Thursday, February 11, 2021

Biblical historical event- Midianite oppression and Gideon’s deliverance (Judge 6:1-8:35) by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 

Biblical historical event- Midianite oppression and Gideon’s deliverance (Judge 6:1-8:35) 

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                        Feb.10,2021

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music

Introduction

 Have you ever sought God’s affirmation for each step of your life or ministry to approve that is God’s guidance and then, you move on to fulfill God’s calling? Like Gideon’s supplication to approve that God called him to be a mighty warrior, fought the battle of Midianite, once the answer was affirmed by the sign, Gideon stepped on the journey to fulfill God’s call and fought the battle for Israelites, he gained the victory with the Lord’s help, Midian was subdued before the sons of Israel, and the land was undisturbed for forty years in the days of Gideon.  

Israel oppressed by Midian  

When Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, He gave them into the hands of the Midianites seven years. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. it was impossible to count the men and their camels, they invaded the land to ravage it. Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. (Judge6:1-6).

Israelites cried to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land. I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” (vv.7-10)

The angel of the Lord visited Gideon, called him to save Israel out of Midian’s hand.

            Gideon is the son of Joash, who worshiped Baal, Gideon’s family mixed their worship of God and false gods. It resulted in Gideon’s timidity, inadequacies, and unsure that God will elect him to be the leader to fight the battle for Israel. God turned his weakness into strength and affirmed him the Lord is with him, he is a mighty warrior. As Judge 6:13-24 states,        

The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, The Lord is with you mighty warrior.(v.12) But Gideon replied, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about then they said, did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” But Lord, Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. The Lord answered. “I will be with you”, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”(vv.13-16)

            Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my  offering and set it before you.”  And the Lord, “I will wait until you return.” Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour, he made bread without yeast.  Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened   bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread. The fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. (vv.19-21)

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, Ah, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it “The Lord is Peace.” To this day it stands in Ophra of the Abiezrites. (vv.22-24)   

Lord called Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal

            Gideon’s first task is to demolish his father’s altar to Baal which also against the men of the town that worshiped the Baal. It’s understandable that Gideon was afraid to act publicly, so he acted in the night time secretly.      

                That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the   Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering. So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. (vv.25-27)

               In the morning when the men of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar,     demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar! The men of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring your son He must die because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”  But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” So that  day they called Gideon “Jerub-Baal,” saying. “Let Baal contend with him,” because he broke down Baal’s altar. (vv.30-32)

The Lord is Jehovah Shalon – the Lord is Peace

To Gideon, the Lord is Jehovah Shalon – the Lord is Peace.  Gideon was the weakest in Manasseh and he was the least in his family, his weakness was fear, timid, and skittish. He was afraid to disobey family and the men of the town, especially, his father’s Baal altar. Gideon was afraid to break down the Baal’s altar and feared being rejected by the men of the town. He wasn’t certain of the things unless God approved His call to him. When he did it, the Lord is Peace, even his father and the men of the town must submit to the Lord’s altar that Gideon had built. People called Gideon a new name “Jerub-Baal” means let Baal contend.  

God approved Gideon’s call to save Israel by the sign of the wool fleece

Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. He sent massagers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.

ü  First sign:  there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised – look, 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 that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew –a bowlful of water. (vv.36-38)

ü  Second sign: Only the fleece was dry, all the ground was covered with dew

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time makes the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.(vv.39-40)

Gideon’s conquests with three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths

            The Lord 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, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ So twenty–two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.”. (Judges7:2-3)

But the Lord said to Gideon,  There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you, he shall go’; but if I say, ‘This one shall not      go with you, he shall not go.’ (7:4)

So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him,“Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.(7:5-6)

 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. (7: 7-8)

Gideon’s military strategies, blew their trumpets broke the jars that were in their hands

 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. 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!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. 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 to Abel Meholah near Tabbath. Israelites from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites.                                                        

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 took the waters of the Jordan as far as zbeth Barah. They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. (7:19-25)

During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace 40 years

The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us- you, your son and your grandson because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.( 8:22). During Gideon’s lifetime, the land enjoyed peace for forty years. The Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again.

Compare and contrast the influence of Gideon  

Gideon’s call and lesson played both positive and negative influences on Israelites. God’s election is beyond human understanding. In human eyesight, we may question why God elected Gideon whose father was idolatrous worship, to be a leader to deliver the Israelites from Midianite? God’s thoughts and ways are higher than the human’s thoughts and ways. One biblical principle is that obedience and faithfulness to God’s decrees, laws, and guidance are always right and lead mankind into the path of peace, and receive God’s divine salvation and deliverance. God used Gideon’s hands to destroy his father’s altar to Baal, and saved Israelites life from Midianite, the land enjoyed peace for forty years, which is a positive influence.

However, Gideon wasn’t aware of the spiritual warfare, after he gained the military victory, while, Israelites asked him to be the leader, he, mistakenly, asked for gold earrings from them, and made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family. (8:27). The form of the ephod is not known, but clearly, it became an object of idolatrous worship. It resulted in negative influence after Gideon died, “the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berity as their god and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. They also failed to show kindness to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for them.”(8:33-35)    

The implications and application

1.      God’s election is beyond human’s thoughts and ways. God’s deliverance and salvation are not limited to those who are idolatrous worship. On the contrary, it opens to those who are idol worship in order to save them so that God gains the glory. As mankind, we may not understand why God elected Gideon to saved Israelites and enjoyed peace for forty years. God’s way is higher than our way. Keep faithful and humbly seek His guidance.          

2.      The battle belongs to God

Gideon wasn’t sure that God would use him to save Israel, for he is the weakest in Manasseh and the least in his family. He asked God for a sign, God approved the sign twice. First, the fleece was dew and the ground was dry. Second, the fleece was dry and the ground was covered with dew just as Gideon asked. God ensured Gideon, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges6:12)

3.      It’s the strength of God gained the victory so no one can boast themselves

Gideon prepared 32000 men as the army to fight the Midianites, yet, God reduced the numbers to 300 men. The Lord said, “With three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands.” (Judges7:7) God shaped Gideon to rely on the strength of the Lord rather than himself.

4.      Keep praising, singing, worshipping to the Lord

Gideon led a hundred men to blow the trumpets, broke the jars, grasping the touches and they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon.” “When 300 trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.”( Judges7:22) The men of Ephraim were called out to help and they captured two Midianite leaders. Oreb and Zeeb.(Judges7:24-25)

5.      Meekness, gentleness, and soft answer subsided the resentment

With God’s help and strength, Gideon gained the battle. But Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian and they criticized him sharply.”(8:1). Gideon answered wisely and softly, “what have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? 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.” (Judges8:2-3)  Softly answered and pointed out the truth of what had accomplished, Gideon subsided the resentment against him and gained more supporters from Ephraim.

6.      Trust in God, and put confidence in God, not man

When we love a human being and do not love God, we may appear to be cynical and unkindly severe in our judgment of others. We demand of a human being that which he or she cannot give. When we don’t get it we become cruel and vindictive. “There is one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Why our Lord is apparently so severe regarding every human relationship is because He knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to Himself will end in disaster.”[1] Our Lord trusted no man, but put His confidence in God and in what His grace could do for any man, was so perfect that He despaired of no one. If our trust is placed in human beings, we shall end in despairing of everyone. Jesus didn’t commit Himself unto them…for He what was knew in man.(John2:24-25)

Invitation for accepting Jesus Christ to be the savior

          My friends, are you the youngest of your family and you think there is no way to overcome the challenge of your biological family who is idolatrous worship or different religion practicing such as tradition, virtues, custom, and lifestyle? How to live with them? at the same time to forsake the idols, and follow Jesus Christ to become Christians?  The Lord strongly urged His people not to make any image of other gods made by gold, silver, stone, nor follow other gods to worship idols, for all who worship images and boast in idols will be put to shame. The Lord our God is the Maker of heaven and earth and doesn’t live in the house made by human’s hand. He is Most High over all the earth, and He is exalted far above all gods.

 

Bibliography,

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Bruce, Katherine L. Book review: the bondage breaker by Neil T. Anderson. M.Div. VAN670. Orlando FL: Liberty University Baptist Theo. Seminary, 2012.

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Chambers, Oswald. My utmost for His highest. DODD,Mead &Company, Inc.1935.

Countryman, Jack. If my people. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

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             __________. Glory Days. Nashville, TN. Thomas Nelson, 2015

 

         Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

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[1], Chambers, Oswald. My utmost for His highest. (DODD Mead &Company, Inc.1935.)212.

 

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