March 15, 2010

Today's reading: Judges 6, 7, 8; Psalm 15, 45, 75, 105, 135; Proverbs 15

Judges 6:25-26, "And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down."

I love the study of Gideon. It takes on a whole new meaning after you watch the Big Idea version with Veggie Tales. I am not saying it is bad. I am saying that whenever I read this account now I see it in a whole different light. Gideon wins some great battles. He starts out; after using the fleece to know God's will for him, with some tremendous victories. The first victory is to tear down the altar of Baal and the grove that accompanied it. That took some real effort. Then they made an altar and sacrifice to the True God. This is how we turn from sin to God. Amen!

Another victory we see in Judges 7:18, "When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon." God miraculously delivered Israel by causing the Midianites to turn their swords on their own men. What a great victory! Some did escape and they were pursued and eventually caught. In this process two kings refused to help Gideon's men by giving them bread and water. Their reward came later just as Gideon told them it would. He came back and wiped them out with God's help.

Sometimes after a great victory comes a great defeat also. Gideon took the earrings from the spoil of their victory. Notice Judges 8:27, "And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house." What could have been a great blessing became a curse. We have to be careful not to misuse what God has given us. Notice Proverbs 15:16, "Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith." Be careful! It is not always better to have all those things we seem to want so badly. It is better to be content with God and His provision. So, how are you doing?