This week we have the story of Deborah, Barak and Jael next in the text, but the empty man we will consider is Gideon. So if you are reading the entire book of Judges, read chapters 4-8. If you just want to read the shorter passage that will be the focus of the sermon next Sunday, read the passage here
Gideon shows a consistent yellow streak - he is hiding from the Midianites by threshing his grain in the winepress, he destroys the shrine of Baal at night, he tests the message he hears from God by requiring signs on multiple nights...you catch my drift. God's response to Gideon is make his task more difficult, primarily by reducing the size of his army, thus requiring more trust in God from a man who seems distrusting by nature.
Then there is the odd issue of his name. By all normal conventions of the ancient world, a name like Jerubaal would be translated as "may Baal contend for me" not "may Baal contend against me." Thus, the person named Jerubaal would be expected to be a devotee of Baal, not an enemy. Perhaps we are expected to doubt the loyalties of Gideon, it would seem to fit his character after all.
Gideon shows a consistent yellow streak - he is hiding from the Midianites by threshing his grain in the winepress, he destroys the shrine of Baal at night, he tests the message he hears from God by requiring signs on multiple nights...you catch my drift. God's response to Gideon is make his task more difficult, primarily by reducing the size of his army, thus requiring more trust in God from a man who seems distrusting by nature.
Then there is the odd issue of his name. By all normal conventions of the ancient world, a name like Jerubaal would be translated as "may Baal contend for me" not "may Baal contend against me." Thus, the person named Jerubaal would be expected to be a devotee of Baal, not an enemy. Perhaps we are expected to doubt the loyalties of Gideon, it would seem to fit his character after all.
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