administrator, Bureaucrats, bureaucrats, checkuser, editor, emailconfirmed, move, Administrators
3,304
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
{{DOD-March}}
We see today that Gideon was not the only one who was afraid. Of the 32,000 men who rallied to his side, 22,000 of them were also afraid and returned home. However, [[God]] did not even need 10,000 men to win the [[victory]], so He put the remaining ones to a test and an additional 9,700 were sent home, leaving 300 to fight the battle with Gideon.
On the night of the battle [[God]] saw that there was still fear in Gideon's heart, so He graciously gave him a special sign that he would win the battle. The barley cake represented Gideon, for barley was the poorest kind of food. [[God]] was going to use this "poor farmer" to win a great [[victory]].
Gideon became a compromiser in chapter 8. After his great [[victory]], the nation asked him to become their king and establish a royal family. He refused, saying, "The [[Lord]] shall rule over you" (chapter 8:23). However, he used this opportunity to ask for a "lesser thing"--all their earrings and ornaments. He made an idolatrous image with the 70 pounds of gold he collected! What the Midianites had been unable to do by means of sword, [[Satan]] accomplished with earrings! It is sad to see the man who overthrew Baal's [[altar]] now setting up an idol of his own! Unfortunately, the whole nation forsook [[God]] and worshiped the new [[God]]. When Gideon died the nation went right back to worshiping Baal.
