The Man Gideon

The Lord said to me…”I will test my people with a Plumbline, Amos 7:8 (TLB
The Plumbline is a blog to bring hope and encourage to the Body of Christ.

The Man Gideon

Gideon is called the mighty warrior by an angel of the Lord. Once more God’s people reverted to a syncretistic religion that conformed the ways of the Canaanites. As a result for seven years God permitted the Midianites, assisted by the Amalekites and tribes from the east to invade and oppress Israel (6:30. They were forced to hide in caves and conceal their produce (vv. 2-5). When the situation became unbearable, they call on God for help (vs. 6).

GIDEON: Personal name meaning “one who cuts to pieces.” He was the fifth major judge of 12th century Israel. He was also called Jerubbaal and was the son of Joash of the tribe of Manasseh. He judged for 40 years (Judg. 6:11–8:35).^[1]

Check out Judges 6:12–16 (NCV) ¹² The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” ¹³ Then Gideon said, “Sir, if the Lord is with us, why are we having so much trouble? Where are the miracles our ancestors told us he did when the Lord brought them out of Egypt? But now he has left us and has handed us over to the Midianites.” ¹⁴ The Lord turned to Gideon and said, “Go with your strength and save Israel from the Midianites. I am the one who is sending you.” ¹⁵ But Gideon answered, “Lord, how can I save Israel? My family group is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family.” ¹⁶ The Lord answered him, “I will be with you. It will seem as if the Midianites you are fighting are only one man.”

In the sixth chapter verse 34 “The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon.” The verb “came upon” literally means, “to put on, clothe.” The Holy Spirit filled Gideon, so that Gideon was the clothes, and the Spirit within him moved him so as to equip him to serve God’s people. This expedience of having the Spirit come upon and live in a person is promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Gideon was an instrument in God’s hands that did great and wonderful things  in Israel.

Check out what Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, 38-39.  Acts 2:4, 38-39 (NCV) ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them. ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

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^[1] Gautsch, D. R. (2003). Gideon. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.