. Like all the stories of the Judges, Gideon’s story shows a God who is willing to act in spite of the unwillingness of his people to take a stand for him. The Israelites would have rather dig themselves holes and crawl in after them. They cried out to him for help. He sent the most unlikely hero to save them, so that the LORD might get the glory.

LORD, call us to do great things for you. We know we are not worthy, but if you are in it, your mission cannot fail.

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staying engaged with God

Posted on February 12, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Judges - 1

staying engaged with God

Judges 6:11-24 (JDV)

Judges 6:11 The agent of Yahveh came, and he sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites.
Judges 6:12 Then the agent of Yahveh appeared to him and said: “Yahveh is with you, capable warrior.”
Judges 6:13 Gideon said to him, “Excuse me, my lord, if Yahveh is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his miracles that our fathers told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t Yahveh brought us out of Egypt? ‘ But now Yahveh has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”
Judges 6:14 Yahveh turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!”
Judges 6:15 He said to him, “Excuse me, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Notice, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.”
Judges 6:16 “But I will be with you,” Yahveh said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.”
Judges 6:17 Then he said to him, “If I have found favor with you, give me a sign that it is you who are speaking with me.
Judges 6:18 Please do not leave this place until I return to you. Let me bring my gift and place it before you.” And he said, “I will stay until you return.”
Judges 6:19 So Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from a half bushel of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
Judges 6:20 The agent of God said to him, “Take the meat with the unleavened bread, place it on this stone, and pour the broth on it.” So he did that.
Judges 6:21 The agent of Yahveh extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the agent of Yahveh vanished from his eyes.
Judges 6:22 When Gideon realized that he was the agent of Yahveh, he said, “Oh no, Lord Yahveh! I have seen the agent of Yahveh face to face!”
Judges 6:23 But Yahveh said to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, because you will not die.”
Judges 6:24 So Gideon built an altar to Yahveh there and called it Yahveh Is Peace. It is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites today.

staying engaged with God

You would think that this miraculous sign would be enough. But Gideon goes on and asks for more signs. Trust is a hard thing to build. God knew that Gideon had a lifetime of unanswered questions and disappointments. He was willing to invest this time in Gideon in spite of his weak trust. Every engagement, every conversation — every sign — helped Gideon overcome his lack of trust and help build his faith.

God is willing to do that for you too. But you will have to meet with him and let him challenge you to be more than you can imagine. If you stay away from God, he will honor that choice. But you will lose the blessing.

LORD, make us people who stay engaged with you, until you make us what we can be.

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