☆ Sin of Israel
The Israelites came out of Egypt and entered the land of Canaan. As time passed, they began to forget God who had led them with His mighty power.
They intermarried with Gentiles and worshiped pagan gods such as Baal and Asherah. Whenever they did such corrupted things, the Israelites were oppressed by other peoples.
In the time of Gideon, son of Joash from the tribe of Manasseh, the Israelites suffered under the oppression of Midian for 7 years. They were afraid of Midianites and lived in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country and ruined the crops and did not spare a living thing for Israel. When they threshed wheat, they had to be careful not to be found by the Midianites. They had no other choice but to pray to God.
☆ God chose Gideon
God heard the prayer of the Israelites and chose Gideon as a judge. God decided to save Israel out of the hand of Midian through him.
Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from Midianites when he met God. That same night he tore down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it, and then built altar and offered a bull as a burnt offering to God (Jdg 6:25).
Next day, the neighbors found out that Baal's altar had been torn down and Asherah had been cut down. They tried to kill Gideon.
Then Joash, Gideon's father, told them instead of Gideon, "Are you going to plead Baal's cause? Are you trying to save him? If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself." So that day they called Gideon "Jerub-Baal."
* Jerub-Baal means "Let Baal contend with him" (Jdg 6:26-32).
☆ Battle with Midian
Soon all Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped. Gideon contacted each tribe of Israel and gathered an army.
Before fighting against his enemy, he wanted to make sure that God was with him. So he asked God, "I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said." And the next day he found that there was dew only on the fleece and that all the ground was dry. He double checked that God was with him and went to the battle field with faith in God.
☆ A hundred and thirty five thousand to three hundred
The enemy had 135,000 soldiers and Israel had 32,000. However, God said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her," and "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave for home." Then 22,000 turned back and 10,000 were left. God said again that 10,000 was still too many and selected only 300 soldiers.
From the view of man it is impossible that 300 soldiers defeat 135,000 soldiers. However, if there is God's help, only 3 men can beat 135,000.
☆ Gideon's victory
Gideon had to fight against 135,000 soldiers with only 300 men. What was required of him was an absolute faith in God.
To strengthen his faith God let him hear a conversation of Midian soldiers about a dream (Jdg 7:10-14). Gideon and 300 soldiers attacked the Midianites, blowing the trumpets and smashing the jars and shouting, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"
The Midianites turned on each other with their swords at that dark night and killed each other.
The Israelites wanted Gideon to be their king because he saved them out of the hand of Midian. However, Gideon refused it flatly.
"I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you" (Jdg 8:23).
Through this scene we notice that the Israelites wanted to be ruled by a king rather than by God. Their request was accepted as Saul was anointed in the time of Samuel; they had to obey the king whom they appointed and kneeled down before him.
☆ Teachings for us
We've studied the life of Gideon not to discuss his character, but to learn important how it is to obey God willingly whatever God orders us to do.
Gideon was afraid at first. That is why he tore down Baal's altar at night secretly rather than in the daytime. And that is why he asked God, "Please let there be dew only on the fleece," "Please make the fleece dry this time."
It was impossible for Gideon to win over the Midianites with his own strength. When God promised to help him, he could defeat the great army with only 300 men.
How should we act when God calls us? We can be answered through the history of Gideon who saved Israel, depending on God. And we can learn that it is not human's ability or common sense or wisdom but absolute faith in God that enables us get victory.
What is important is whether he is chosen by God, not what kind of person he is.
Let's absolutely believe in the power of God, who appointed us as the prophets in the last days, and obey God's calling.
♡ Christ Ahnsahnghong & Jerusalem Mother ♡
World Mission Society Church of God(WMS COG)
Christ Ahnsahnghong came to Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, and restored the new covenant.
The truth of the new covenant has been spreading rapidly throughout the country. As a result, over 400 branch Churches have been established nationwide in the past half century.
All the Churches celebrate the feasts of God including the Passover of the new covenant, and speedily carry out the gospel work according to the prophecy of the Bible.
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