Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Judges 6:11-24, Psalm 85:9, 11-14, Matthew 19:23-30
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081815.cfm
GIDEON AND MIDIAN
"The last shall come first." -Matthew 19:30
The Israelites were oppressed externally by the nation of Midian, and internally by their own idolatry. Joash the Abiezrite, father of Gideon, had built an altar to an idol (Jgs 6:25), as well as a sacred pole used in idol worship. God called the fearful Gideon to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression (Jgs 6:14).
When Gideon assembled a large army, God told him, "You have too many soldiers with you for Me to deliver Midian into [your] power" (Jgs 7:2). So God told Gideon to send the fearful men home, which reduced the army to 31% of its original force. God said: "There are still too many soldiers" (Jgs 7:4). Then God devised a test to show which of those who were not afraid would be alert, ready, and prepared for battle (Jgs 7:5; cp Mt 25:1-13). After this test, less than 1% of the original soldiers remained. It was through these three-hundred lowly, obedient Israelites that God received glory when He delivered Israel through Gideon. God chooses the weak, "insignificant" (Jgs 6:15), and lowly so that He will receive glory (see Ex 14:18). The last come first (Mt 19:30).
The victorious Gideon refused to grab the glory from the Lord. He instead told the people to subject themselves to the Lord instead of their former idols, saying: "The Lord must rule over you" (Jgs 8:23). God doesn't need multitudes to be victorious. What He wants is spirit-filled servants who abandon themselves to Him (Jgs 6:34) and leaders who put His will above all else (Jgs 6:25ff; Mt 19:29).
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a "champion" for You (Jgs 6:12).
Promise: "For man it is impossible; but for God all things are possible." -Mt 19:26
Praise: Confessing an attitude of cynicism harbored toward a certain group of people, Edith was led to minister love and hospitality to those very people shortly after her Confession.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (For related teaching, order our leaflet "Obedience School" or our tape "Obeying God" on audio AV 62-3 or video V-62.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from August 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 18, 2015
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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