ADVENTURES OF GIDEON: TIMELESS PRINCIPLES
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Adventures Of Gideon
a) We are in the time of the Judges and the Conquest of Canaan. We look at the almost valiant Gideon, whose attitudes and ways reflect those of many dedicated Christians.
2. Timeless Principles
i) What can "these things written for our learning" (Romans 15:4) teach us?
ii) What can Judges 1-10 tell us about our lives today and the problems we have to deal with?
a) It takes only one generation to stray
i) During the time of Joshua's leadership, the Israelites showed a degree of faithfulness to God. However, after his death, "the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight LORD. They forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baals" (Judges 3:7).
ii) This had a predictable flow-on effect. As the generation whom Joshua had led died out, "another generation arose who did not know the LORD nor yet the work which he had done for Israel". (Judges 2:10).
iii) Their forgetting of God and the onset of ignorance happened so quickly — in one generation. Apostasy rarely happens overnight. It gradually creeps up on you. On the other hand, it doesn't take centuries either. You can see it happen in your own lifetime.
b) Apostasy has serious consequences
i) This backsliding of the Israelites resulted in disaster. The people turned to idols, so God allowed their enemies to oppress them (Judges 4:1-2, 6:1-2).
ii) The village life under God's blessing was idyllic. The alternative was idiotic —if not being slaves, then hiding in caves and threshing wheat in a winepress! (Judges 6:11).
iii) God's providence, especially his protection, is his response to our faith and allegiance to him. God is not our puppet. He is in control. But neither are we his puppets. If we repudiate God, he inflicts the consequences; he lets us hurt.
c) Tribulation brings people back to God
i) When the Israelites entered and largely conquered Canaan, God left a few nations to test the future generations. The idea was that they should experience war and victory under his blessing, or if they turned away from God they should experience war and defeat (Judges 3:1-8).
ii) When the Israelites were oppressed, then (not surprisingly) they remembered God and cried out for salvation. So God raised up a warrior leader (a "judge") to win back their supremacy. Under his or her leadership, the people would be somewhat faithful to God.
d) History repeats itself
i) When a leader died, again the Israelites would turn to idols, become oppressed, cry out to God, and get a deliverer. This cycle was in fact repeated in various places, involving twelve judges, over the period between Joshua and Samuel. At the time Gideon was called to judge Israel, this same pattern had occurred (Judges 6:1,7-12,14).
ii) Let's break the cycle and "give the more earnest heed to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it" (Hebrews 2:1-3). Let's also pass faith and obedience on to the next generation so it will know the Lord.
The End ...
1. Adventures Of Gideon a) We are in the time of the Judges and the Conquest of Canaan. We look at the almost valiant Gideon, whose attitudes and ways reflect those of many dedicated Christians.
2. Timeless Principles
i) What can "these things written for our learning" (Romans 15:4) teach us?
ii) What can Judges 1-10 tell us about our lives today and the problems we have to deal with?
a) It takes only one generation to stray
i) During the time of Joshua's leadership, the Israelites showed a degree of faithfulness to God. However, after his death, "the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight LORD. They forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baals" (Judges 3:7).
ii) This had a predictable flow-on effect. As the generation whom Joshua had led died out, "another generation arose who did not know the LORD nor yet the work which he had done for Israel". (Judges 2:10).
iii) Their forgetting of God and the onset of ignorance happened so quickly — in one generation. Apostasy rarely happens overnight. It gradually creeps up on you. On the other hand, it doesn't take centuries either. You can see it happen in your own lifetime.
b) Apostasy has serious consequences
i) This backsliding of the Israelites resulted in disaster. The people turned to idols, so God allowed their enemies to oppress them (Judges 4:1-2, 6:1-2).
ii) The village life under God's blessing was idyllic. The alternative was idiotic —if not being slaves, then hiding in caves and threshing wheat in a winepress! (Judges 6:11).
iii) God's providence, especially his protection, is his response to our faith and allegiance to him. God is not our puppet. He is in control. But neither are we his puppets. If we repudiate God, he inflicts the consequences; he lets us hurt.
c) Tribulation brings people back to God
i) When the Israelites entered and largely conquered Canaan, God left a few nations to test the future generations. The idea was that they should experience war and victory under his blessing, or if they turned away from God they should experience war and defeat (Judges 3:1-8).
ii) When the Israelites were oppressed, then (not surprisingly) they remembered God and cried out for salvation. So God raised up a warrior leader (a "judge") to win back their supremacy. Under his or her leadership, the people would be somewhat faithful to God.
d) History repeats itself
i) When a leader died, again the Israelites would turn to idols, become oppressed, cry out to God, and get a deliverer. This cycle was in fact repeated in various places, involving twelve judges, over the period between Joshua and Samuel. At the time Gideon was called to judge Israel, this same pattern had occurred (Judges 6:1,7-12,14).
ii) Let's break the cycle and "give the more earnest heed to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it" (Hebrews 2:1-3). Let's also pass faith and obedience on to the next generation so it will know the Lord.
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