How would you respond? Here we begin to see a change in Gideon’s character. Like taking a certain medicine every day, there is a law of diminishing return. But the angel declared God’s perspective on Gideon, 'O mighty man of valor' (Judges 6). And yet
it is difficult to find a letter in which Paul does not have at least something
through which he can commend those brethren. At first he had no confidence. Thus, Gideon’s act here leads the people into idolatry. [CDATA[ */ If you study all the Old Testament references to the Angel of the Lord, you will see that this transformation occurred again and again so YHWH could communicate with man.". An important moment comes in 8:22–23, where the people, in view of Gideon’s outstanding victory, want to set up a dynastic kingship so that Gideon and his children after him could rule over the people. How Does Archangel Gabriel Quiz Muhammad in the Hadith? Download all Lectio podcasts from iTunes.
Angels come into the visible world in order to take our offerings into the invisible; they transform earthly offerings into heavenly gifts.
God does that. Some one said: "Gideon, the son of Joash, did this last night." The first task for Gideon is to smash a local idol altar dedicated to a god named Baal. Then the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand.
Threshing wheat is a relatively common activity, but why in a winepress?
Part of it is the trajectory of Judges as a whole. This is the bleak setting for the “call of Gideon.”. I liken their situation to my own challenges when, over the period of the night, my three children end up in my bed one by one until all I have left is a tiny corner of bed, no covers, and I am holding on to the edge tightly lest I end up on the floor! Notice also that he always did make commendation
where appropriate-- for, in the end, no matter how many difficulties our
brethren may have, they remain our brethren, the elect of God, those for whom
Christ died. And
when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal
was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second
bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. After reading about it this week, what do you think about Gideon’s decision-making process? The
people had determined evil to be good, and good evil. Without hesitation, he proclaims, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you” (8:23). (Judges 6:17-21). Gideon comes across as a wimp and a doubter.
We are clearly told that Israel “prostituted” herself to it, which is metaphorical language for turning away from her “husband” (YHWH) and turning to another.
And Joash said unto all that stood against him, "Will ye contend for Baal? Am I not sending you?
In fact, Gideon acts a lot like Moses in this dialogue with God. Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD; God punished his people for their rebellion with the oppression of a foreign enemy; Israel cried out in fear, pain, and desperation; God raised up a “judge” to deliver his people from the invaders; and. In the end, I do value your cautionary approach. YHWH extended Himself in another form because Gideon would have died if he had seen the Lord in his natural state.
In fact, Gideon acts a lot like Moses in this dialogue with God. In his book "YHWH: Preincarnate Jesus", Bradley J. Cummins writes: ", ...the Angel of the Lord and the Lord (YHWH) are one and the same person. Gideon had 32,000 men gathered on the hill overlooking the Valley below. Archangel Gabriel Visits Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, Miracles of Jesus: The Exorcism of a Demon-Possessed Boy. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. Later, he demands two more signs from God to provide reassurance that God… ", Gideon then asks the Angel of the Lord to confirm his identity, and the angel gives Gideon a spectacular sign that God is truly with him: "Gideon replied, 'If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.
You are not going to die.'.