Gideon With Good Emotional Control(Judges 8)

(Judges 8:2-3) 2 So he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.

Gideon and the three hundred men who followed him took advantage of the victory and pursued the Midianites who fled. At this time, the Ephraim people guarding the Jordan River crossing came to ask for credit because they captured the two leaders of Midian and brought their heads to Gideon. The people of Ephraim spoke to Gideon in a proud tone, arguing about why they had not been gathered to fight. Seeing this, let’s think about it first. If we face the same situation, how would we react? Maybe the emotions will rise and shouting back with our response  or leave someone on read , but we can actually learn from Gideon. A witty answer.

(Proverbs 15:1) 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

(Proverbs 25:11) 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.

Gideon did not lose his footing in the face of these cheap and obedient Ephraim. He clearly understood that the primary goal now was to chase the remaining Midianites who had fled. Wouldn’t it be a loss if he spent time and energy arguing with Ephraim here. The opportunity to kill the enemy in one swoop also failed the grace of God's salvation? So, Gideon cleverly used metaphors to say how his deeds can be compared to Ephraim, and the contribution of his army is far less than Ephraim. Gideon knew how to retreat in exchange for harmony, be humble and used praise to subdue anger, successfully resolved the opposition and won the final victory, restraining the Midianites and restoring peace to the Israeli house.

(Romans 15:1-2) 1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

In God's family, everyone is a member of each other, and we must always care for each other, because we are united to the head of Christ. The completion of each work is the joint effort of the brothers and sisters to put their hearts and minds before God, not the creation of someone alone. Therefore, we must be cautious, watchful and pray at all times, and give glory to God, lest we get caught in a snare and offend God because of our pride and pride.

Reflecting on Ephraim’s mentality, we understand that we are God’s workers and co-workers with God; aren’t today’s opportunities and abilities also bestowed by God? Completion is only the completion of the "mission" entrusted by God. It is our duty and should be done. In the face of spiritual warfare, in God’s house, we should not distinguish between you and me, we should be in the same boat, some people pray and watch, some people come to fight, and stay focus toward the goal, and in the future, bring the efforts of servitude to God to receive reward and crowns.

To learn from Gideon’s wisdom, how to overcome the situation of internal and external troubles with God is a topic that we often face, but Paul encourages us not to compete with the spirit, we should use gentleness to persuade those who resist, and pursue others. Harmony, pray for the weak and lacking with love, and strengthen each other with patience.

(Ephesians 4:1-3) 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Translated by 余姿瑩

(Judges 7)

(Judges 7:2-3) 2 And the Lord said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' 3 Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.' " And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained

God called his worker Gideon, told him to lead the Israel people to defeat the Midianites, facing 135000 armies from Midianites. The gap is huge, but God’s work is not to increase troops but to disarm. In the end, they were only 300 Midianites army left. God clearly stated the intention so that the Israelites would not exaggerate to God and give glory to themselves, and God wanted the people to know that the victory over the Midianites was solely dependent on God's power.

According to Moses’s law, if they were scared, they can go back (Deuteronomy 20:8). Because fear can be contagious, affect morale, have fatal consequences. Faced with difficult battles, God will need to use someone who had a lot of faith. God also uses these people's faith in God to demonstrate his power. Even if there are only a few people, but if everyone has a strong faith in God, God can be glorified from it.

From church’s experience, the most obvious spiritual battle is the work of expelling demons. The work of expelling demons requires many people to pray and have great faith to cast out demons. If anyone is afraid, the demons will stay because it will affect the expulsion.   Demons expel is based on people’s faith, it does not depend on number of  people.

(Judges7:5-6) 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, "Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink." 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.

Anyone who licks water with their tongues, like a dog, does not have a cautious heart. People who hold the water in their hands are alert and cautious at all times to guard against sneak attacks by the enemy. Fear, great confidence, and more need to have a cautious heart. They were afraid that a momentary relaxation will give the enemy a chance to attack. This is also a key to God’s choice of workers. Facing powerful spiritual enemies, we need to have these even more. "Elite", confident, fearless, cautious, and alert.

Faced with such a large gap in the number of people, Gideon can only rely on God, not on tactics, weapons, or strategies. Sometimes people are always weak. When the church's ministry is prosperous, they will boast of their abilities and give glory to themselves. If they don’t realize it, it will become obstruct in the ministry, then they will hinder the development of the holy work. It is worth for our readers to remind each other to humble under the power of God and to rely on God with all our hearts.

(Zechariah 4:6) 6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the Lord of hosts.

Translated by 余姿瑩

God Calling Gideon (Judges 6)

 (Judges 6:13) 3 Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."

Gideon was the son of Joash which belonged to the tribe Abiezrite. Abiezrite was the descendent of Manasseh. In the bible it was also called Jeezerites (Numbers 26:30). At that period, the people of Israel did evil in the eyes of God. Therefore, God put them into the hand of Midianites for seven years. Midianites were Abraham and Keturah’s fourth child’s descendants (Genesis 25:2). They lived in the wilderness east of the Jordan river, near Canaan where the Israel people lived. In these seven years, Midianites united with other enemies to destroy the food of the Israelis, and also taken the cows, sheep, donkeys, and other animals that they depended on for their livelihoods. It can be imagined that their situation must be very miserable. In these troubles, God chose Gideon to lead the Israel people out of the hand of Midianites. From the reply of Gideon to God’s messenger, we can see that he hears God’s miracles on his ancestors.

(Judges 6:14-16) 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" 15 So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." 16 And the Lord said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."

Compared with the situation of the Israelites, they were also under the oppression of powerful enemies, so they were eagerly looking forward to God's salvation. When Gideon was called, he replied: "His family is the poorest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the smallest in my father's house." At the moment, Gideon does not think he can respond to God's called, but he did not choose to escape. Instead, he asked God to give him evidence to strengthen his confidence and let him know that the message he received came from Jehovah; God agreed to his request, and Gideon also took practical actions to respond to God's call, to concentrate on relying on God for things that God sends.

(Hebrews 4:14-16) 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In our life, we might just be normal people with no fame and distinguished background. When God called us, are we willing to use our faith and action to reply to God’s call? This is like when we do holy work, we often think that we do not have enough ability but by prayer and asking, God will grant relevant capability to his worker. The final result will normally be better than what we expected.

Gideon did not rely on his strategy or experience in the things that God directed, but he sought God's will before acting. In our religion, family, and life we need to readjust our footsteps and examine whether we are being led by the norms of the world or focus our eyes on the present suffering and forget God’s salvation. May we allow the Holy Spirit to renew from time to time and make our behaviour and life closer to God's will.

(Romans 12:2) 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.