Denise

I don't believe that Gideon dishonored his parents. He did what God told Him to do. He put God first. He did not challenge his parents in any way. He was being obedient to God.

God told Gideon to tear down the Baal altar and Asherah pole because it had caused separation from God. The people were worshipping idols instead of God. What idols do we worship? What has caused us to become separated from God? What person or thing have we put before God? God must be first and foremost in our lives. God is asking us to put aside those things that are hindering our relationship with Him. Gideon was instructed to build an altar to God in its place. When we remove things that are wrong or negative in our lives we must replace them with things that right or positive. Things that are pleasing to God. Gideon tore down that which was displeasing to God and replaced it with something pleasing in His sight. I believe that Gideon was being obedient in doing what God instructed him to do. He did it at night to cause less problems. If he had done it during the day, the people would have been angry (as we read in the following verses). The people felt strongly about the altar and pole and they would have probably tried to prevent Gideon from tearing down these idols. It took courage for him to undertake the task that God had given him and his obedience to God gave him strength to go on. It also showed where he put his trust. In obeying God, he believed that God would be there to protect and guide him through the next step.

Israel's oppressed state was due to disobedience. They disobeyed God by worshipping the gods of the Amorites. The Israelites broke the Second Commandment that states "Thou shall have no other gods before me." God expects us to put him first. We are not worship other gods or things, such as money, television, cars, people, etc. Anything that we but before God Almighty is going against His will.

Gideon say that if God is with them, why hasn't God done the things to protect His people? Gideon should not blame God for his troubles. He fails to realize that God had (and will always be) with him and had not abandoned him. It was the people who moved away from God. They had stopped worshipping God and worshipped other gods even though God had forbidden idol worship. We need to accept responsibility for actions and the choices that we make. When we don't listen and do as God instructions us, trouble will come. We move away from God, not God. He does not change and His word says he will never leave us or forsake us. God is always there.

Hi...I'm Denise from Maryland. This is my first Bible Study and I'm looking forward to reading, studying and sharing God's Word.