Lessons from Gideon's Life
We will continue our discussion on the life of Gideon from the Book of Judges, which vividly portrays the "decline of the moral and spiritual status of Israelites from the high status they had under the leadership of Joshua". The recurring phrase, "in those days there was no king in Israel," found throughout the book, underscores this period of spiritual decline.
The author of Judges, who also authored the Book of Ruth (originally combined), writes from a later period when kings ruled Israel, linking the era from Joshua's death to the days of David (Read Judges 1:1 an Ruth 4:22). While God raised "many deliverers" during Israel's decline, the author highlights a crucial point: "There was no one who is as tall as Joshua or as tall as David". Many leaders were faithful in some areas but failed in others. God was seeking something specific: "a man who was who was after his own heart".
Being "a man after God's own heart" does not mean being perfect. Instead, it signifies "understanding his heart... understanding what he likes. Understanding what he does not like. intimate relationship with him". This unique qualification, was something "only David was able to get" after Joshua. This profound intimacy, we learned, can "understand God's heart only from God's word". This calls us to "spend more time with God's word, reading, studying, meditating, learning and as God gives us opportunities teaching others".
Gideon: Obedience, Glory, and Leadership
Delving deeper, we explore the life of Gideon in Judges chapters 6 & 7, a period where "everyone was behaving according to what was right in his own sight" and disobeying God's commandments, repeatedly falling into idolatry. In this context of oppression by the Midianites, God chose Gideon, seeing his "heart and mind of obedience" even when Gideon acted "in hiding".
1) If we see the life of Gideon from the lens of Israelite's history, we can see a mirror image of Moses.
The parallels between Gideon and Moses are striking:
- Both were called by God when their people were under oppression.
- God appeared to Moses from a burning bush (a type of tree) and to Gideon under a tree.
- Both were commanded to deliver God's people.
- Both expressed doubts about their ability.
- God promised, "I will be with you," to both.
- God gave both numerous signs and provided assistants.
This shows that God's choice is not based on "what we can do or whether we are willing to do or whether we are able to do or whether we are eligible to do. No, no, no, no. It is from what God sees".
2) Gideon's story further demonstrates God's focus on His glory. When Gideon gathered 32,000 men to face 135,000 Midianites, God declared, "The people with you are too many for me to give Midianites into your hand". God's "equations are different" from worldly equations; He reduces the numbers so that Israel cannot boast, saying, "My hand has saved me" (Judges 7:2). God does not like this. He wants to be glorified among his people.
3) The army was first reduced by sending home the fearful and trembling, as commanded by the Law in Deuteronomy 20:8. This highlighted a crucial point: "If you do not obey God's word in our personal lives, we cannot obey God's word outside". Gideon's hidden obedience prepared him for public obedience.
4) The remaining 10,000 were then tested at the water, reduced to a mere 300 men. This seemingly mundane act of drinking water became a test of how they conducted "simple day-to-day life thing". God tests us not just in grand moments, but "in every day activities... Every detail of our lives, God is concerned about and God is testing us". This includes "how we are speaking to others, how we are behaving within our homes".
5) Finally, Gideon's instruction to his 300 men in Judges 7:17, "Look at me and do likewise... do as I do," reveals a key characteristic of a godly leader: they should be able to say, "follow me". This mirrors Lord Jesus Christ, our perfect example, and godly figures like Apostle Paul who could say, "follow me as I followed Christ". "Only one who follows Christ can say to others - follow me". This principle applies not just in church leadership but even within our families.
A Call to Deeper Engagement
In summary, these teachings call us to:
- Cultivate intimacy with God by spending more time in His Word, for it is the only way to truly understand His heart.
- Practice obedience in our personal, everyday lives, as this builds the foundation for God to trust us with greater responsibilities and use us in His work.
- Live in a way that brings God alone glory, understanding that our strength, numbers, or qualifications are never the source of victory.
- Aspire to be leaders (whether in church or at home) who can genuinely say, "Follow me as I followed Christ," by modeling obedience and walking closely with Him.
May God empower us all to understand His Word and to obey it, faithfully reflecting His glory in every aspect of our lives.
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