Today’s Reading: Judges 6-7
God came to Gideon, the smallest member of the smallest clan of Manasseh (the half tribe). Gideon required a sign. God's wanted Gideon to tear down his father's altars and offer their best bull on a fire made from the altar's wood. Gideon obeyed. He asked for two more signs then lead God's forces against Moab.
God trimmed the force down to 300 to prove His ability. God defeated the Midianites and Gideon's forces chased them to the Jordan.
How has God won your battles?
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Thought to Guide Your Reading
God proves His ability to the Israelites by having a small force led by a small man defeat a large force led by big men.Summary in 100 Words or Less
Israel continued doing evil. Punishment? Midian terrorism. Israel cried out to God. God's prophet gave His message of deliverance.God came to Gideon, the smallest member of the smallest clan of Manasseh (the half tribe). Gideon required a sign. God's wanted Gideon to tear down his father's altars and offer their best bull on a fire made from the altar's wood. Gideon obeyed. He asked for two more signs then lead God's forces against Moab.
God trimmed the force down to 300 to prove His ability. God defeated the Midianites and Gideon's forces chased them to the Jordan.
How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right
God uses Gideon to prove to Israel His ability to defeat their enemies.
Gideon is not a warrior. Yet God calls him a warrior. God can use anyone who will obey Him to set things right on the earth.Joash, Gideon's father, provides the greatest philosophy on apologetics.
When Gideon was found out as the one who destroyed Baal's altar and the Asherah pole the men wanted to kill him. Joash responds,Are you going to fight Baal's battles for him? Are you going to save him? … If Baal is a god in fact, let him fight his own battles and defend his own altar. (6:31, The Message)Although Joash's statement is about a false god, we can apply this to our true God! It is one thing to suggest that Christians should know why God exists and trust in His abilities. It is something completely different for Christians to feel the need to "defend" God any time someone says something negative about Him or tries to do something against His Word. We should have the same attitude for God Joash had, if God is a god in fact, let Him fight His own battles and defend His own Word. When we shift to this attitude we give God's Word to others in ways that will convict and promote obedience because His Word will defend itself.
God wants Israel to know they do not win their own battles.
God tells Gideon to trim down the warriors. "You have too large an army with you. I can't turn Midian over to them like this - they'll take all the credit, saying, 'I did it all myself,' and forget about me" (7:2, The Message). God wants to make His abilities obvious: you didn't build that!How has God won your battles?
Leave a comment in the section below or on the Sonoma Mountain Parkway Church of Christ Facebook page.
If you missed a reading or want to go to a specific date, type the link as follows:
http://grahambates.blogspot.com/2013/mm/dd.html
That will take you to the reading for that day.
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