Thanks, Gideon

Today we look at Gideon. Yes, the inspiration for Gideons International, the guys who leave Bibles in motel rooms.   I remember these as a child from our family's long road trips back to New Jersey (hi Marsha) and I always thought that was a really cool thing to do.  - For a neat history of this, [the bibles, not our road trips] see this link 

After the forty years of peace, thanks to the ladies, (see Feb. 5) once again the Israelites just seemed to forget it all and “again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” O.K., there is a definite pattern here. Man does bad. God retaliates by sending destructive enemies. People beg for help. God sends prophet/leader. Leader saves people re-teaching the lesson. People are good for 40 years again (certainly something magical about that number in the bible, have you noticed?). Then they forget the lesson and go bad again. That’s basically Gideon’s story, but there are some interesting elements.

When an angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and says He is with them, Gideon asks, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Wow. You go, Gideon. Then when the Lord says to him that he is to lead fight against the Midianites, “give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.” Wow again! I like Gideon; he’s got guts. So God puts on a spontaneous combustion display. That’d probably work for me. Gideon is moved to build an altar to the Lord with the naming, The Lord is Peace. Really?

Before he goes into battle for the Lord, he asks for TWO more signs that he has a fighting chance. The Lord responds each time. This is amazing. Doubting Gideon keeps testing God and God delivers. Wouldn’t you think God would chastise him for needing such proof over faith?

Gideon has 30,000 troops in line to battle the Midianites, but God whittles that to 300 because he wants to make sure the credit is given to supernatural intervention instead of just outnumbering the enemy. Oh, brother.

Gideon single-handedly kills and beheads the leaders of the enemy tribe, but refuses to actually “rule” over his own, saying the Lord rules. Gideon has 70 (7-0) sons from his many wives and one from his concubine. [O.K., why would one need a concubine??] and all enjoyed peace for forty years. See, that number!

Then no sooner does Gideon die, but the people “did not remember the Lord, their God,” returned to false worshipping, and failed to show kindness to Gideon’s family.

What is it with these people? Can’t they see the pattern themselves? Do they not tell enough stories, oral histories, tales of old to remind them of the lessons?

Confession #64: This passage returns me to the age old question: Is Human inherently bad? Or has God given human some impossible standards to live by, given our nature? Or, has HUMAN given other humans unreasonable demands and expectations of godliness? Don’t know, don’t know. But my confession/observation here is that we have a tougher time stayin’ out of trouble without good leadership and a constant re-telling of tales (i.e. history) to learn from those before us.

Confession #65: I’ve often told my students that one of my smartest traits (and yes, I have some real dumb ones too!) is that I have often been able to learn from others’ mistakes, bad decisions and failings. Not everything has to be learned from the School of Hard Knocks. Now, I have certainly learned from that metaphorical institution also, but heck, why not glean some wisdom for free from others. Whether parenting, money management, or love relationships, we’d all do well to look to the failures and disasters of others and learn, learn, learn! Hear that Wall Street??