brotherbill

While Gideon was around the Israelites had peace in the land both with God and with their neighbors. His victory as well as mistakes have provided us with reminders that the Battle is the Lords as well as any praise that is forthcoming. We are reminded as well of the truth that, "little is much when God is in it!" Praise Be to God!

A snare is a trap hidden in the path of a quarry and in walking down the path he is entangled in it by his leg or neck and held there until death or capture or he chews his leg off. Snares are generally hidden or made to appear as normal and safe but lead to trouble for sure. The ephod was probably seen as a gift to the people to commemorate the great victory over their enemies. But then it became the "Great Ephod" and was bowed down to by the people, it took the place of God. In stead of remembering the victory God gave them they thought the ephod would bring them "victory", "fortune" or "luck." When an object, person, place or thing becomes the reason we live or get up in the morning. When it consumes all of heart, soul and body and the time we live on this earth, we are bowing to it and not God. This is how money, which we need in this world, and God blesses us to earn it to live, can become "MONEY" and pull our devotion to God towards getting more of it instead. He lead and ensnared his family and the people in worship of an idol.

God called Israel his betrothed wife. Therefore to follow after other gods was to commit spiritual adultery. In the same way the N.T. Church is called the "Bride of Christ" and should we worship another we also are said to have committed "adultery with that object or god. We are to serve God and Him alone, with every part of our being and energy and nature this alone becomes our true "worship." There are many things that are not necessarily bad things that come across our paths today that tempt us to worship them. An example a Pastor or Church may worship numbers and this may lead them to water down the truths of scripture so they do not offend any one, thus getting more in the door... but will they get to heaven if we leave some of the Gospel out? Or we may feel the need to not preach a certain message because it will seem to be aimed at a certain family because there is sin there and "We don't want to lose that family."

God had never intended for Israel to have a king but that he would be there Sovereign. Gideon recognized this Truth and would not be "made" king not his grand son. He God would lead and protect and supply for them all and any benefit a King would and even more because he loved them as a "treasured possession." Ex. 19:4-6 Their hearts were hardened by sin and they failed to see that God had won the battle for them. When we see ourselves as sufficient for the day there is great danger of putting ourselves on the "Throne" of our heart instead of the Lord. Also, I am sure all of the peoples around them had Kings and they felt if they had one they would not have gotten into this mess in the first place. They did not recognize that sin was the very root of their problem all along, separating them from God and his blessings.

Gideon asks for an earing from the spoils taken by each soldier in his army. This totaled at least 43 lbs to (19.5 kilograms) and perhaps as much as 75 lbs depending on what metals where represented in the many earings. No it was probably not wrong of Gideon to receive this reward. It may not have been his "place" to ask for such a reward especially if his intent was to create an item to be worshiped. Recognizing that the victory was God's it would have been (and is) much better for Gideon (and us) to have just went home with his share of the spoils and allowed God to give the increase if there is to be one. Often we find ourselves in a place to do the "right thing" and we boldly do the right thing then turn around and do a lesser wrong thing to please the flesh and/or those closest to us. ex. Arron in the wilderness while Moses was up on the mountain built a calf to worship God...to lead the people to worship God right but to make an "image" to represent God WRONG. God had also given the Israelites riches as they left Egypt, travel money if you will, BUT He did not allow or give them permission to them to worship them. If this was premeditated asking for the gift for these purposes was sin. If it was not, then certainly when the ephod was made it became sin. Because either it was made to worship and lead others to worship it and/or to represent himself in some position God had not called him to.

It seems to be some type of ceremonial garment or accessory that was worn by a high priest and set aside for religious purposes. It may have even been thought to have power or to be a connection to God's power as in the case of the Urim and the Thummin of the high priest, which was used to determine the will of God. (?) At the least it was representative of God's presence and power with the priest who was wearing it and perhaps this was part of Gideon's mistake to represent himself as something God had not called him to be. We often see how the sins of one or a few can lead many to wander in sin and this appears to be the case here. Gideon's ephod appears to have been made from the precious metals from the earing's and treasures taken from the Midianite army. These metals were melted and fashioned into a garment of some type which may have been put on display in some sort of shrine or temple setting. Perhaps it was draped over a man shaped figure of may have been just hung on a wall but since the people worshiped it, it must have been in a place accessible and in sight of all.

Gideon slays the Kings because they are Kings of Midian who have dealt unjustly and cruelly with God's people. No the punishment for Murder was death. More unfair than conquering a country it is to just keep coming in and stealing their harvest and herds and destroying their homes. Grace is extended toward us and all mankind we don't want to be used to prevent another from knowing the grace that has saved us. We have been fully redeemed from the death and sin and as a Child we also know we have the protection of our heavenly Father, "Who will repay."

Gideon slays the Kings because they are Kings of Midian who have dealt unjustly and cruelly with God's people. No the punishment for Murder was death. More unfair than conquering a country it is to just keep coming in and stealing their harvest and herds and destroying their homes. Grace is extended toward us and all mankind we don't want to be used to prevent another from knowing the grace that has saved us. We have been fully redeemed from the death and sin and as a Child we also know we have the protection of our heavenly Father, "Who will repay."

Gideon slays the Kings because they are Kings of Midian who have dealt unjustly and cruelly with God's people. No the punishment for Murder was death. More unfair than conquering a country it is to just keep coming in and stealing their harvest and herds and destroying their homes. Grace is extended toward us and all mankind we don't want to be used to prevent another from knowing the grace that has saved us. We have been fully redeemed from the death and sin and as a Child we also know we have the protection of our heavenly Father, "Who will repay."

They feared Gideon would not be able to complete the task with total victory and that Midian would come back and kill them for aiding the enemy. Because they did not help their kin...and kind of mocked Gideon and his army. We should use take great care in our support and encouragement of those who feel called to do something for the Lord. I have seen folks who are of the mind set that it is not their program or idea and there fore others can do the work. They won't lend a hand or dime to help the cause or improve the chances for a good outcome, but they stand aside and wait for the thing to fall apart. This is not why Paul says we have been given the Holy Spirit in Eph. We are to encourage one another till we all grow up in Christ.

If these men were allowed to remain they would regroup and attack with a large and Strong army. When we do not deal with problems and let them go they usually end up compounding themselves and getting even bigger and harder to overcome. I have seen folks run from problems and they even have a way of following us from one place to another.

Gideon asks the Ephraimites to attack the Midianites at the Jordan. I think think this would have stopped them from traveling down the river valley which would have been a quicker retreat than over "hill and dale." They were angry that they were not called as part of the original army and a part of the planning and attack. When we approach a negative with negative it tends to make the matter worse. Gideon reminded them they were already more victorious than others in the battle they had captured two kings. And therefore their contribution was vital and impressive already in the short time they had been in the fray.

With a small army he needed to give an appearance that they were many and might so he spread them out. This would give the appearance that they were surrounded and out manned. These were not trained soldiers and they were not heavily armed so they needed and edge and God gave them one these simple tools and a plan. The (300) Trumpets and jars or pots would have made and awesome sound in the dark of the middle Easterner night specially when you are sound asleep and awakened by this noise. I am sure it could have easily sounded like a mighty army with swords and weapons clashing together as they attacked the sleeping Midianites. The sudden brightness that would appear from 300 torches would have given the appearance that the camp was ablaze and in a half sleeping state caused great panic. I asked a youth why it worked and why such a strange plan and he said simply "Gideon did what God told him to do!" Amen. I believe it worked because all of the preparation that God had done giving them the dream of the Barley loaf and the concern he put in their minds about the "Sword of Gideon." All of this was like a rising crescendo with the climax being the breaking of the jars and shouting and the Midianites turning on one another in fear and confusion.

Barley was the most common cereal grain and the food of the poorer/common peoples in this region. The Midianites being aware of this probably were or had been of the mind that there superior trained army and equipment mean t a sure victory. But when these nightmares came upon them it unsettled them as they were sure it was a sign of their doom at the hand of the "common army" who lapped their water from the stream like dogs. He allowed Gideon to hear this so he would know God's timing to attack, no more need for spying and preparing. Also that sure victory was theirs, God was on their side. Take heart O Church of the Living God and "Press the Battle On!" God Bless!

I am thinking that in a community that had so many ritual cleansings and purifications, to put your face to the water and "lap" it up like a dog might make you somewhat of an undesirable or at least kind of heathenistic to others. The ones who brought the water to their mouth with their hands might have seemed the "best" soldiers as they were always on guard even while getting a drink. So God settled on 300 of the least likely soldiers for Gideon to lead into this battle. Once again proving himself strong on behalf of his people. So there are no doubt as to who is God! Let us never doubt as well. God Bless!