Jesus, Creator, Savior, Lord and King #5 - Jesus Guides Gideon

 

Jesus, Creator, Savior, Lord and King #5 – Jesus Guides Gideon

Text: Judges 6:11-7:25

Introduction:      

The Judges of the Book of Judges

Othniel -  judged 40 years

Ehud -  judged 80 years

Shamgar -  judged ? years

Deborah -  judged 40 years

Barak -  judged with Deborah

Gideon -  peace 40 years

Abimelech -  judged 3 years

Tola -  judged for 23 years

Jair -  judged 22 years

Jephthah -  judged 6 years

Ibzan -  judged 7 years

Elon -  judged 10 years

Abdon -  judged 8 years

Samson -  judged 20 years

In 1 Samuel

Eli -  judged 40 years

Samuel -  judged 47years

 Today we look at the farmer who became a judge of Israel, Gideon. He of the famous fleece. The book of Judges devotes more to the story of Gideon, around 100 verses, than to any of the other judges. He is also named as one of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. The story of Gideon is also a very personal story, detailing the struggles of faith and fear that Gideon had  believing in the Lord and believing in himself being used of the Lord.

Fear can keep us from doing what we should, but it can be overcome as it was in the life and service of Gideon the reluctant hero. The story of Gideon begin in Judges 6:1 where the scriptures tell us of the terrible oppression of the nation of Israel and an unnamed, unknown prophet who is sent by God to announce the coming of a judge, a warrior, a ruler to deliver them. Then the story shifts not to a soldier but instead to a farmer.

Jesus Guides a Future Judge - Judges 6:11-24

 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.  And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.  And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?  And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.  And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.  And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.  Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.  And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.  And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.  Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.  

Jesus Transforms a Fearful Farmer

The angel of the Lord, who we now know is almost always Jesus in His preincarnate state, sits under a oak tree near where Gideon is working. Moses, Joshua, the parents of Samson all dealt with THE Angel of the Lord. The Angel calls out to Gideon,  Judges 6:12 The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” Now I imagine Gideon did this, looked behind and then back the the Lord and said, “Who are you talking to?” Gideon was just a farmer and right now he is hiding his harvest from the Midianites. He is no warrior but the Lord is seeing what Gideon will be once faith takes hold.

Listen to this dialogue between Gideon and the Lord.

Gideon’s fear, Judges 6:13-16 Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

The Lord’s Guidance 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

Gideons excuses 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. 16

The Lord’s encouragement 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

In each case Gideon looks at himself and finds no valor, no strength, no courage. But the Lord in each case looks not at Gideon as he is but at Gideon as he will be because God is calling him and God will be with him. Faith, in the near future, will fortify the formerly fearful farmer.

Gideon now does what he is famous for, he asks for a sign.

Judges 6:17-20 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. 18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. 19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

It may be that Gideon wanted confirmation that he wasn’t dreaming or imagining this and so he makes a meal for the Lord. If the Angel of the Lord eats then logically He isn’t a vision or dream.

The sign that Gideon asks for is not the sign the Lord gives, instead the Lord turns the meal into a sacrifice  Judges 6:20-21 20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

The angel of the Lord uses a miracle to prove who He is and the offering of food is transformed by the flames of the rock into a sacrifice to the Lord. This would signify the acceptance of the offering and it would be a sign that Gideon was dealing with not just an angel but The Angel of the Lord, who we know is Jesus.

Jesus Is Still Transforming Fear Into Faith

The Lord’s words that day were meant to change Gideon from a fearful farmer to what the Lord had called him, A might man of valor. He begins to do that through the words that He speaks that day. Though God is not looking for any judges in this day and age, He is still looking to transform us from fearful to faithful and He does it in the same way through His Word.

Now Gideon was directly speaking to the Lord, as The Angel of God. Don’t expect that to happen to you and if you think it has please don’t tell me about it unless you get it on your smartphone and have 2 or 3 witnesses. Kind of like Big foot and sightings of Elvis.

No God isn’t really revealing himself that way today. And the reason why is a good one, its the Bible. In this sacred book, God has completed his revelation to us, until the time He will send His Son back to earth to rule as Lord and King forever. You don’t need any more revelation; you just need to hear what He has already been trying to tell you right here in these pages.

God is still guiding us and His word is still transforming us, so listen!

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Romans 8:15 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

2 Timothy 1:7 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The phrase “fear not” or “fear ye not” occurs 92 times in the KJV, God is telling us all the same thing He was telling Gideon. It is what He tells all those He calls and all those He commission as Isaiah says speaking of Abraham’s calling in Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Every child of God is called into service and in order to fulfill that call, every child of God must be transformed from fear to faith. That transformation happens only when we hear and believe the

Gideon heard and now the Lord continues in His guidance. He tells Gideon to tear down some idols.

Jesus Guides An Idol Breaker - Judges 6:25-32

 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:  And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.  Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.  And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.  And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.  Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.  And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.  Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

Jesus Tests Gideon

That very night, the Lord tells Gideon to go and tear down his father’s altar of Baal and cut down the grove that was by it. The worship of Baal required male and female elements, as all paganism does, it is all about sexuality. Here the stone altar was the male element for Baal and the wooden grove was a pole dedicated to the female sea goddess “Asherah.” He is then build an altar unto Jehovah and sacrifice the second bullock in the yoke on an altar built from the wood of the idol he had just torn down.

This is a test of obedience from the Lord, because Gideon can’t be used of the Lord if he cannot tear down the idols that are polluting his life and the life of the nation Israel. Yes, he is still afraid and so he carries out the Lord’s work but he does it by night.

Of course, it wasn’t going to go unnoticed and the men of the city came out to kill him. It seems that people then and now are very touchy about their idols. Some things never change. His father protects him by arguing that if Baal really is a god then Baal should be able to strike down Gideon for what he has done. As a result, Gideon gets a new name, Jerub-baal, which means “Baal will fight” or we would say, “Let Baal fight his own battles”

Gideon passes the test of faith and now the Lord is ready to use him as that man of valor he called him to be.

Jesus Still Tests Us Before the Big Battles

When it comes to God using us, He does not send us into great battles of faith and for the faith, without first testing us, putting us through a king of bootcamp first, to grow us and to prepare us.  That “boot-camp” is often difficult, painful and just like Gideon it will involve the tearing down of idols.

Scripture:

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  And hope maketh not ashamed; …

James 1:3-4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:12 — Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

If you wonder why, you might be failing in the battles of faith or why God is not using you, it may well be that you have resisted the tests of obedience, or the trials of your faith and therefore, have not yet come to a place of service and sacrifice.

Gideon, though he was a timid man, still tore down the idol of Baal and burned the grove of Asherah. It came at great risk to himself and to his family. It cost him to sacrifice to God.

The same is true in our lives we must determine to serve God, and if there is anything that hinders or obstructs our worship of God then like the idol of Gideons family, tear it down. Tear it down and burn it up. We must sacrifice from ourselves before we can become living sacrifices to God as Paul challenges us in Romans 12. When you face and pass the tests of faith, then God can use you in the Battles of Faith and you will be ready for the fight.

Transition: The Fleece

Judges 6:36-38 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,  Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.  And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.  

We don’t have time to go through the application of Gideon’s fleece, but I will say this Gideon did not put out a fleece to determine God’s will. The Lord had already told him what he was to do. Gideon put out a fleece to confirm God’s guidance and to strengthen his faith. You don’t fleece anything to figure out what God wants you to do. Instead you search the scriptures to know God’s will.

 Jesus Guides A Battle Leader - Judges 7:2-7

 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.  And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

 Gideon Fights By The Lord’s Battleplan

First, Gideon recruits an army, but God shapes the army. 7:1

Twice by His command, the army is trimmed. Once by releasing those who wanted to go home, those who were afraid. A few weeks or months ago before God started working on Gideon he might have been one of those who turned around but he had tested and was not ready. Now Of 32,000 men 22,000 went back leaving only 10,000 to fight the Midianites.

God then cuts the army again. They go down to the river and drink. Those who took the water in their hand and lifted it to their mouth He chose to fight, the rest He sent home. This left the army with only 300 men.

I have heard much preached about why God chose the men who lifted the water and rejected those who bent down to drink. I am quite sure that the only reason He chose was the reason He stated, “There are yet too many.” He simply chose the smaller number. That was his purpose in bringing them here and that is what He did. It was God’s choice  and that was all there was to it. Gideon didn’t need to understand why the Lord did it that way, he just needed to do it the Lord’s way.

Next God prepared the hearts of the enemy.

Judges 7:9-14 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. 10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: 11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host. 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude. 13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

Notice again even at this stage Gideon is fearful vs. 10-11. He took his servant because he still feared. But when he heard the dream of the soldier, he then knew there was nothing left to fear for the Lord had prepared the hearts of the enemy, Gideon’s fear was replaced with faith and the Midianite army’s courage was replaces with cowardice.

Now, Gideon goes back to his company of 300, can’t really call it an army.

 Judges 7:15-18 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. 17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

He divides his company into even smaller groups of 100. He arms them not with swords, spears or chariots but with empty pitchers, oil lamps and some shofars, some ram horns. He tells them to wait for his signal and then to blow the trumpet and shout, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon.”

Judges 7:20-22 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled

And so, the battle was fought by the Lord’s guidance and in the Lord’s power and no warrior of Isreal that day could claim the victory because it was the Lord’s victory. He had won the battle. The Lord set the Midianite army against itself and Gideon’s army could only praise His name and clean up afterward.

Will We Fight As The Lord Guides?

We will not all be called as a leader, instead God may call us to carry a pitcher, lamp and shofar. We may be called to enter the battle, or the Lord may send us home to wait for the call to join the battle later.

Not many are called to Gideon’s position but if you are then serve Him with faith in the One who will be with you. You must acknowledge your fear, battle it with God before you can win the battle for God. All of our walk in this life is a battle between faith and fear. We will all face it, and if we overcome through His promises, then we will win greater battles in His power and by His presence.

You may be called to carry that pitcher, lamp and shofar. Your task will be the carrying of a burden for souls, lighting the way to salvation and sounding the coming of Jesus Christ. And just like Gideon’s army of 300, yes, you will always be in the minority, the odds stacked against you, but still we are called to face the enemy and stand.

Ephesians 6:10-13 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand your heart filled with faith, your hand filled with the Bible and your voice filled with praise. When the battle comes, and it is always coming, then hold up your Bible and shout out, “The sword of the Lord and the Gospel of Jesus Christ!” God has called us to the battlefront and we must fight!

To me, the most difficult of all these in the story are those who were told to go home. How do you deal with God telling you, “I don’t need you at this time?” Even worse He doesn’t tell you how long that will be or even the reason why you aren’t chosen.

Can you be faithful to God even when you’re put on the shelf? If God has called you to wait, then patiently wait and remember God prizes faithful obedience above all else. So faithfully and obediently wait on the Lord.

David told us in Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

And remember what Isaiah said in Isaiah 40:31 they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Illustration: When I Consider How My Light Is Spent by John Milton

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,

And that one Talent which is death to hide

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest He returning chide,

"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"

I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,

And post o'er land and ocean without rest;

They also serve who only stand and wait."

 Conclusion

Are you willing to be transformed from fearfully to faithful? Then listen to the Lord’s guidance. Are you wanting to win the battles of faith we all must fight? Then you must know Jesus’ battleplan for the fight.

Here is the best application of the story of Gideon.

Serve Him despite our fears.

Serve Him despite our numbers.

Serve Him despite our waiting or uncertainty.

Serve Him by being faithfully wherever, whenever and however He wants to use us.