seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Judges 6:25 That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old.(b) Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole[c] beside it. 26 Then build a proper kind of[d] altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second[e] bull as a burnt offering.”
27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.
28 In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!
29 They asked each other, “Who did this?”
When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”
30 The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”
31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” 32 So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal[f] that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.”
27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.
28 In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!
29 They asked each other, “Who did this?”
When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”
30 The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”
31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” 32 So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal[f] that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.”
b. Judges 6:25 Or Take a full-grown, mature bull from your father’s herd
c. Judges 6:25 That is, a wooden symbol of the goddess Asherah; also in verses 26, 28 and 30
d. Judges 6:26 Or build with layers of stone an
e. Judges 6:26 Or full-grown; also in verse 28
f. Judges 6:32 Jerub-Baal probably means let Baal contend.
This is from the easy English site.
Before Gideon could change the nation, he had to change things in his home. Perhaps his father served both God and Baal. The male cow was a special animal. Perhaps Joash wanted to sacrifice it to Baal. God told Gideon to build another altar on top of a rock. People probably went to that rock whenever the people from Midian attacked. They would go there for safety. (Look at verse 2.) God told Gideon to do this after he had first destroyed his father’s altar and wooden pole. The altar was where people offered gifts to Baal. And the pole was where people praised Asherah. These were evil things from the world round them. These things had come into their lives before anyone had noticed it.
So Gideon obeyed God and he destroyed his father’s idol. (An idol is an object to praise instead of God.) He had to oppose the enemy. It was better to do it at night if he was too afraid during the day. He had to do what God told him. He did not have to be a hero who would take risks.
The people called him Jerubbaal. This name means ‘Let Baal fight him’. It was Gideon’s nickname. (A nickname means a name that people give someone. They give it to them because of what they are like.) In this story, we learn why they gave him this nickname. The neighbours of Gideon’s father protested against Gideon’s action. Then Gideon’s father replied to them in this way: If Baal were a real god, he would not need their help in this matter. If they did help him, it would be an insult to him. And they would deserve death because of it. They would deserve death because Baal should be able to protect his own character! By this reply, Gideon’s father showed good wisdom that he had learned from experience.
So Gideon obeyed God and he destroyed his father’s idol. (An idol is an object to praise instead of God.) He had to oppose the enemy. It was better to do it at night if he was too afraid during the day. He had to do what God told him. He did not have to be a hero who would take risks.
The people called him Jerubbaal. This name means ‘Let Baal fight him’. It was Gideon’s nickname. (A nickname means a name that people give someone. They give it to them because of what they are like.) In this story, we learn why they gave him this nickname. The neighbours of Gideon’s father protested against Gideon’s action. Then Gideon’s father replied to them in this way: If Baal were a real god, he would not need their help in this matter. If they did help him, it would be an insult to him. And they would deserve death because of it. They would deserve death because Baal should be able to protect his own character! By this reply, Gideon’s father showed good wisdom that he had learned from experience.
Apparently, when I read through the Bible the last time.... I didn't pay much attention to what I was reading. This story is so much fun... and I forgot it was in the Bible.
So God told Gideon that He wanted him to tear down the stuff for Baal and Asherah. God told Gideon to build a new alter to Him [the only living God] and sacrifice his father's prize bull.
Gideon had to serve God. He didn't have a choice.... and now the town was going to find out..... and who came to Gideon's rescue.... why his sharp witted father.
Gideon's father had a point though.... God doesn't need us to stick up for Him.
God is perfectly capable of sticking up for Himself. After all He has total control of time, weather, and everything else in the universe.
God lets us be part of His plan. He has a lot more faith in us than we do in Him. He has the upper hand.... He knows how everything turns out in the end.
The simple fact is..... We need God to stick up for us.
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