Andrew

When the partnership of God with us is in danger of deteriorating God can only use terms that we can understand to help us to understand. Nothing should come between our partnership with God but today the constant bombarding of advertising and questionable values errodes my ability to keep God foremost. I understand commercial venders know what sells their product but wouldn't it be nice if it just didn't work anymore? My prayer is that all people of God keep watch because satan is among us and doing better than he should.

When Gideon asked for his reward he had forgotten that God gave him his reward beforehand. The gold was a stumbling block for Gideon and blinded him to serve God and not help himself to the customary plunder that he would not have received in the first place if God hadn't been with Gideon and the Israelites in the first place. When I read this I reminded of the ephods that I have built and have detracted me from God.

Lappers are thought to be ever prepared for the unexpected so they drink water while prepared at a moments notice. That should be the way we should be with God, ever prepared at a moments notice.

Gideon probably remembered the story of God delivering the Israelites from the pharaoh. There was no doubt that God defeated the Egyptian king and God wanted to remind the Israelites that there can be no doubt of His power.

I am wondering if asking for a sign from God is risky then why did so many people ask God for a sign throughout the bible? As long as I can question God in order to increase my faith then how can that be a bad thing to do. We do run the risk of asking God to prove Himself rather than increase our faith.

I think we all test our faith in God from time to time just like Gideon. If simple tests build up our faith then God is all for it but not if we want to prove His existence. Faith for me is not consistant and never wavering but constantly in the building phase and with God's help such as He did for Gideon faith for me will always grow. Faith is not something we are born with but yet a learned experience. Many conversations with God make us realize our faith and work in areas of our weaknesses that only God can help us with.

The spirit of the Lord inspires Gideon to blow the horned trumpet for battle. Gideon has God in common with other judges and leaders in that Gideon actions are by God's calling.

Joash was wishy washy in his alliance with God and to Baal. Joash in order to survive within his surroundings had to be ready to worship both God and Baal. Gideon with his action of worship to God and showing sacrifice to God forced Joash to choose between God and Baal and fortunately for Gideon Joash chose God making Joash a reluctant follower of God. Gideon tried to hide the fact of what was going on by doing his tasks at night because he (Gideon) was afraid. Not sure if he was afraid of his family or the town or both.

To honor God over his parents was never in doubt by Gideon. Gideon simply did what the Lord told him to do.

God wants Gideon to get rid of all idols to other gods so the people would remember Him and worship the one God. The positive thing is to turn back to worship of God but Gideon does the sacrificing to God at night not as weakness in faith but as a means to accomplish what God wants him to do. Gideon stays focused on the worshipping of God and he knows to reach this end he must do his task at night.

The Israelites did not worship God but worshipped idols of other gods. This broke the 1st Commandment to worship the one God and no others. All God wanted the Israelites to do is to worship Him and He would take care of them. Since Jesus connects us all to the Israelites this commandment is very much our commandment and we should always remember to worship God and not idols or other gods.

I think that Gideon not so much blamed God but was confused as to what God was doing for Gideon and his people. If Gideon blamed God then I would think his heart would have been turned away from God and therefore God wouldn't have called Gideon to be His servant. God knew Gideon's heart and moved in God's way not man's to help His people.