RTW April 1
The Thorn In Our Side
After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the LORD’s sight.
Judges 4:1
My Takeaways
Something Old
If we don’t obey God, what seeks to overtake us will become a thorn in our side. (Judges 2:3)
The thorn in our side, might just be of our own making.
- The Lord will turn us over to ourselves. (Romans 1:24, Hosea 4:17)
- We fool ourselves into thinking of God’s grace and mercy to mean He will allow us to continue to sin without facing the consequences. (Judges 4:2)
- God will always rescue us when we cry out, no matter how many times. (Judges 6:6)
Something New
Gideon’s father had an Asherah pole.
Something to Do
Don’t let disobedience bring about thorns in life meant to be fruit.
Lots of new things today. It took the Israelites eight years to cry out to the Lord and he gave them Othniel. It took them 18 years before Ehud and 20 years before Deborah! Each time took them longer to cry out. It seems that they were more stubborn and hard hearted (oh I so identify).
Gideon questioned God. “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about?” His Faith was weak – but weak faith doesn’t scare God or keep Him from us. I feel like my weak faith brings Him closer and He reveals more of Himself as He did with Gideon.
This generation had not experienced miracles. This meant that perhaps God was silent for a time? But even when He is silent He is still present.
Gideons father and family worshiped Baal. He destroyed the asherah pole covertly. Yes, perhaps it was out of fear-but he still destroyed the idols of his family. He did it in a covert way rather than getting in their face. This is a good reminder for me that I can continue to share the gospel with my family without getting in their face. There are overt and covert operations. With my family I feel like it needs to be more covert!!! The idols will still come down because my God is more powerful than their gods.
I had so many of your same insights today. I noted how it took so long for them to cry out to God and how desperate they had to get before they cried out. My prayer was that I so t wait so long and get so desperate before I call outbto God.
I also noted how kind and patient God was with gideon. Gideon was faithful to God and God was faithful to him.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
“For I will sing to the Lord. I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Judges 5:3
I love music. It’s always been a big part of my life since I was young. I love to sing (maybe not perfectly), but I deeply love to praise and worship my Father. He speaks to me so clearly through music.
How my soul will sing your praise O God.
May your hearts soak in these lyrics as we prepare to celebrate his resurrection.
https://youtu.be/sq3mrz_C92s
Wonderful confirmation for me. Thank you! I, too, love music. But for the past 3 weeks the Lord has had me silent. No music. In church – no singing. I felt this morning that He was releasing me to worship in song again. Your post, I believe, is confirmation. Thank you!
That is so awesome Mary! Sing His praises aloud my friend! ❤️
~There is not a definite consensus on this but many commentators believe when the Bible says “THE angel of the LORD” that it is the preincarnate Christ appearing. What must it have been like to meet with God in the flesh?
Several things from Gideon that stood out to me as encouragement in my walk with the Lord, particularly when face with challenges, difficult situations, or God asking me to do something out of my comfort zone.
“For the LORD is marching ahead of you.” (4:14)
“I will be with you.” (6:16)
“The Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon with power.” (6:34)
~It was also comforting, in a way, to know that Gideon was afraid and reluctant to do what God was asking him to do and needed reassurance.