The Patience and Power of God.

Introduction:

Have you ever seen signs posted in Saskatoon by the river “No swimming”? The sign is there because it is dangerous because of undercurrents that can drag you down and you can drown. Does everyone heed this warning? Not at all. But when one gets in trouble, even by disregarding this warning, people risk their own lives to save the person in the water crying out for help.

For Israel, they were given commands by God through the law how to live as a covenant community. But like the swimmers that disobey the law by swimming in the river, Israel disobeyed God’s law by living and doing what each one thought was right in their own eyes without regard for what God commanded of them. As we will see today in the life of Gideon, Israel’s rebellion to God’s goodness brought the discipline of the Lord through the Midianites who ravaged the land. Israel was in trouble and crying for help just like the swimmers who were drowning.

Today, we are going to look at how Gideon was called by God as a judge to act as a type of saviour for Israel. We are going to see the sin cycle of Israel, God patience with Gideon who was timid and weak, then we will see how God saves Israel by his awesome power. We will end with showing how Jesus is the ultimate Saviour in answer to the sin problem.

Point #1 - The Sin Cycle.

Our text is from . Context is important so briefly let us look at how Israel ended up in the mess they were in. God had called Abraham from pagan worship and made a covenant with him that through him, he would make a great nation. With a posterity that the sands of the seashore could not number. Through his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, they would end up in Egypt where they would become a nation swelling in size to over 2 million. The Egyptian’s were fearful of the Israelites size so they enslaved them mercilessly. They cried out to God and through signs and wonders he used his servant Moses to free them from their bondage and deliver them to a land filled with milk and honey that God had promised them when he covenanted with Abraham many years prior.

At Mount Sinai God gave the law for how his redeemed people were to live. One in particular was to have no other gods before them for the Lord their God is a jealous God. Idols were what the pagans worshipped, but Israel’s God was the one true living God. In time the people of God were given the land by the mighty hand of God who removed the evil people from the promised land. But he gave them a stern warning that if they did not obey the LORD their God, they would be punished for their disobedience. Well, the people of Israel in fact did not obey and over the course of time loved to worship the gods of the country like Baal and Molech.

As a result the LORD did punish them by bringing foreign rulers to steal, destroy and pillage the land. In the time period somewhere between Joshua’s death and the rise of Samuel and Saul is the time of the judges. These were like mini saviours that God sent to save the people when they were “drowning in their sin crying for help”. The repeated cycle of Israel’s sin was first rebellion, then they were disciplined by God, followed by Israel calling out to God to save them, then lastly he would save them because of his covenant with Abraham. This sin cycle happened over and over again.

So now we get to our text and see that in the very 1st verse of chapter 6 we see the beginning of the cycle. “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD...” Then in the second part of verse 1 to 6 we see that the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian for seven years. This was the discipline of the Lord their God for disobeying the clear commands that God had given. The Midianites and the Amalekites and people of the east would come each year and plunder the land of their crops and sheep. ox and donkeys. Like if you can imagine that all the farmers of the land around Glenbush was seeded, fertilized and cared for only for the city of Saskatoon to come each year and take the crop away. This was what was happening each year.

So, in (7-10) Israel cries out for help to the LORD. This is the 3rd part of the cycle. To which he sends a prophet to them and says how he had led their people out of Egypt from their slavery and drove out the peoples of the land to give them this great land. I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But you have not obeyed my voice.” God points out their sin.

Then, in (11-24) God calls from among the people a mini saviour in Gideon. Even though there is no evidence that Israel repented of their idol worship, God still saves his covenantal people. He is merciful and kind even though they don’t deserve to be saved. An angel of the LORD comes to Gideon who was trying to hide grain in the winepress. “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valour.” To which Gideon complains that if that is true, why is all this trouble come on his people. The angel replies that Gideon is to go in this “might of the LORD” and save Israel from the Midianites.

Does he jump up and head off to battle? Not a chance. Much like how Moses gave excuses, Gideon also says that he is just a simple farmer of the weakest clan of Israel, as well as the least in his father’s house. To which the LORD says to him “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Gideon, in not believing what he is hearing asks for a sign to prove this is true. The angel stays until Gideon prepared a meal for him. When he brought it the angel touched the rock with his staff that was under the meal and fire consumed everything and poof the angel was gone. God is going to save his people because he is good and cares for his children even when they rebel. This completes the sin cycle.

Point #2 - God’s Patience for a man of little faith.

God now is going to test Gideon with a small task. God prepares the called to equip them for faithful service. Rip down your father’s alter to Baal with two of his bulls, cut down the Asherah pole and sacrifice the 2nd bull on the an alter you will build on top of the stronghold. Gideon does this, but because he is scared of his family he does it at night with 10 of his servants (27).

Early the next day, the men of the city see this terrible thing done to Baal. They investigate and find that Gideon has done this. They demand he brought out and be killed for doing this evil act. This is how twisted Israel was. The people deserved to die for their abominations against the living God, yet here they think in Baal’s defence Gideon must die. Joash, the father of Gideon steps in to defend his son and tells the people that if Baal has a problem let him come for Gideon.

Nothing happened to Gideon and now a bigger threat was looming. The camps of the Midianites and Amalekites and people of the east that totalled some 135,000 according to (8:10) were settling in the Valley of Jezreel which was not far from them. They were preparing for their yearly plunder. In (34), the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon and he rallied the troops to come and fight.

In waiting for the troops to come, Gideon again was fearful. Probably his mind again went to how weak he is and ill equipped as a farmer to now lead an army. So in (36) he asks God for two more signs to confirm that this is the right plan. He first tests God to make a fleece wet with dew and everything to be dry around it. God patiently performs this miracle for Gideon. Gideon still is filled with unbelief so now reverses the sign and asks that the fleece be dry and the ground wet. Again, God is patient with Gideon and performs this sign for him to encourage and strengthen this man of little faith.

On a side note, have you heard of people saying they are putting out the fleece? Maybe a hard decision needs to be made or looking for confirmation, so a test is put out that if the temperature tomorrow is 24.5 degrees that is a go or if a phone call from certain person comes the next day then I know this is from the LORD. This is not right for Christians to do. We are not to test the Lord. Looking for signs is actually pride in demanding of God to show me by my standards, my test. To “put out the fleece” is not admirable but rather is a sign of unbelief that we don’t trust God. So let us be careful in not thinking this is a good way to make decisions.

Even though this was a sign of Gideon’s lack of faith, God loves Gideon and does this for him for his own purposes and for his glory.

Now, God increases the testing for Gideon in (7:1-8). The amount of warriors that answered Gideons prior call to come fight was 32,000. But God says this is too many. Ugh 32,000 against 135,000 is too many? Yup, now trim it down and ask those who are afraid to fight to go home. 22,000 hurried away more than happy to get outta dodge. God says that still is too many so bring them to the water and those that bring their hand to their mouth and lap like a dog are to go and fight. The remainder are to go home like the 22,000. This now left only 300 to fight. Less than 1% of what they started with.

Gideon had asked for three signs already. His faith was growing but he was still terribly afraid. This was a massive and impossible feat to be accomplished against a war tested army like the Midianites. But God made Gideon trim the army down to this size so that Israel would not boast about the victory and think it was by their hands (7:2). This was an act of faith to believe God that he could deliver them.

“Is anything to hard for the LORD?” () Job said after his repentance in () “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” God knows man, and man wants to always make a name for himself, to make a tower to the heavens like Babel. This is the sinful human nature everyone post fall has within them. But God does not share his glory. He alone is the Saviour, yet he works through weak vessels like Gideon to do mighty things.

Now the LORD is gracious to Gideon in granting him one more sign because he knows the fear that reigns in Gideon. In (9-14) that very same night that the army was parred down to 300, the LORD tells Gideon that if he is still afraid, go with your servant Purah down to the camp and listen to the Midianites. You will then be strengthened to fight them. As he heads down to the valley he notices the vast number of the army. Like sand on a seashore. He makes his way down carefully and listens to two soldiers. One has had a dream that a barley loaf has flattened the tents of the camp. The other soldier interprets the dream as this is none other than the sword of Gideon. God has given us into his hands.

Notice in (15) the response of Gideon. He worshipped. What a response to a good God who endured this timid man’s faithlessness and weakness. He returned to the 300, rallied the troops, gave them careful instructions along with torches hidden in pots and trumpets. Emboldened by this dream and all the other signs, Gideon is filled with faith and believes God can do far more abundantly than all that is asked or thought of.

Point #3 - God’s Power to Save.

In (19-23) the mighty hand of the LORD is revealed. Gideon and a hundred men go down in the darkness of night to the outskirts. Once there, they blew their trumpets and smashed the jars that covered the torches. The other 200 who would have be spread out in the hills then followed suit blowing their trumpets and breaking their jars holding up their torches. They cried out in unison “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” Now notice here that it says in (20) that in their left hands were the torches and in their right hands were the trumpets. Question: What is missing from this picture? A sword. Did they by some miracle have a third arm and hand? Not at all. The Lord fought the battle as each one stood in his place while the Midianites scrambled and ran, turning against each other. Once they started to flee, then Gideon called out for his clan members to come and finish them off with the sword.

The clan of Ephraim was called out and they captured the princes of Midian Oreb and Zeeb and put them to death by lopping off their heads. God had judged these two princes for their evil and destruction of his covenant people even though they were used as a vessel to chasten his people.

The rest of Gideon’s life was a little rocky if you read through chapter 8. Yet, the Midianites were removed and Israel had peace for 40 years until Gideon died. And guess what, after he died (8:33) the people turned again to the idol Baal as their god. They forgot the LORD who had saved them and showed no love for Gideon’s family. The sin cycle was right back to where it began.

So what can we glean from this judge Gideon and Israel?

Sinners are gonna sin. From the fall in the garden of Eden when Adam disobeyed the Lord’s command, a nature entered into the human race. A nature that sins and rebels against God. You don’t have to teach snow geese to fly south for the winter. They do that because they have natural instincts to do this. From conception, a child has this nature that is sinful. As cute as they are, they will steal a cookie, tell a lie and throw a temper tantrum to get their way. An adult will covet their neighbours stuff, they will manipulate others to get their way, they will be selfish and not give to the needy using whatever excuses they choose.

Sinners need a Saviour. As we saw, Gideon was sent by God to save, but it did not have a lasting effect on the hearts of his people. They just went back to the same vomit like dogs. What was needed was a divine Saviour. One who would overcome sin’s power in our nature. Jesus died to pay for our sin debt on the cross. He rose to life to overcome death and now it has lost its sting for those who are the bride of Christ. Through his ascension, he sent his Spirit to not just help on the outside but to live in us, marking us as his own for all eternity. Helping us overcome sin by being sanctified and made holy as we resist the devil and his temptations for the glory of God. For those who love their sin and refuse to turn from it will not be saved but will endure God’s unending wrath in hell.

God loves and disciplines his people. As a Christian who has repented of sin and trusted fully in Jesus as their Saviour, they are still going to sin because the sin nature remains till we die or are called home. ours. But when we sin, God is very patient with us. If we do not repent, he will use discipline to change our behaviour because of his great love. He conforms us to his Son Jesus. In those times like for Israel, there may be long periods of pain until we cry out to God to save us in humility.

God alone saves. Even though Gideon was the vessel that God used to lead Israel to a great victory, he was not the saviour. God used torches and trumpets to destroy Midian. The sword truly was the LORD’s. In the new covenant, with Jesus as the true Israel, Christians uses the torches of the good news of Jesus to bring light to the darkness of the world. He uses voices like trumpets to proclaim this good news. But it is God alone who saves through the work of His Spirit to regenerate hearts, giving them the gift of repentance and faith to believe this good news. Our responsibility is to believe this truth and fulfill the great commission.

Conclusion:

Maybe you can relate with Gideon. He was timid and weak and lacked faith. That is me. I often feel inadequate to do this calling of the Lord. But I am reminded by stories of faith like this that the work is of the Lord, I am to just be faithful. Don’t let your fears or failures deter you from fulfilling your duty as a soldier in the King’s army. Gideon felt completely inadequate as a simple farmer in the weakest clan as the lowest ranked child in his family but you know what? In , in that great chapter of the hall of faith is a man who is mentioned in the same class as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab the prostitute and David among others. The man of little faith who needed to constantly be reminded that God was with him is none other than Gideon. Trust in a great Saviour. His faith is your faith to the glory of God Almighty. Amen!