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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise When Gideon heard the Midianite say, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp,” it prompted him to worship you (Jdg 7:14–15). I also bow in worship and praise your name. You are the God who goes before me, and you love to show yourself strong on my behalf. To you be the glory and honor forever and ever! Today in Your Word Today you told me about the oppression of the Midianites and the judgeship of Gideon. The people cried out to you for help, and you sent a prophet to remind them that their plight was of their own making (Jdg 6:1–10). Then, in mercy (for there is no record that they repented), you commissioned Gideon, an insignificant man from a small family in the tribe of west-Manasseh, as Israel’s deliverer. Your choice of Gideon shows me that you use “what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor 1:26–29). You do this so that no man may boast before you, for you alone are to be glorified (cf. Jdg 7:2). You greeted Gideon by saying, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor” (Jdg 6:12), but Gideon, who was very aware of his shortcomings, completely missed the point: If the Lord is with you, then you are indeed mighty. You were trying to teach him that it was not his inadequacy but your sufficiency that counted. You never send me out in my own power; rather, I go in your strength and your power! It’s encouraging to see how you stayed with Gideon every step of the way, and how you patiently made allowances for his fleeces and his fears (Jdg 6:35–40; 7:9–11). You gave him victory over the Midianites, and you used him to punish the wayward Israelites of the Transjordan. Their scorn of Gideon and his men was an act of treason, for by refusing to give aid to Gideon, they were helping the Midianites (cf. Jdg 5:23; Luke 11:23). Reflection Gideon failed to realize that the Midianite oppression was the result of Israel abandoning you, not you abandoning Israel. You are never absent from my afflictions, and only sin can separate me from your presence (cf. Isa 59:1–2). Request Father, help me to live a holy life and to set a godly example for my children. May they never be forced to deal with an altar to Baal that I’ve allowed in my heart (Jdg 6:25–26). Thanksgiving Thank you for choosing “those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him” (James 2:5). In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Break Your Pitchers!” by Arthur W. Spooner. Meditation Verse: Judges 6:14. |