In the Old Testament, Gideon - (Warrior) - is a military hero and spiritual leader who delivered Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. As a young lad, Gideon had seen the land oppressed by the Midanites and Amalekites for seven years. Like invading locusts, the roving bands camped on the land of the Israelites. At harvest time, they destroyed the corps and animals and plundered the farmers' houses. Israel misfortune was apparently caused by their spiritual relapse into Baal worship. ( Israel relapses into idolatry )

The Israelites did what displeases Yahweh; Yahweh gave them over for seven years into the hands of Midian. - Judg. 6:1 -

As young Gideon was threshing wheat, the angel of the Lord appeared with strong words of encouragement: "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor and surely, I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man. Gideon then asked the messenger for a sign that God had selected him for divine service.

The angel of Yahweh came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah which belonged to Joash of Abiezer. Gideon is son was threshing wheat inside the wine-press to keep it hidden from Midian, when the angel of Yahweh appeared to him and said, 'Yahweh is with you, valiant warrior!' Gideon answered him, 'Forgive me, my lord, but if Yahweh is with us, then why is it that all this is happening to us now? And where are all the wonders our ancestors tell us of when they say, "Did not Yahweh bring us out of Egypt?" But now Yahweh has deserted us; he has abandoned us to Midian.'

At his Yahweh turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength now upholding you, and you will rescue Israel from the power of Midian. Do I not send you myself?' Gideon answered him, 'Forgive me, my lord, but how can I deliver Israel?' My clan, you must know, is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least important in my family.' Yahweh answered him, 'I will be with you and you shall crush Midian as though it were a single man.' Gideon said to him, 'If I have found favour in your sight, give me a sign that it is you who speak to me. I beg you, do not go away until I come back, I will bring you my offering and set it down before you.' And he answered, 'I will stay until you return.' - Judg. 6:11-18 -

After Gideon had crushed Midian and returned from the victory. he then, prepared an offering and placed it on an altar. The angel touched the offering with his staff, and fire consumed it. - Judg. 6:19-21 - Gideon then recognized his personal call to serve God.

Gideon's first assignment was to destroy his father's altar of Baal in the family's backyard. This act required great courage, for Gideon feared his father's house and the men of the city who must have worshiped at the altar. For this reason, Gideon and ten servants destroyed the altar of Baal and a wood idol by night and erected an altar to the Lord. Gideon immediately presented an offering to the Lord on the altar.

When they discovered that the altar to Baal had been destroyed, the household and the community were outraged. When it was learned that "Gideon the son of Joash has destroyed the altar of Baal." Joash was called to account for his son's action. To his credit, Joash defended Gideon by implying that an authentic god should require no defense. "If he is a god, let him plead for himself." From that day on, Gideon was called Jerubbaal, meaning "Let the Baal plead." - Judg. 6:25-32 -

As the oppression of the Midianites intensified, Gideon sent out messengers to all Manasseh and the surrounding tribes to rally volunteers to Israel's cause. When Gideon's volunteers assembled, about 32,000 citizen soldiers stood in the ranks. Although there were 135,000 Midianites camped in a nearby valley, God directed Gideon to thin out the ranks. After dismissing the fearful and afraid, only 10,000 remained. Gideon's band was now outnumbered about 13 to 1.

"There are still too many." God told Gideon. "Bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there." Those who lapped the water with their hands, never taking their eyes from the horizon, were retained in Gideon's army; those who got down on their knees to drink, forgetting to keep watch for the enemy were dismissed. Now only 300 soldiers remained. The Midianites outnumbered Gideon's band 450 to 1. But God and Gideon had a secret plan!

Gideon divided the army into three companies. Then he gave each man a trumpet, a pitcher, and a torch. At the appointed time, 300 trumpets blasted the air, 300 hands raised their pitchers and smashed them to bits, 300 burning torches pierced the darkness, and 300 warriors cried, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon."

The Midianites were thrown into panic. In the confusion, some committed suicide or killed their comrades. The remaining soldiers fled. The enemies of Israel were completely routed, and Israel's homeland was secure. It was a glorious victory for God and for Gideon, who became an instant hero.

Gideon and his men pursued the fleeing enemy. Many of them were killed or captured by Gideon's allies. Two Midianites kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, were captured and killed for their murderous deeds.

As a conquering warrior, Gideon was invited to become king, but he declined. Modest and devout, he was careful not to grasp at the power and glory that belonged to God. After he retired to his home, Israel was blessed with 40 years of peace.

Through the life and exploits of Gideon, God reveals much about Himself and the preparation which His leaders need for divine service. Gideon shows that God calls leaders from unlikely situations, Gideon was a poor farmer's son who worked with his hands, and his father was an idol worshiper. Still, he was an effective leader in God's service.

Gideon teaches that God prefers a few dedicated and disciplined disciples to throngs of uncommitted workers. God can win victories with a fully committed minority. Another leadership lesson from Gideon is that a leader's spiritual life is sustained by regular worship. Devout Gideon appears to have worshiped God frequently - in times of personal crisis as well as celebration. - Judg. 6:1 to 8:35 -

After Gideon's death, the people of Israel again began to prostitute themselves to the Baals, and took Baal-berith for their god. The Israelites no longer remembered Yahweh their God, who had rescued them from all the enemies round them. And towards the family of Jerubbaal-Gideon-they remained ungrateful for all its good deeds to Israel. - Judg. 8:33-35 -

                                                                Page 1
Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -