Posts
God’s message to me: My job is what God gives me to do. Pursuing other things because I can is a path to disaster. Attacking others to promote myself is completely wrong. If I am not enough on my own destroying others will not make me more. The trick is to use what I have to it’s best effect and let God ceal with others.
Promises: “Vengeance is mine”, says the Lord. “I will repay.” Abimelech was in the position of a king with the backing of the locals and his family plus a military at his disposal. Jotham didn’t have much chance of being the Avenger of blood for his family against those odds. Instead he put it in God’s hands to decide if Abimilech was where he belonged and to deal with him if he wasn’t. God fulfilled Jotham’s curse on Abimilech and his followers and kept Jotham safe in the meantime.
Commands: Don’t assume authority that God hasn’t given you. God intends us all to be priests and kings in his kingdom and he has jobs for us here but assuming authority He reserved for another can be real trouble.
Timeless principles: The fact that you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Even if you can find a lot of people who agree with your actions you need to be certain it is your job. Just as Abimilech got those around him to make him king I think we can all remember someone who got into elected office and didn’t belong. Likewise I have known a few pastors who did the job for a few years and wound up losing the position later because they weren’t meant to hold it. Most had bad experiences on their way out as a result of doing things they shouldn’t have because they weren’t supposed to be there.
How can I apply what I’ve learned: God places us in positions we are often uncomfortable with. Some of those positions involve leadership. We often find ourselves surprised at how well we do in positions we felt unqualified to hold.
By the same token, there are times when we feel we could do a job better than the person who is in it. Most often these are jobs with authority. The appropriate way to handle this is to add our support to the leaders and WORK WITH THEM (not against them or in spite of them) to help them accomplish the job they are doing. If they don’t belong there God will put the appropriate person there. In the meantime, doing what God has gifted us to do will attract the attention of those who need those things done.
Those who do their best with what they have find their abilities and responsibilities increased. Do well in a little and God will give you much.
more to learn for in-depth study: Gideon had 70 sons and many wives. He even had a son by a concubine in Shechem. Abimelech has his own part of the story later. With all his mistakes Gideon did a few things right besides leading the army. After defeating the Midinites the Israelites tried to make him king. He refused the job and told them God would rule them.
Abimelech, son of the concubine, decided he could be king and convinced the people of his town to make him king. He killed all but one of Gideon’s other sons so that none could take his place. The last son called a curse on him for the evil he did to his father and on the people that made him king for repaying Gideon’s valor with treachery. Abimilech was king 3 years before people started turning against him. He tried to reinforce his rule with force and destroyed the city that made him king and was killed trying to take another city. God fulfilled the curse brought on him by his act of murder and attempt to take power that wasn’t his.
After Abimilech came Tola who judged Israel for 23 years and then Jair who judged Israel for 22 years and had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys and had 30 towns called Havoth Jair in Gilead. After Him the Israelites again began worshipping the gods of the surrounding peoples. They worshipped the Baals, the Ashtoreths, The Syrian, Sidonian and Moabite Gods as well as the Ammonite and Philistine gods.
God gave them into the Oppression of the Philistines and the Ammonites who oppressed them 18 years even crossing the Jordon to harass the tribes that were there. When they cried to God for help He told them to try calling the false gods they had served after he delivered them from each of the oppressors that had come upon them from Egypt until that time. The Israelites got rid of the false gods and idols and served God and begged His help until He could no longer ignore their misery. As the people of Israel prepared for war against their oppressors they asked “who will lead us as an army?”
Thus the passage ends just prior to one of my favorite judges. Whenever I read about Jephtha I get a mental picture of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the Scorpion King, striding out to defend Israel.
tomorrow: Judges 11-13
Showing posts with label Gideon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gideon. Show all posts
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Judges 7-8
God’s message to me: God wants the world to know He had a hand in my greatest accomplishments. Gideon called up an army of 32,000 men. God told him to send home those who were afraid, as the rules of engagement given in the law state. 22,000 went home and he was left with 10,000 but God said it was still to much. He wanted the men to drink from the nearby creek. 300 men lapped water from their hands and the rest got on their knees. God told him to send home the ones that got on their knees.
I’ve seen this taught as taking the least capable. The ones who got on their bellies to drink. The description the bible gives seems more to imply that the 300 he kept were the ones who kept their heads up and were vigilant. Whether God sent Gideon to war with 300 dunces or with 300 of Israel’s elite He still sent him to war against an army to large to count with only 300 men. The previous few books have numbered armies in the millions and been relatively specific about total troops. for this army to be innumerable they must have numbered at least 3 million or more. I would have to look back to be certain but I don’t remember a group larger than about 2.5 million being mentioned as countable so I assume they could count to at least that high or a little higher. This army spread across the land like a plague of locusts and with the same result on crops.
Promises: God will do the impossible for you to make Himself known. Gideon faced an army to large to number with only 300 men. God saw to it that those 300 men set the enemy on the run, chased them down over hill and dale until they were all destroyed and then came back to punish the cities which refused the army help and hospitality. When all was said and done the Midianites were completely defeated and all 300 men plus Gideon returned home unharmed.
Commands: Trust God to do the impossible. After bringing fire from a rock and manipulating the dew around a fleece I’m certain God knew Gideon needed reassurances. He told him to spy in the camp of the enemy where he heard them dreaming of destruction by the mighty Gideon, of Israel. Gideon knew there was no reason these people should even know his name let alone fear him. He was just a farm boy from a weak family who had never been in a fight before. That was enough to convince him that God would make him victorious because God had already put fear in the hearts of the enemy and had given that fear the name of Gideon.
Timeless principles: People fall into sin far to easily. Gideon decided to create his own ephod from the captured gold of the Midianites. In addition to being an imitation of the holy ephod of the high priest(something he shouldn’t have made in the first place) it also became an object of worship. The Israelites and Gideans own family “played the harlot” with it(worshipped it as an idol). This had been made from the earrings and ornaments of the Midianite kings. Much of their jewelry was symbolic of their Gods and should never have been considered for any thing that even looked like it belonged in the temple.
How can I apply what I’ve learned: What seems like a reasonable and proper method to a man has no bearing on what God can do. Coming against an enemy on the way into the promised land the Israelites decided to send only a small force rather than the whole army. The enemy city was small and not well defended. With sin in the camp and the failure to consult God’s plan they lost the battle. When the sin was purged God told them to use the whole army. In Gideon's battle it was the opposite. His army was under whelming and even recruiting the whole army of Israel would have left him with a force to small to accomplish the job in the eyes of man. Instead God told him to send home most of the army he had and sent him to war with a force of 300 men against odds of probably 30,000 to 1. No one would expect success in those conditions yet, God made certain that the tiny force destroyed the army to large to be numbered.
IF GOD SAYS IT CAN BE DONE YOU MAY REST ASSURED THAT IT CAN. The Israelites had left several nations in the promised land because they didn’t think they could fight them. God had told them they could win but they didn’t really try. This war proved what God had said but, it was too late. The Israelites had disobeyed God’s command to destroy the enemy and God left that enemy to be a thorn in their side and a tempting snare.
more to learn for in-depth study: “Confusion to the enemy” The old military toast certainly went into play here. When Gideon and his 300 men exposed their torches and blew their horns, the enemy lashed out in a blind panic and wound up attacking each other instead of the Israelites.
As the Midianites fled, Gideon sent runners ahead to tell the other Israelites and Allies to guard the watering spots and stop the enemy as it ran. The men of Ephraim had not been called up for Gideon's army. After killing Oreb and Zeeb, two of the Midianite leaders, they complained to Gideon about having not been called to join the fight. In a wonderful bit of diplomacy he asked which was better, the leftovers of their own vineyards or the whole crop from Abiezer? Being proud of their grapes the people of Ephraim recognized the complement and saw that they had gotten credit for dealing with two of the midianite leaders so they left it at that.
Along the way Gideon asked for food, water and a place to rest for his men at the cities he passed. Several refused out of fear of the enemy Generals. Gideon promised to repay their unkindness after he dealt with the enemy.
When Gideon caught up to the last of the Mideanite army they were down to two kings and 15,000 men. 120,000 men from this part of the army had already been killed by Gideon’s small force. That’s 400 kills per soldier on average although the Lord dealt with many of them through confusion which resulted in killing each other. Despite being exhausted from battle and chasing Gideon’s men went gladly to battle against 50 to 1 odds. They routed the army and chased down the kings to capture them.
With the battle over Gideon caught a man from Succoth and interrogated him to get the names of the leaders of that city. It was one of the cities that refused him help. He showed the city the kings they had feared then captured the 77 leaders of the city and punished them with wild briers. When he got to the city of Penuel he tore down it’s tower and killed it’s men.
Interesting note: The Crescent moon symbol is still a common symbol of middle eastern and Muslim countries. Here it is described as being a common ornament of the Midianites and Ishmaelites. Muhammad would not be born until 570 AD and would not begin writing the Koran until 610 AD. He would not begin preaching until 613 AD and Islam and the Islamic calendar begin when Muhammad and his followers move to Medina in 622 AD to avoid those who don’t like the new religion. The next 8 years are filled with war against the tribes in Mecca. The Religion of Islam, was effectively born in 613 AD, more than 1000 years (probably much more) after Gideon took those Crescent symbols from the enemy.
tomorrow: Judges 9-10
I’ve seen this taught as taking the least capable. The ones who got on their bellies to drink. The description the bible gives seems more to imply that the 300 he kept were the ones who kept their heads up and were vigilant. Whether God sent Gideon to war with 300 dunces or with 300 of Israel’s elite He still sent him to war against an army to large to count with only 300 men. The previous few books have numbered armies in the millions and been relatively specific about total troops. for this army to be innumerable they must have numbered at least 3 million or more. I would have to look back to be certain but I don’t remember a group larger than about 2.5 million being mentioned as countable so I assume they could count to at least that high or a little higher. This army spread across the land like a plague of locusts and with the same result on crops.
Promises: God will do the impossible for you to make Himself known. Gideon faced an army to large to number with only 300 men. God saw to it that those 300 men set the enemy on the run, chased them down over hill and dale until they were all destroyed and then came back to punish the cities which refused the army help and hospitality. When all was said and done the Midianites were completely defeated and all 300 men plus Gideon returned home unharmed.
Commands: Trust God to do the impossible. After bringing fire from a rock and manipulating the dew around a fleece I’m certain God knew Gideon needed reassurances. He told him to spy in the camp of the enemy where he heard them dreaming of destruction by the mighty Gideon, of Israel. Gideon knew there was no reason these people should even know his name let alone fear him. He was just a farm boy from a weak family who had never been in a fight before. That was enough to convince him that God would make him victorious because God had already put fear in the hearts of the enemy and had given that fear the name of Gideon.
Timeless principles: People fall into sin far to easily. Gideon decided to create his own ephod from the captured gold of the Midianites. In addition to being an imitation of the holy ephod of the high priest(something he shouldn’t have made in the first place) it also became an object of worship. The Israelites and Gideans own family “played the harlot” with it(worshipped it as an idol). This had been made from the earrings and ornaments of the Midianite kings. Much of their jewelry was symbolic of their Gods and should never have been considered for any thing that even looked like it belonged in the temple.
How can I apply what I’ve learned: What seems like a reasonable and proper method to a man has no bearing on what God can do. Coming against an enemy on the way into the promised land the Israelites decided to send only a small force rather than the whole army. The enemy city was small and not well defended. With sin in the camp and the failure to consult God’s plan they lost the battle. When the sin was purged God told them to use the whole army. In Gideon's battle it was the opposite. His army was under whelming and even recruiting the whole army of Israel would have left him with a force to small to accomplish the job in the eyes of man. Instead God told him to send home most of the army he had and sent him to war with a force of 300 men against odds of probably 30,000 to 1. No one would expect success in those conditions yet, God made certain that the tiny force destroyed the army to large to be numbered.
IF GOD SAYS IT CAN BE DONE YOU MAY REST ASSURED THAT IT CAN. The Israelites had left several nations in the promised land because they didn’t think they could fight them. God had told them they could win but they didn’t really try. This war proved what God had said but, it was too late. The Israelites had disobeyed God’s command to destroy the enemy and God left that enemy to be a thorn in their side and a tempting snare.
more to learn for in-depth study: “Confusion to the enemy” The old military toast certainly went into play here. When Gideon and his 300 men exposed their torches and blew their horns, the enemy lashed out in a blind panic and wound up attacking each other instead of the Israelites.
As the Midianites fled, Gideon sent runners ahead to tell the other Israelites and Allies to guard the watering spots and stop the enemy as it ran. The men of Ephraim had not been called up for Gideon's army. After killing Oreb and Zeeb, two of the Midianite leaders, they complained to Gideon about having not been called to join the fight. In a wonderful bit of diplomacy he asked which was better, the leftovers of their own vineyards or the whole crop from Abiezer? Being proud of their grapes the people of Ephraim recognized the complement and saw that they had gotten credit for dealing with two of the midianite leaders so they left it at that.
Along the way Gideon asked for food, water and a place to rest for his men at the cities he passed. Several refused out of fear of the enemy Generals. Gideon promised to repay their unkindness after he dealt with the enemy.
When Gideon caught up to the last of the Mideanite army they were down to two kings and 15,000 men. 120,000 men from this part of the army had already been killed by Gideon’s small force. That’s 400 kills per soldier on average although the Lord dealt with many of them through confusion which resulted in killing each other. Despite being exhausted from battle and chasing Gideon’s men went gladly to battle against 50 to 1 odds. They routed the army and chased down the kings to capture them.
With the battle over Gideon caught a man from Succoth and interrogated him to get the names of the leaders of that city. It was one of the cities that refused him help. He showed the city the kings they had feared then captured the 77 leaders of the city and punished them with wild briers. When he got to the city of Penuel he tore down it’s tower and killed it’s men.
Interesting note: The Crescent moon symbol is still a common symbol of middle eastern and Muslim countries. Here it is described as being a common ornament of the Midianites and Ishmaelites. Muhammad would not be born until 570 AD and would not begin writing the Koran until 610 AD. He would not begin preaching until 613 AD and Islam and the Islamic calendar begin when Muhammad and his followers move to Medina in 622 AD to avoid those who don’t like the new religion. The next 8 years are filled with war against the tribes in Mecca. The Religion of Islam, was effectively born in 613 AD, more than 1000 years (probably much more) after Gideon took those Crescent symbols from the enemy.
tomorrow: Judges 9-10
Friday, March 13, 2009
Judges 4-6
Today we begin to study two of my favorite judges who also happen to be among the most famous. Deborah and Gideon make two important points about how Christians should live and several minor points about things that may interest you. Hang on to your hat's, this one's a little long.
God’s message to me: Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth, was a prophetess and judge of Israel. As a Baptist, there are many in my faith who would disagree with women in leadership positions but, clearly, God does not ban them from such positions. While it is rare for women to fulfill these roles Deborah was a prophetess, a judge and leader, and, when forced to action by the inaction of men, she became a military commander.
Gideon asked for signs. First, he laid his sacrifices on a bare rock and when the Lord touched the rock with a staff fire came out of the rock and burned up all the offering. After calling together an army Gideon tested God again. He placed a fleece in the open and asked God to put dew on the fleece(Sheep’s wool) and not the ground around it. The next morning the ground was dry and Gideon squeezed a bowl full of water out of the fleece. Asking God not to be angry, Gideon reassured himself asking God to place dew on the ground but not the fleece. The next morning the fleece was dry and the ground around it was wet.
When facing a tough decision and asking God’s guidance, there is nothing wrong with setting a test and assuring results. Continued testing after a clear answer is wrong, as is ignoring the answer when you get it but, seeking a clear answer is never wrong.
Promises: The song of Deborah includes, not only praise for those who took part and great praise for those who played key rolls but also, curses on those who failed to join the war. Only two tribes contributed greatly to the victory and no allies came at all.
Commands: Do not tolerate false gods. I hate to repeat this but, the Taliban were right to destroy the idols to Buddha carved into their mountain. The Lord called Gideon to tear down the alter to Baal, build an alter to God, cut down the Idol of Ashteroth and use it for firewood to burn an offering to God. When people called for Gideon's execution for destroying the alter and idol his father called him Jerubbaal (let Baal plead) saying, if Baal and Ashteroth had power they could kill him themselves for his attack on them.
Timeless principles: Barak the son of Abinoam of Kedesh in Naphtali was the military commander charged with overcoming Jabin’s army. He refused to go to battle unless Deborah went with him. (apparently he didn’t have faith in a woman as prophet or judge either)
Deborah was quite willing to go but reminded him that, if she did, he would gain no glory for the win. Barak and his army defeated and killed all the army and chariots of Jabinand the General, sisera ran away on foot. Heber the Kenite was of the children of Moses’ father in law. His people were at peace with king Jabin. When Heber’s wife Jael offered Sisera a hiding place as he passed their tent.
He went in and she covered him with a blanket. He asked for water and she gave him milk. He fell asleep and she hammered a tent peg through his head “nailing him” to the ground. The Israelites continued their campaign against Jabin until he and his people were destroyed but Jael got credit for killing Jabin’s general and Deborah got credit for leading the nation to victory. After that the land had peace for 40 years.
How can I apply what I’ve learned: Don’t be afraid to “test the spirits”. “Laying a fleece before God”, whatever form the test may take, is not only acceptable it is often the only way that you can be certain of God’s intent. Gideon met face to face with the Angel of the Lord and watched as he brought fire from a rock to incinerate an offering. Even so, God did not consider it improper for Gideon to set a test to be sure it was God’s will that he lead the Israeli Army.
more to learn for in-depth study: After Ehud died the Israelites fell back into sin against God were given to Jabin, king of Canaan ruling from Hazor and his general Sisera. With 900 chariots of iron the enemy oppressed Israel for 20 years.
Quick review: The children of Israel continued to serve God until Joshua and the other elders died who had seen the great works of God in the wilderness and in conquering the promised land. After that they began to serve the Baals and the Ashteroths and turn away from God. Before the turned against God they had consistently defeated the enemies they went against while those they allowed to remain were put under tribute. When the Israelites turned against God they began to lose their fights and their enemies became strong enough to oppress them.
The King of Mesopotamia became their oppressor for 8 years. Othniel the son of Kenaz, youngest brother of Caleb became the first judge of Israel. The spirit of the Lord was on him and he led the Israelites to victory in war against the king so the land had rest for 40 years. When Othniel died the Israelites turned back to false gods and Eglon, King of Moab gathered the people of Ammon and Amalek to defeat Israel. For 18 years he oppressed Israel until God raised the next judge, A man of the tribe of Benjamin named Ehud the son of Gera. The bible notes that this man was left-handed. Ehud made a double edged dagger around 18 inches long (for a look at something similar look up Arkansas Toothpick on the web). Ehud convinced Eglon he had a secret message for him and the king sent everyone out but him. Ehud told the king he had a message from God and he took the dagger out and buried it in Eglon. Eglon was a fat man and the blade and hilt were pushed all the way in so that they were hidden in the body and the king died. Ehud locked the doors and went out the window, meeting with the Israeli troops and leading them to battle against their oppressors. 10,000 Moabite died in the battle and the land had peace for 80 years.Shamgar, son of Anath killed 600 Philistines with an ox Goad (cattle prod) and only got one verse in the bible to cover his time as judge.
coming up: We won’t get to finish the story of Gideon today but we will start it. After the Israelites began to sin against God again The Midianites became their oppressors for seven years. The Midianites came in such numbers that the Israelites could not count them. The would loot their territory taking all the crops and livestock. The Israelites were forced to make their homes in the caves and rocks. This technique can be seen in the city of Petra which is entirely carved into the wall of a canyon. This was their defense but they could not protect their livelihood. God sent an unnamed prophet to remind them that his oppression was because they served a false god of the Amorites.
The Angel of God, came to Gideon, son of Joash the Abiezrite while he was threshing grain. He called Gideon a mighty man of valor and told him that he should go out and defeat the Mideanites because He had sent him.
Gideon was hiding in the winepress to thresh the grain so that the Midianites wouldn’t find it. He asked how he could be expected to accomplish this great feat. He was the least of his fathers house which was the weakest clan in one of the weakest tribes. The Lord said He would be with him and Gideon would be victorious. He asked for a sign. It is here that we get the name Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord is Peace)
tomorrow: Judges 7-8
God’s message to me: Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth, was a prophetess and judge of Israel. As a Baptist, there are many in my faith who would disagree with women in leadership positions but, clearly, God does not ban them from such positions. While it is rare for women to fulfill these roles Deborah was a prophetess, a judge and leader, and, when forced to action by the inaction of men, she became a military commander.
Gideon asked for signs. First, he laid his sacrifices on a bare rock and when the Lord touched the rock with a staff fire came out of the rock and burned up all the offering. After calling together an army Gideon tested God again. He placed a fleece in the open and asked God to put dew on the fleece(Sheep’s wool) and not the ground around it. The next morning the ground was dry and Gideon squeezed a bowl full of water out of the fleece. Asking God not to be angry, Gideon reassured himself asking God to place dew on the ground but not the fleece. The next morning the fleece was dry and the ground around it was wet.
When facing a tough decision and asking God’s guidance, there is nothing wrong with setting a test and assuring results. Continued testing after a clear answer is wrong, as is ignoring the answer when you get it but, seeking a clear answer is never wrong.
Promises: The song of Deborah includes, not only praise for those who took part and great praise for those who played key rolls but also, curses on those who failed to join the war. Only two tribes contributed greatly to the victory and no allies came at all.
Commands: Do not tolerate false gods. I hate to repeat this but, the Taliban were right to destroy the idols to Buddha carved into their mountain. The Lord called Gideon to tear down the alter to Baal, build an alter to God, cut down the Idol of Ashteroth and use it for firewood to burn an offering to God. When people called for Gideon's execution for destroying the alter and idol his father called him Jerubbaal (let Baal plead) saying, if Baal and Ashteroth had power they could kill him themselves for his attack on them.
Timeless principles: Barak the son of Abinoam of Kedesh in Naphtali was the military commander charged with overcoming Jabin’s army. He refused to go to battle unless Deborah went with him. (apparently he didn’t have faith in a woman as prophet or judge either)
Deborah was quite willing to go but reminded him that, if she did, he would gain no glory for the win. Barak and his army defeated and killed all the army and chariots of Jabinand the General, sisera ran away on foot. Heber the Kenite was of the children of Moses’ father in law. His people were at peace with king Jabin. When Heber’s wife Jael offered Sisera a hiding place as he passed their tent.
He went in and she covered him with a blanket. He asked for water and she gave him milk. He fell asleep and she hammered a tent peg through his head “nailing him” to the ground. The Israelites continued their campaign against Jabin until he and his people were destroyed but Jael got credit for killing Jabin’s general and Deborah got credit for leading the nation to victory. After that the land had peace for 40 years.
How can I apply what I’ve learned: Don’t be afraid to “test the spirits”. “Laying a fleece before God”, whatever form the test may take, is not only acceptable it is often the only way that you can be certain of God’s intent. Gideon met face to face with the Angel of the Lord and watched as he brought fire from a rock to incinerate an offering. Even so, God did not consider it improper for Gideon to set a test to be sure it was God’s will that he lead the Israeli Army.
more to learn for in-depth study: After Ehud died the Israelites fell back into sin against God were given to Jabin, king of Canaan ruling from Hazor and his general Sisera. With 900 chariots of iron the enemy oppressed Israel for 20 years.
Quick review: The children of Israel continued to serve God until Joshua and the other elders died who had seen the great works of God in the wilderness and in conquering the promised land. After that they began to serve the Baals and the Ashteroths and turn away from God. Before the turned against God they had consistently defeated the enemies they went against while those they allowed to remain were put under tribute. When the Israelites turned against God they began to lose their fights and their enemies became strong enough to oppress them.
The King of Mesopotamia became their oppressor for 8 years. Othniel the son of Kenaz, youngest brother of Caleb became the first judge of Israel. The spirit of the Lord was on him and he led the Israelites to victory in war against the king so the land had rest for 40 years. When Othniel died the Israelites turned back to false gods and Eglon, King of Moab gathered the people of Ammon and Amalek to defeat Israel. For 18 years he oppressed Israel until God raised the next judge, A man of the tribe of Benjamin named Ehud the son of Gera. The bible notes that this man was left-handed. Ehud made a double edged dagger around 18 inches long (for a look at something similar look up Arkansas Toothpick on the web). Ehud convinced Eglon he had a secret message for him and the king sent everyone out but him. Ehud told the king he had a message from God and he took the dagger out and buried it in Eglon. Eglon was a fat man and the blade and hilt were pushed all the way in so that they were hidden in the body and the king died. Ehud locked the doors and went out the window, meeting with the Israeli troops and leading them to battle against their oppressors. 10,000 Moabite died in the battle and the land had peace for 80 years.Shamgar, son of Anath killed 600 Philistines with an ox Goad (cattle prod) and only got one verse in the bible to cover his time as judge.
coming up: We won’t get to finish the story of Gideon today but we will start it. After the Israelites began to sin against God again The Midianites became their oppressors for seven years. The Midianites came in such numbers that the Israelites could not count them. The would loot their territory taking all the crops and livestock. The Israelites were forced to make their homes in the caves and rocks. This technique can be seen in the city of Petra which is entirely carved into the wall of a canyon. This was their defense but they could not protect their livelihood. God sent an unnamed prophet to remind them that his oppression was because they served a false god of the Amorites.
The Angel of God, came to Gideon, son of Joash the Abiezrite while he was threshing grain. He called Gideon a mighty man of valor and told him that he should go out and defeat the Mideanites because He had sent him.
Gideon was hiding in the winepress to thresh the grain so that the Midianites wouldn’t find it. He asked how he could be expected to accomplish this great feat. He was the least of his fathers house which was the weakest clan in one of the weakest tribes. The Lord said He would be with him and Gideon would be victorious. He asked for a sign. It is here that we get the name Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord is Peace)
tomorrow: Judges 7-8
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)