This blog is a first in a series about Gideon. You can read the whole story in Judges chapter 6 and 7.
But as I was reading this a few days ago, I realized that we have more in common with Gideon than we think.
We are going to take a few verses at a time for the next few days. Discovering it’s message and meaning.
Judges 6 1: 2 The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.
Israel was up to its old ways again. Idolatry. Worshipping Baal and all the other evil that went with it. For that, God had removed his hand of protection from them thus allowing the Midianites to terrorize Israel.
But as I was reading this a few days ago, I realized that we have more in common with Gideon than we think.
We are going to take a few verses at a time for the next few days. Discovering it’s message and meaning.
Judges 6 1: 2 The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2 And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.
Israel was up to its old ways again. Idolatry. Worshipping Baal and all the other evil that went with it. For that, God had removed his hand of protection from them thus allowing the Midianites to terrorize Israel.
The Midianites, a nomadic warring people, would simply overwhelm their neighbors with greater numbers and take what they wanted. It was a very painful experience for Israel. So much so they would retreat into mountains and caves, hoping to hide from and wait out their enemy.
Pain is a reality of life. It is going to happen and often. Some of it just happens. We did nothing to deserve it. But some of it is of our own doing, as with the Israelites. It’s what we do with it will define us.
Pain can lead us away from God or drive us into His arms. Pain can lead us into a world of self-pity and loathing. But one thing that I have noticed is that pain doesn’t lead us away from sin. You think it would, but Israel kept up their evil ways for 7 years with no sign of stopping.
Today researches tell us that 25 percent of people who have had a heart attack or stroke do not change bad health habits. You would think that they would do something to stop the pain, but they don’t. The world would tell you, keep doing what you have been doing, and things will change. That’s a big lie.
What you do with your pain can make you or break you. You can fight it, but it still hurts. Or you can give it to God and ask Him to deliver you from the nightmare. If you do the last, then you will become a Gideon. The one who will hear from God and change their world with God’s help.
PRAY: Dear Jesus, I am giving you my life, sin and all. I know that some of my pain is my own doing. I refuse to hide from you. I refuse to be alone in my emotional cave. I need You today. AMEN
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