Gideon and the Midianites

Judges 6:1-7:25

Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord...and Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord.

That seems sadly, very familiar. How often do we do whatever we want without regard for whether it is in God's plan for us and for those around us. How often do we wish to do it ourselves? Then when we find ourselves not where we wished to be or with the outcome we intended, then we lament; then we cry to God for help? I wonder what could happen if we disregarded steps one and two and skipped directly to step three, and cried out to the Lord for help?

Look at what happens next:
When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, 'I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice."

The Lord refreshes their memory, he reacquaints them with their own history, and gives them hope for a future in relationship with him.

Poor Gideon, first he says how can I do this? This knee-jerk response to rely on our own strength and find ourselves lacking. It will be the case. We will not be strong enough or good enough or whatever enough-on our own. But God's angel says I will be with you, do not be afraid. Now we do see Gideon has heard of the Lord and asks good questions, why are we so oppressed if you are with us, how can I tell you are who you say you are? Gideon has heard of but doesn't know the Lord personally, he doesn't know the voice of the Lord. When Gideon asks for the angel to remain and sees that this is indeed an angel of the Lord he is afraid. I know I would be. No wonder the first words from the angel of the Lord are don't be afraid. And Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face."But the Lord said to him, "Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace.

The Lord is Peace. Ahh. This is good.

Gideon breaks the altar of Baal and Baal's followers are mad. But Gideon's dad says: Is Baal a god? Let him stick up for himself if he is. Funny thing that. Baal didn't stick up for himself; he was not a god.

Now this back and forth between Gideon and God is interesting, Gideon says show me a sign, and God says there are too many of you, for you might think you did this under your own strength. This ought to mean something to us. When we doubt we have the ability to do something, we are right in doubting ourselves, but we make a mistake when we doubt God. How wonderful to say-you are too many-you need to know ME and know that I AM with you...hmmm.

I will keep these three things...The Lord is Peace, The Lord is able, and the Lord wishes to be with us.

See you tomorrow.
-maggie