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‘But I will be with you’ in time of trial and need

Sept. 13, 2009
Background Scripture: Judges 6-8
Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

These three chapters will be our only look into the Book of Judges at this time, but they reflect much of its content. The “Judges” were charismatic leaders who were called from among the people to lead in times of peril. Although initially military leaders, they often remained in roles of civil leadership.

Some of the names are familiar to us: Deborah, Gideon and Samson. The stories of others – Ethniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Jephthah, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon – are briefer and of less importance. Our scripture focuses on the deeds and times of Gideon, a simple farmer who, at God’s persistent call, became the humble and reluctant hero of the tribe of Manasseh.

The period of the Judges was roughly 200 years, a time of transition for the Israelites, during which the 12 tribes eventually became a monarchy. It was a time of attacks by powerful, persistent enemies: the Midianites, Amalekites, Mesopotamians, Moabites, Philistines, Canaanites and “the people of the East …”
In our own eyes

It was also a time of anarchy. Four times in the latter chapters (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) we are reminded: “In those days there was no king in Israel,” and in two we are told: “… everyman did what was right in his own eyes” (21:25).

During the days of the monarchies, some would look back on the time of the judges as “the good old days.” But those days were a utopian illusion, for the people eventually realized how much they needed a strong central government.

Utopias always ultimately disappoint us, because they are peopled with human beings.

This was also a time of moral corruption. Seven times in Judges we are told: “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (2:11; 3:7,12;  4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1).

The irony was that they did not see themselves as “evil.” They did not deny God, did not obviously refute His commandments nor failed to think of themselves as God’s elect.

But they allowed their religion to be compromised by the religions that surrounded them. They let the morals and values of their pagan neighbors creep into the tribal societies, no longer distinguishing between the will of God and the ways of the Baals – idolatry, sexual immorality and even human sacrifice.

So the period of the Judges was a time not entirely unlike our own. People still dream their utopian dreams. Just as Communism anticipated the “withering away of the state,” some of us yearn for a libertarian utopia in which people can “do what is right in their own eyes.”

Is the price right?

Has our Christian morality been adulterated by the materialistic society that even invades our churches?

Some years ago I was teaching an adult Sunday School class and we got to talking about a particular societal phenomenon that was in obvious contrast to the teachings of Jesus. When I pointed that out, someone said, “Yes, but it is very profitable” and the majority seemed to agree.

It was in such a time that God had to find someone to lead the tribe of Manasseh. No one was volunteering. So, God called Gideon beating out wheat in the wine press: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor.”

Gideon was no man to roll over and say, “Okay, Lord.” He spoke up: “Pray, sir, if the Lord is with us why then has all this befallen us? And where are all his wonderful deeds which our father recounted to us ... how can I deliver Israel? Behold, my clan in the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
Sound familiar?

But God regarded these words as a non sequitur* and replied to him and us: “But I will be with you …” (6:12-16).

*Non sequitur: From the Latin, “an unlikely or unjustified conclusion”

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.

9/9/2009