Affirming Our Wholehearted Commitment

There are certain times in life when we gather together as communities to remember or celebrate certain events, be they graduations, weddings, anniversaries and even funerals. It is a time to celebrate accomplishment or remember a life well lived. Once the land has been conquered in Israel, Joshua calls the people together. Joshua understands human nature. He has led the Israelites for many years and has seen how quickly they turn against God and blame him when things don’t seem to be going their way.

Tokens of Commitment

When the people of Israel commit themselves to God, Joshua knows that they may quickly turn against him, as they have in the past. He knows that they might be carried away by the excitement of the moment, as we sometimes are at exciting conferences or concerts. Therefore, Joshua marks their commitment with a huge stone. Every time the people see the stone they will be reminded of their commitment.

Don’t Just Call on God When You Have Problems!

This is a sad time in Israel’s history. God has done great things for them and still wants to care for them as his chosen people. But when the people do not have a strong leader to shepherd them, they start chasing after other gods and only call on the Lord when they have problems. No one likes friends that only call when they have problems! God does not give up on his people, though. He gives them good leaders when they get desperate. He earnestly desires his people to follow him so that he can bless them.

Don’t Just Follow The Leader

Have you ever known someone like Deborah, who seemingly had no office or credentials but everyone went to her for her godly wisdom? She sat under a palm tree, which, like other trees in Israel before the time of the tabernacle, was associated with revelation from God. When she spoke, it was with the authority of God. Given that women did not usually have leadership positions in that society, both Deborah and Jael must have been very strong women.

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Overcoming Cynicism

Have you ever been in the place where Gideon was where everything looks bleak? The Israelites were sorely oppressed. When Gideon experiences a miraculous event, he is initially deeply cynical. There are many cynical people in our society who will not believe any promises of something good happening and most of us are far from being oppressed to the point of starvation. How would you respond if someone you did not know came and called you a “strong warrior”? Would you respond with a smart response?

Putting God to the Test

The first thing that is necessary for Israel to have a restored relationship with God is for them to stop following other gods. God has been calling on the Israelites to do this but it has not made them repent. The Midianites have been oppressing the Israelites so it is natural that they think that Baal, the god of the Midianites, is stronger than God. God calls on Gideon to make things right by tearing down the area of worship to Baal and substituting an altar to God.

God Shows His Power

There is a story about a man working on a roof who slips and falls and cries out to God for help. When his pants catch on a nail, he says, “That’s okay God, I don’t need your help now.” The roofer did not recognize that God helped him in the situation but thought it was just luck. It is all too easy for us to call out to God, but when the answer comes, we don’t recognize that it is from God.

Follow God’s Instructions

While the instructions to the soldiers must have sounded silly at the time, Gideon understood God’s bigger plan. Each of the 300 soldiers got to see God in action as the Midianites started fighting each other. That must have been quite the experience. But to have that experience, they needed to trust both God and Gideon. Good soldiers are well trained to follow their leaders without question – but these were not trained soldiers, they were simply men who drank water from the stream with their hands! God used their trust and faithfulness to defeat the enemy.

Facing Temptation

It must have been a temptation to Gideon when the people asked him to be their king. But Gideon faced that temptation and refused it. He rightly told the people that they could only follow God, not any person. It seems strange then that Gideon turns around and runs right into the arms of temptation! And one of the greatest temptations is bright, shiny objects. At the very moment when Gideon turns his back on the temptation of kingship, he asks for gold that he makes into an ephod. An ephod was an item of ceremonial clothing generally worn by priests.

Follow God’s Commands to Receive his Blessing

It was a shameful thing for a woman not to produce heirs for her husband. The story of Samson is one of several in the Old Testament where we see God honouring the prayers of barren women who desperately desire to have a child. Manoah’s wife has likely prayed for many years. When the angel of the Lord comes to her, she is willing to follow his instructions. And the blessing Manoah and his wife will receive is amazing. They will give birth to a son that will save the nation!