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The Story is of God
The Story is of God
Having just returned from nearly a month of teaching in China. While there, we often introduced the bible to people who had never seen one let alone read one. A constant emphasis was that, although the Bible is a book collection of many different books by different writers in different ages, yet the story is ONE. It is the story of God redeeming a people for Himself. There are many characters that appear within its pages, yet the story is about God. God permeates all of the stories and all of the books. God is present in each age and era. God is bringing about HIS purpose and plan. So it is in the book of Judges.
Gideon, like the other judges, was a man. He had moments of strong faith and courage, and he had his weak moments. Some events are hard to tell whether they are pictures of strength or weakness, like the episode with the fleece. At other times, he was a model of faith, like his willingness to attack with only 300 men or his refusal to be made king.
Yet, in the end, he was used by God even with his weaknesses. The story is about God bringing about His purposes and His plans. Abraham's seed would bring forth the Messiah. The people of Israel were a stiff-necked and rebellious people almost from the beginning. God used men like Gideon (even Sampson) to preserve the promised seed and hence fulfill His plan of redemption. Gideon was one of many during a raucous period of Israel's history that saw Israel come to the brink of destroying themselves many times over hundreds of years.
Matthew begins his gospel: Jesus, the son of Abraham, the son of David. Between Abraham and David was this period of rebellion and the judges. Reread these stories and highlight what God was doing.
God still uses men like you and me, with our weaknesses. Sometimes we are strong in faith, but other times we struggle. At times, we live for the glory of God as Gideon did in refusing to be made king; and at other times, we may stumble with our own pride and desire.
Thank the LORD for his mercy, kindness, and long-suffering. Let us strive to glorify God in all that we do and say. Hugh DeLong
