Judges 6:7-13 (NLT) When they cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. 9 I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. 10 I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
Observation
Well, things have gotten desperate again, so the people are crying out to the only God Who ever replies or demonstrates His power or proves Himself faithful. The other gods in the land remain silent, despite the number and cost of the sacrifices offered. This God Who Replies has rules set in stone, holds higher standards for behavior, requires honest and fair dealings with strangers and friends alike, expects care. mercy and grace to be extended to less fortunate others and is inordinately strict about obedience. Much easier on a daily basis to worship a god or goddess who sanctions easy and flexible rules that suit culture and the feelings and desires of the moment. Even Gideon’s father had an altar of expedience. BUT still, when things get tough, out-of-control, desperate, there is only One God Who will do – the God Who Replies. So, the people presume upon His mercy, His grace, His love, and cry out for rescue again – “We are Your people! Why have you abandoned us?” – accusing Him of leaving them unprotected even though they are the ones who abandoned Him.
Impact on Me
It is easy for me to read this story and say that I would never do such a thing! I have not erected altars of expedience to my culture!! But is this so? Am I so different than this hard of hearing, forgetful people who turn wholly to God only when they desperately need the God Who Replies? Do I go on a daily and consistent basis to worship at the altar of the One True God, or have I allowed myself to construct altars of expedience to worship culture, relaxed rules, my feelings and desires? Have I become so comfortable with any internal pagan altars that I don’t even recognize them as such anymore? Do I worship at the altar of the One True God when all is well and at the pagan altar of my fears when all is not? Do I examine myself for how I have been faithless and abandoned God rather than accusing Him of faithlessness and abandonment when things get tough? Do I invite the Holy Spirit to search me and find my hidden altars of expedience so that I can choose to tear them down? I need to stop and consider all these questions.
Devotion
Lord God, the One Who is True, the One Who Replies, I reserve all my worship for You. Examine me and expose any altar of expedience I have allowed to be constructed by me so I may destroy it utterly. Tune my ears to hear, my heart to understand so I might obey Your Words, Your instructions, Your guidance. May I have but one altar of worship that is wholly dedicated to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 