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Gideon lived in a time when the culture around him was much like ours. The Bible says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). How Gideon must have been inwardly challenged when the angel of God told him to “save Israel from the hand of Midian” (Judges 6:14)!
25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”
We must be careful in ascribing too much honor and power to Gideon or any other biblical hero. First, he was a mere human being. Gideon obeyed God and defeated the Midianites. He even refused to become a king (Judges 8:23). However, Gideon later made an ephod of gold, and the people worshiped it (Judges 8:24-27). Though we are not told the details of this object, we do know that it was displeasing to God. The events following the death of Gideon and the wickedness of his son, Abimelech are also evidence of his frailty.
23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”
24 And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the collars that were around the necks of their camels. 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.
Second, the judges of Israel were deliverers. They were raised by God to deliver Israel. Cycle after cycle, time after time in those days, God raised up a “savior,” but they were woefully inadequate. They could only do what they did with the power of God.
In contrast, we have a powerful Savior. The Bible tells us that Jesus is greater than the angels of God (Hebrews 1:4), and even Moses (Hebrews 3:3). Further, we are told He is one “who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). What’s more, Jesus “became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:9).
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
The men and women profiled in Hebrews 11 serve as examples of those who walked by faith, and Gideon is in their number (Hebrews 11:32-34). However, they could not and cannot save us from our sins. Only Jesus has done that (Hebrews 9:11–12).
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
I am to look to (trust and obey), “Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Today, I will…read Hebrews 12:1-3 and run the race set before me, looking to Jesus, my Deliverer!
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.