Pat Beckner

How do you know that John the baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrafice? John was raised a jew, his father was a priest. He knew the traditions and rituals of his day. He also had lived in the wilderness......alone with God and he knew what his purpose in life was...to prepare the way of the Lord. John knew who Christ was when he saw him by divine understanding. #2 Before Christ, every sin required some kind of sacrafice.....confession, giving up something valuable, seeing that sin has awful consiquences....transfering of guilt to the lamb. When Christ died on the cross, he took all the sins of the world upon himself. Not just for that day but all the sins of all ages. Oh, what a saviour.

After reading all the above replies, there is nothing that I can add. Thank you everyone for them...they were all a blessing.

Webster's say a snare is anything serving to entrap, entangle, or catch unawares. To capture by trickery or wiles. It would seem that Giddeon had good intentions...to build something to remind the people of what God had done for them but as we learned in the past studies, if God isn't in it, it doesn't work. If it's not God's idea....it's a bad idea.

As I first read the ending of this wonderful story, I was so sad to think that such a great work could end so wrong. Then I began to think of my sucesses and failures and I saw hope because we all fail from time to time. The one thing that does stand out loud and clear is that Gideon's victories were because he was led by the Holy Spirit. His failure came from being led by the **** of the flesh........sound familiar?

Gideon knew it would be sin or treason to take the honor that belonged only to God.. The Israelites just didn't get it....they seemed to believe that it was Gideon who delivered them instead of giving God the credit. Sometimes we can have a lot of respect for one of God's workers but we must remember that it is God doing good through a man and that no man can do good of himself.

Under the old law, a murderer was put to death. You knew if you killed someone exactly what the punishment was. You were not put on death row for many years....there were no appeals....everyone knew the punishment they would recieve for every crime. This kept order in the land. Because Christians have faith, we do not get justice for ourselves. We show love and patience and humility to those who wrong us...by these things we grow to be more like Christ. We patiently wait for Christ to come and settle all things. His judgement will be fair. Everyone will get a just reward.

When we each face Christ, it will not be acceptable to say " I quit telling most lies" or I forgave almost everything" How about " I had almost all good thoughts" The enemy has to be totally defeated. As God led and carried Gideon through the war then, He will guide, lead, carry, and give us strength for our battles. Oh What a Savior.

I didn't see the importance of this question until I read some of the other replies. Isn't it amazing how ever verse is there for a reason? Of course it is a lesson in humbleness and also a reminder that we are to lift others up even when they are acting kind of low. I guess they were jealous of Gideon's accomplishments...instead of being grateful, they chose to criticize him. Gideon showed great wisdom and restraint by comending them ....and he also got their cooperation.

There are so many good replies to this question already. I do see clearly though that the ones who were asleep in the darkness thought that their own comrades were the enemy and began to slay each other. That is surely a warning for us today to be alert to the deceptiveness of the enemy...to walk in the light and that our fellow Christians are not the enemy....satan is the enemy. Oh how he loves to get us to fighting among ourselves and this story shows what will happen to those who do.

It appears that Succoth and Peniel were afraid but I wonder if they didn't lack true dedication to God's work. Obviously, they didn't love their bretheren or they would have helped them. Gideon had to punish them to set an example to others. Could a Christian be guilty of this today? Absolutely. I have seen people rejected out of a church because of leaders opinions...Others in the church were afraid to help the one in distress because then they would be rejected. It is not a good thing. Anyway, Christ said "If you love me, feed my sheep." As I look at this story about the elders of these cities...I can't help but wonder about the responsibility of the leadership in the church today...how much more punishment they will bear if they don't feed the flock and feed them the truth.

I read a theory somewhere...I don't remember where that the fleece was a picture for us. That the first time the fleece got wet and the ground around it was dry. That was in this theory a picture of Israel recieving the dew...the blessings of God...being the chosen people and the world not recieving...BUT the 2nd night the ground was wet with dew and the fleece dry....being a picture of Israel rejecting Christ and now the world...the church is recieving the dew...the blessings. Thank you God.

I think the danger is in demanding anything of God. He does not demand from us but gives us a free will. To be like him, we cannot demand anything from anyone. That is that meek and humble spirit that He loves. I also see a danger in being afraid to humbly ask for a sign. God knows where we are and He knows our circumstances. He loves us...We do not need to be afraid to approach Him with anything. He is our understanding, loving Father who only wants what is best for us. He doesn't sit up on his throne and just wait to zap us when we make a mistake....no, He wants us to bring it all to Him.

As I look back on my own life, I can see many difficult situations. Some of them were my fault....many were not. The one thing I have learned is to be thankful for every situation.because God is at work in it. If it's my fault, I need to be chastened.....if it's not my fault, I am learning faith and patience. It's all good. Looking around to place blame on another human is a waste. The answer is "What is God trying to teach me here?"

In the garden of eden, we learned that our advisary the devil can be very subtle. By changing 1 word in God's command, the fall of man came, thus it is so important for us today to be very sure that "God is in it". It may seem right to us but are we sure it is from God? I think this is another example of why God called Gideon a mighty warriour. He made sure it was from God...and we should too. Many signs were given at the hand of Christ and the apostles. God wants us to be able to discern if it is from God or not. Mark 16:14-18 has a few signs for today and of course Christ said we would know his disciples today by the love they have for one another. I am so thankful for this study and everyone's replies.....God Bless.

I am sure that Abraham did not understand why God would want him to sacrafice Issiac. Paul said that when he was called to preach the gospel to the gentiles that he confered with no-one. When Peter was sent to Cornelius, he went. These men did not have to understand why....they just had to obey. Guess that's why God chose them. Does my unbelief keep me from God's goal for me in His kingdom? Help my unbelief.

God showed the enemy that they would lose this battle with the dream about the bread........and as typical to human beings, the man told his friend. No doubt by the time the battle actually came,the rumor had spread throughout the camp. In verse 21 it says they cried out and fled. This is what fear will do to us if we let it. God help me to not sew words of discouragement to my bretheren. Today we should be praying that God will give a dream and rumor like this to Iraq and also to all those who support evil in this country.

isn't it just amazing that God was trying to protect his people from the sin of saying "my own hand has saved me" ? Now that is a lesson for today....Thank you Dear Father that it is you that has always carried me....that in myself there is no good thing....if it comes from me and it is good...It is Jesus....Thank you God.

I can't help but laugh about this. I can just see the headlines now....''TEN THOUSAND TROUPS SENT HOME FROM THE PERSIAN GULF FOR LAPPING THEIR WATER" Can you imagine how president Bush would be ridiculed by the press?

I believe that today the Bread of LIfe can also destroy our enemies....that the would be thief of all that we reap can be turned away from our mind by the Bread of Life....The Word

i am not sure where this reply belongs but just look what has happened so far because of Gideon's obedience.....Joash his father is out of idol worship as is the whole city. In verse 34 we see that the Abizerites were the first ones to back Gideon up. These were the same men who were after him for the alter being torn down...Isn't that just like Jesus? Changing one man so he can change another so he can change another and another and then they changing so.....

we should honor our mother and father but if they are not in God's will we cannot follow them. There is noone who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother or father for Christ's sake that will not recieve reward in this life and in the one to come. Mark 10:29

As the mother of 8 children, I can say that there is no greater honor for me than to see my children serve God....no greater dishonor than to see them fall from God. If I fall into sin, then I would not want my children to hold me up in that sin but rarher to honor me enough to help me get out of it. I think Gideon brought great honor to his father....

As I read this passage I wondered just how much have I allowed into my own life that is not parallel to the word of God? As Gideon began at his father's house.....I realize that I must begin at home before I can change my family, community and the nation.....Another thing that stands out is that Gideon did this thing at night, trying to hide....If the Christians in this country would unite..would boldly stand and say "I will not support the evil in this land" God would fight our battles too. In verse 29, the enemy found out who it was that tore down the idol anyway...He might as well proclaimed it from the housetops himself.

Hello everyone. This is my first on line bible study. I am a 53 year old mother of 8 from Oklahoma. I am so very thankful for anything that helps me learn more about our gracious Father...He has been so good to me.

I think that the reason that God called Gideon a mighty warrior [He knows us better than we know ourselves] is because of Gideon's humbleness. In verse 15 Gideon says that he is the least of the least......that is a person who is not going to try and take control of the plan....he knows that God's plan is best.