Home thoughts from abroad.wordpress.com

 Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they challenged him vigorously.

² But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? ³ God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided. (NIV)

”Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” (Prov.17:14)

Andrew Bonar, a Scottish Presbyterian pastor. said, ‘Let us be as watchful after the victory as before the battle.’ In the aftermath of battle, Gideon immediately found some ‘unexploded mines’. But in this passage, he is a fine example of a ”gentle answer” turning away ”wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). He showed pastoral sensitivity and diplomacy in the face of harsh criticism.

”Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.” (Prov.16:32)

Ephraim and Manasseh (Gideon’s tribe) were the two major Israelite tribes in Northern Canaan. So the Ephraimites felt side-lined when they were not called to help Gideon at the outset. We are, perhaps, in danger of becoming critical when we feel unfairly left out of things. But Gideon poured ‘oil on troubled waters’ with great skill and tact. He said that although they were called late to the battle (Judges 7:24), they were able to gather greater plunder than that of ”Abiezer”, Gideon’s clan.

‘Gideon shows us (1)That humility of deportment is the best way to remove envy. (2) It is likewise the surest method of ending strife.’ Matthew Henry

” Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3,4)

Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. ²⁴ Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”

So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. ²⁵ They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan. (NIV)

Although the Lord used 300 soldiers to win the battle, 300 couldn’t pursue thousands of enemy soldiers, and so Gideon issued a call for volunteers to come out and help. No doubt many of the men who had earlier been sent home were among those who responded. Note: you may feel you have ‘shot your bolt’, missed your opportunity. But it isn’t over until it’s over. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Maybe you can still make a contribution. Be alert to the opportunities coming your way this day.

As we come to the end of chapter 7, let’s remember the apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:7, where there may indeed be an allusion to the story of Gideon and the reduced army:

”But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

‘Gideon’s great victory over the Midianites became a landmark event in the history of Israel, not unlike the Battle of Waterloo for Great Britain, for it reminded the Jews of God’s power to deliver them from their enemies. The day of Midian was a great day that Israel would never forget (Ps.83:11; Isa.9:4; 10:26).’ Warren Wiersbe

I was at the same table as two ladies who were talking about a particular occurrence. One said to the other, ‘That were a God thing were that!’

The victory over Midian was undoubtedly a ‘God thing’!

Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. ²⁰ The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” ²¹ While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

²² When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. (NIV)

Not only does God use unlikely people in His purposes, He also gives to them unusual weapons. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. They are much, much higher (Is.55:8,9)

”For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Cor. 10:3,4)

Again and again we find, in this spiritual warfare, that as we listen to God and obey Him, the battle is not ours, but His. We just have to hold our position (21) and see the salvation of God.

Gideon’s men already had the trumpets and provisions of the men who had been sent back (8). The trumpets were rams’ horns such as Joshua used at Jericho. Perhaps Joshua and his men could make the connection with that great battle, and be encouraged by the thought.

Tom Hale says, ‘Since trumpets were used only by military commanders (for signalling), three hundred trumpets represented a large army. Thus when Gideon’s men blew their trumpets, broke their jars, raised their torches, and shouted the battle cry – all in the middle watch (middle of the night) – the Midianites were convinced that a huge army was attacking them, and so they fled in panic (verse 21)…It was a mighty victory; in all likelihood, Gideon and his three hundred men had done no fighting at all – only blowing and shouting! (see Joshua 6:20).’

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” ¹⁶ Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

¹⁷ “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. ¹⁸ When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’” (NIV)

Two commands in this short section have caught my attention:

• ”Get up!” (15): When you are clear that God really has told you to do something, there comes the time to get on with it. No more dawdling or hesitation. ‘Up and at ’em!’ I believe it was Warren Wiersbe who said that ‘obedience is the organ of spiritual knowledge’ (or words to that effect). Are you holding back when you know the Lord has told you to go forward? Is this the day for you to ‘get up’?
• ”Watch me” (17): The power of example in the life of a spiritual leader cannot be overstated. Paul could say: ”Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Cor.11:1) Richard Baxter, in ‘the Reformed Pastor’, writes: ‘…take heed to yourselves, lest your example contradict your doctrine…lest you unsay with your lives, what you say with your tongues…We must study as hard how to live well, as how to preach well.’ John Owen said, ‘If the word do not dwell with power in us, it will not pass with power from us.’ William Perkins commented, ‘Good words are vain where there is no good life.’ These wonderful Puritan pastors have much to teach us still.

Thought: ‘ Train up a child in the way he should go – but be sure you go that way yourself.’ Charles Spurgeon

 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”

.¹⁴ His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”

¹⁵ When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” (NIV)

Many of the miracles in Scripture are miracles of timing. Gideon could not have arranged his arrival for the exact moment when one man was relaying the details of a significant dream to another. This was out of his hands, but the Lord set it up nicely for his benefit,

Not only does God know when we need encouragement, and what we need; He may actually surprise us with the type and level of encouragement He supplies.

Warren Wiersbe makes this comment about the dream, and its aftermath: ‘Since barley was a grain used primarily by poor people, the barley-cake image of Gideon and his army spoke of their weakness and humiliation…It’s significant that Gideon paused to worship the Lord before he did anything else…Before we can become successful warriors, we must first become sincere worshippers.’

Again we can marvel that God ”…God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,  so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. ⁹ During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. ¹⁰ If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah ¹¹ and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. ¹² The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. (NIV)

The enemy forces were vast (11), and God had reduced the army of Israel to 300. On paper, they were hopelessly outnumbered. But once more the Lord assured Gideon of victory (9).

How good of God to deal gently and kindly with our fears. He knows just the form of encouragement we need, and ensures that we receive it. Gideon got just what he needed, when he needed it.

”As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
 for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13,14)

”He remembered that they were but flesh,
    a passing breeze that does not return.” (Psalm 78:39)

‘…the Holy Spirit devoted an entire chapter of the New Testament – Hebrews 11 – to the victories of faith won by ordinary people who dared to believe God and act upon His promises.’ Warren Wiersbe

We can thank God that He ”gives endurance and encouragement” (Rom.15:5)

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music.
⁸ Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.

⁹ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth. (NIV)

One manifestation of a ”steadfast” heart is in evidence when someone can say ”I will” and then do it. Although David was in a ”cave” when he wrote this Psalm, he was definite in his commitment to get up early and to be a person of praise; to be a witness in his worship. This was his personal response to God’s ”great” ”love” and ”faithfulness” (10).

Selwyn Hughes pointed out that although we cannot choose all of our circumstances, we do get to choose our ‘inner-stances’: the attitude(s)/posture(s) we adopt.

I recall a very powerful line from a powerful television drama, about a simple kit-man for Stoke City Football Club. He said, ‘I wanted to be happy, so I decided to be!’

Question: Where do I need to say, ‘I will’, and then follow through?

 “It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.

^25-27 “It’s urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.

^28-29 “Don’t act so surprised at all this. The time is coming when everyone dead and buried will hear his voice. Those who have lived the right way will walk out into a resurrection Life; those who have lived the wrong way, into a resurrection Judgment. (The Message)

Jesus’ claim to be one with God the Father was explosive, and the Jews understood that He was claiming equality with God. That’s why they accused Him of blasphemy. Jesus’ oneness with the Father was seen, not only in His working on the Sabbath, but in sharing the Father’s prerogatives of Judging and giving life.

‘Life’ is one of John’s repeated themes. Jesus is ”the life” (John 14:6), and He imparts ”life”. I believe there are two senses in which we can experience this:

a.) Jesus raises people from the dead spiritually now. He is sovereign in giving ”eternal life” – ”real, lasting life”. This is a wonderful miracle. When you receive the life Jesus gives it can feel as if you have never lived before. Someone put it like this: ‘Previously, my life was in black and white; but after becoming a Christian, everything was in glorious technicolour!’ I attended a funeral where the son of the deceased, in his eulogy said, ‘My father was a Christian and believed in internal life!’ Indeed he did. I knew him well ‘Internal life’ starts with the new birth, in which the life of eternity is planted deep in the soul;

b.) One day He will raise all people from the dead. But they will not all share the same destiny. It is faith in Jesus that makes the difference (24). Jim Packer pointed out that in the Bible justification is by faith, but judgment is according to works, because the works reveal the reality of faith, or its absence.

I remember, as a young teenager, walking with my dad and uncle to visit my grandad’s new grave in a Lancaster cemetery. I’m sure they felt the pain and sadness of it, as did I. But I also recall the cheerful conversation initiated by my Uncle. He said, ‘Wouldn’t you just love to knock on the cemetery superintendent’s door and say, ‘Sir, do you realise that one day every grave here will open and every dead person come out?!!’ The ashes of my dad and uncle are now buried in that same cemetery, but I am grateful that I can affirm:

‘I believe in…the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.’

‘The partition thins between this world and the world to come, or
the next or the other world. On the other side of the partition
the dead are living. As one grows older some of the dead grow
more alive, more essentially themselves. One loves them more. As
the next world grows more distinct, this one becomes, not more
vague, but more strange.’ Wendell Berry

 “But you haven’t seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son. The Son gives life to anyone he chooses. Neither he nor the Father shuts anyone out. The Father handed all authority to judge over to the Son so that the Son will be honoured equally with the Father. Anyone who dishonours the Son, dishonours the Father, for it was the Father’s decision to put the Son in the place of honour. (The Message)

In order to honour God we must honour Jesus. The truth is, our attitude to God is bound up with our attitude to Jesus. To reject Jesus is to reject God. Some people want a form of religion/spirituality – want a god – but they do not want Jesus. But Jesus made it clear that the only way anyone can approach God is through Him (John 14:6). There is no other way.

”No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:23)

The Jews ‘…in fact…were blind. They didn’t realise that Christ was indeed equal with God. Therefore, they refused to honour Christ. They said, ”We honour only God.” But Jesus told them, ”He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father.” It’s the same among men: whenever we dishonour a man’s son, we dishonour the man himself.’ Tom Hale