DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN
February 16 (day 1)
TESTING GOD'S PATIENCE
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not let your anger burn against me, let me speak one more time; let me, please, make trial with the fleece just once more; let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew." And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.
Judges 6:39-40 NRSV
Today's understatement: God is very patient.
An angel appears to Gideon and says that God is with him. Gideon's response is that, if the LORD is with him, then why does it appear that God has forsaken Israel? Undaunted, the angel states that God has chosen Gideon to save Israel from its enemy, Midian. Gideon replies that his clan is the weakest, and he is the least in his clan. God will help you, says the angel. I need a sign, replies Gdeon. So the angel gives him a sign, and Gideon realizes that he is speaking with an angel of God.
God gives Gideon a task: tear down an altar to Baal and replace it with an altar to God. Gideon does it - at night, to avoid being seen. The men of the town figure out that he was the culprit anyway. Gideon's father deftly prevents them from killing Gideon, but the avoided skirmish mushrooms into a looming war. The Midianites and their allies amass across the Jordan River, ready for battle against the people of Israel and their fearless leader, Gideon.
Except Gideon is not so fearless. "I need another sign," he tells God. "I will lay a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the wool and not the floor, then I'll know that you have chosen me to lead Israel." He gets the sign, and so ... he asks for another. This time the fleece must be dry and the floor wet. God gives him that sign too.
And Gideon leads Israel to victory.
God is patient with all his children. He is extraordinarily patient.
February 16 (day 1)
TESTING GOD'S PATIENCE
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not let your anger burn against me, let me speak one more time; let me, please, make trial with the fleece just once more; let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew." And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.
Judges 6:39-40 NRSV
Today's understatement: God is very patient.
An angel appears to Gideon and says that God is with him. Gideon's response is that, if the LORD is with him, then why does it appear that God has forsaken Israel? Undaunted, the angel states that God has chosen Gideon to save Israel from its enemy, Midian. Gideon replies that his clan is the weakest, and he is the least in his clan. God will help you, says the angel. I need a sign, replies Gdeon. So the angel gives him a sign, and Gideon realizes that he is speaking with an angel of God.
God gives Gideon a task: tear down an altar to Baal and replace it with an altar to God. Gideon does it - at night, to avoid being seen. The men of the town figure out that he was the culprit anyway. Gideon's father deftly prevents them from killing Gideon, but the avoided skirmish mushrooms into a looming war. The Midianites and their allies amass across the Jordan River, ready for battle against the people of Israel and their fearless leader, Gideon.
Except Gideon is not so fearless. "I need another sign," he tells God. "I will lay a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the wool and not the floor, then I'll know that you have chosen me to lead Israel." He gets the sign, and so ... he asks for another. This time the fleece must be dry and the floor wet. God gives him that sign too.
And Gideon leads Israel to victory.
God is patient with all his children. He is extraordinarily patient.
DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN
February 16 (day 1)
TESTING GOD'S PATIENCE
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not let your anger burn against me, let me speak one more time; let me, please, make trial with the fleece just once more; let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew." And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.
Judges 6:39-40 NRSV
Today's understatement: God is very patient.
An angel appears to Gideon and says that God is with him. Gideon's response is that, if the LORD is with him, then why does it appear that God has forsaken Israel? Undaunted, the angel states that God has chosen Gideon to save Israel from its enemy, Midian. Gideon replies that his clan is the weakest, and he is the least in his clan. God will help you, says the angel. I need a sign, replies Gdeon. So the angel gives him a sign, and Gideon realizes that he is speaking with an angel of God.
God gives Gideon a task: tear down an altar to Baal and replace it with an altar to God. Gideon does it - at night, to avoid being seen. The men of the town figure out that he was the culprit anyway. Gideon's father deftly prevents them from killing Gideon, but the avoided skirmish mushrooms into a looming war. The Midianites and their allies amass across the Jordan River, ready for battle against the people of Israel and their fearless leader, Gideon.
Except Gideon is not so fearless. "I need another sign," he tells God. "I will lay a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the wool and not the floor, then I'll know that you have chosen me to lead Israel." He gets the sign, and so ... he asks for another. This time the fleece must be dry and the floor wet. God gives him that sign too.
And Gideon leads Israel to victory.
God is patient with all his children. He is extraordinarily patient.
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