Hello readers. It took me a couple of months to tell the story of Gideon. I am going to tell the story of Samson. My hope is to tell this story in somewhat less time. We will see. I keep waiting for life to be less hectic, and I keep getting disappointed.
Now, some of you who read the title, probably said to yourself that I had the title backwards, that in Christ, we turn weakness into strength. And if I were writing about Paul, you would correct. However, I am writing about Samson, a guy who was given immense talent, particularly physical strength and managed to turn it into weakness. To be fair to Samson, he is listed in Hebrews 11 among the faithful, but far too often, Samson serves an an example of what not to do. So over my next few posts I will share some of these in hopes that we can learn from them.
First lesson: Listen to righteous people. If you read Judges 13, you see Samson's parents, Manoah and his wife, whom the angel of Lord appears to. Judges 13:1 tells us that they were living in a time when Israel was doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and had been delivered into the hands of the Philistines, but we can see that within this time of evil, Manoah and his wife are righteous. We can tell by the way that they interact with God's messenger and their response to God's message. They are to raise Samson as a Nazarite. Which they do.
By chapter 14, Samson is an adult and he is going about in Philistine territory when he sees a Philistine woman and fell for her. He returns to his father and tells his father to get this woman for his wife. His father objects. He recognizes the Philistines as the enemy of God's people, and says to his son, "Isn't there an acceptable woman among our people?" Manoah wasn't being racist here, he was being wise. The philistines worshiped a different god, called Dagon, and Manoah who had spend years preparing Samson to serve the true God, did not want to see his son married to someone who worshiped Dagon. If you know the rest of the story, you know that Samson should have listened to his father. Beginning with the trip down to the Philistine city of Timnah to get married, Samson makes one mistake after another that costs numerous lives including the life of the woman he loved so much. It could have been avoided, had he listened to his more righteous father.
As the story continues in my next post, think about all of the tragedy that could have been avoided, had Samson been willing to listen to righteous people and had not been simply led around by his desires.
Happy Thanksgiving
Tom
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
The questioner part 5
After all this time, I'm finally going to finish the story of Gideon. Initially, Gideon had shown himself to be quite fearful, questioning God and asking for signs. But God says from the beginning that Gideon is a mighty warrior, and is incredibly patient with him as Gideon's faith grows and we see in Gideon the mighty warrior that God saw all along.
We left off with Gideon leading 300 men against a vast Midianite army and defeating them. In Judges 8:4-13, we see Gideon and his 300 men chasing the 15,000 Midianites that they didn't kill in battle. Gideon stops in the town of Sukkoth and asks for supplies. They ask if he had the hands of the Midianite kings, and refuse to help. He goes on to Peniel, another Israelite city, and gets the same response. Why do these towns refuse to help Gideon? They are still afraid of the Midianites and they think Gideon will lose. Then they would have deal with the Midianites. If they had helped Gideon, that would go badly. Without their help, Gideon defeats the rest of the Midianites.
Here is what I get from this story. Gideon was changed man. He was no longer afraid, but more importantly he was not going to allow the fear and faithlessness of others change his faith.
Tom
Saturday, September 29, 2012
The Questioner, Part 4
Hey everyone.
It has been three weeks since I last wrote anything. The beginning of the new school year has been very busy for me. I am the supervisor of me department and I am teaching a course in AP European History. Those two things have kept me pretty busy. So it has taken me a very long time to tell you the story of Gideon, something I finished studying all the way back in in August. So today I will give you part 4 and hopefully very soon after I will give you part 5 and then finally be ready to move on.
So here it is. If you remember, God has come to Gideon calling him a "mighty warrior." To this point Gideon has not seemed like much like a mighty warrior, constantly questioning God and asking for signs that God is able to do what he says. Gideon has however been an obedient, if somewhat reluctant, warrior. Doing what God has said, in spite of his fear.
In Judges 7 God whittles Gideon's army down to 300 men. We know from Judges 8:10 that the Midianite army numbers around 135,000. Gideon starts with 32,000 men. This is a ratio of around 4 to 1, but God says Gideon has too many men, even though he is the one that is severely outnumbered. So they tell everyone who is afraid to go home. 22,000 men leave. Gideon is now down to 10,000 men and is outnumbered 13.5 to 1. God says it is still too many men. So when God takes the number down to 300, he has given Gideon an army that is outnumbered about 450 to one. God is setting Gideon up to finally understand that He is God and that therefore there is no reason for Gideon to fear.
So what happens next. The night before the battle God gives Gideon one more sign that He is with him. Gideon didn't ask for this one, but God gave it to him any way. God tells Gideon that if he is still afraid that he should go down to the edge of the Midianite camp and the He would give Gideon a sign then he would no longer be afraid. God was likely hoping that Gideon would not need the sign; that he had overcome fear. Gideon had not yet overcome. He had to be terrified to go to the edge of his enemy's camp, but to his credit, he went.
When he arrives at the edge of the Midianite camp, he overhears a conversation. One Midianite soldier says he has a dream in which a big loaf of barley bread comes rolling into the camp and knocks down his tent. (Try to visualize the dream.) The soldier's friend tells him, "this can only be the sword of Gideon. God has given the whole camp into his hands." So Gideon overhears the saying that God was delivering them into his hands. Gideon bows down right there at the edge of the Midianite camp, with their 135,000 soldiers, and worships God. He is no longer afraid. He has now grown to trust God no matter what. He goes back rallies his 300 men and defeats the Midianite army with torches, jars and trumpets. It took some time, but now we can see the warrior in Gideon that God saw all along.
Tom
It has been three weeks since I last wrote anything. The beginning of the new school year has been very busy for me. I am the supervisor of me department and I am teaching a course in AP European History. Those two things have kept me pretty busy. So it has taken me a very long time to tell you the story of Gideon, something I finished studying all the way back in in August. So today I will give you part 4 and hopefully very soon after I will give you part 5 and then finally be ready to move on.
So here it is. If you remember, God has come to Gideon calling him a "mighty warrior." To this point Gideon has not seemed like much like a mighty warrior, constantly questioning God and asking for signs that God is able to do what he says. Gideon has however been an obedient, if somewhat reluctant, warrior. Doing what God has said, in spite of his fear.
In Judges 7 God whittles Gideon's army down to 300 men. We know from Judges 8:10 that the Midianite army numbers around 135,000. Gideon starts with 32,000 men. This is a ratio of around 4 to 1, but God says Gideon has too many men, even though he is the one that is severely outnumbered. So they tell everyone who is afraid to go home. 22,000 men leave. Gideon is now down to 10,000 men and is outnumbered 13.5 to 1. God says it is still too many men. So when God takes the number down to 300, he has given Gideon an army that is outnumbered about 450 to one. God is setting Gideon up to finally understand that He is God and that therefore there is no reason for Gideon to fear.
So what happens next. The night before the battle God gives Gideon one more sign that He is with him. Gideon didn't ask for this one, but God gave it to him any way. God tells Gideon that if he is still afraid that he should go down to the edge of the Midianite camp and the He would give Gideon a sign then he would no longer be afraid. God was likely hoping that Gideon would not need the sign; that he had overcome fear. Gideon had not yet overcome. He had to be terrified to go to the edge of his enemy's camp, but to his credit, he went.
When he arrives at the edge of the Midianite camp, he overhears a conversation. One Midianite soldier says he has a dream in which a big loaf of barley bread comes rolling into the camp and knocks down his tent. (Try to visualize the dream.) The soldier's friend tells him, "this can only be the sword of Gideon. God has given the whole camp into his hands." So Gideon overhears the saying that God was delivering them into his hands. Gideon bows down right there at the edge of the Midianite camp, with their 135,000 soldiers, and worships God. He is no longer afraid. He has now grown to trust God no matter what. He goes back rallies his 300 men and defeats the Midianite army with torches, jars and trumpets. It took some time, but now we can see the warrior in Gideon that God saw all along.
Tom
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Questioner, Part 3
Hey everyone.
Well, I survived two camps and the start of the school year. Today is my birthday, I'm 49. Tonight I would like to jump back into the story of Gideon, and share more lessons that I have learned from him. It has been a while since I wrote my last post, so just to remind you, God calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," but in everything we have seen about Gideon so far, he does not really seem like one.
In Judges 6:33-40 Gideon continues to question God, and God continues to be very patient with Gideon. This time, Gideon says, "If you will save Israel by my as you have promised," then asks God to do the famous "fleece" test. And he doesn't ask once, he asks twice. What is he really asking God, here? He is asking, "God, are you really going to do what you say you are going to do?" or maybe, God, can you do do what you say you are going to do?" At the root of his question was , is God good for his word? He asks God to complete an impossible task, and God does it, twice.
Gideon was having a hard time trusting God's promise to him. Do you ever have a difficult time trusting God's promises. Heb 6:18 tells us that God can't lie, so if he makes a promise, he has to keep it. Gideon ultimately learns that God is good for his word and has the power to back it up. My own experiences as a disciple back that concept up as well.
So God proved to Gideon with his "fleece" test that he can do anything, but to be honest, Gideon still doesn't look like much of a warrior. But God is not done with Gideon yet.
Side Note: I have heard of people who have "put out the fleece." My advice is that it may not be the best way to make decisions. God agreed to Gideon's fleece test, that doesn't mean he has agreed to yours. I think a better idea would be to pray intently about something, and ask God to make his will so obvious that even you can't miss it.
Tom
Well, I survived two camps and the start of the school year. Today is my birthday, I'm 49. Tonight I would like to jump back into the story of Gideon, and share more lessons that I have learned from him. It has been a while since I wrote my last post, so just to remind you, God calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," but in everything we have seen about Gideon so far, he does not really seem like one.
In Judges 6:33-40 Gideon continues to question God, and God continues to be very patient with Gideon. This time, Gideon says, "If you will save Israel by my as you have promised," then asks God to do the famous "fleece" test. And he doesn't ask once, he asks twice. What is he really asking God, here? He is asking, "God, are you really going to do what you say you are going to do?" or maybe, God, can you do do what you say you are going to do?" At the root of his question was , is God good for his word? He asks God to complete an impossible task, and God does it, twice.
Gideon was having a hard time trusting God's promise to him. Do you ever have a difficult time trusting God's promises. Heb 6:18 tells us that God can't lie, so if he makes a promise, he has to keep it. Gideon ultimately learns that God is good for his word and has the power to back it up. My own experiences as a disciple back that concept up as well.
So God proved to Gideon with his "fleece" test that he can do anything, but to be honest, Gideon still doesn't look like much of a warrior. But God is not done with Gideon yet.
Side Note: I have heard of people who have "put out the fleece." My advice is that it may not be the best way to make decisions. God agreed to Gideon's fleece test, that doesn't mean he has agreed to yours. I think a better idea would be to pray intently about something, and ask God to make his will so obvious that even you can't miss it.
Tom
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Questioner, Part 2
Hey everybody
Leaving in the morning for Teen Camp. I thought I would share one more time before going. I will continue the story of Gideon out of Judges 6. Gideon wasn't afraid to question God, and God was very patient with Gideon. Altogether, God gives Gideon four signs that he is with him and that Gideon has no reason to fear.
The first of these signs comes when Gideon asks God to show him a sign that it was really God speaking to him. (6:17 - 23) Perhaps Gideon feared that this was some one else's voice speaking to him, just claiming to be God, or perhaps he was just afraid to do what God was telling him. but either way, Gideon wanted prof that this was coming from God. Perhaps we can be like this as well, when we question God's will in our lives. "How can this really be your will God?" I've said it, have you?
Any way, Gideon prepares meat and bread and sets it on a rock. The angel of the Lord touches it with his staff and flames shoot up out the rock and devour it all. As signs from God go, this one must have been very cool to watch. So Gideon gets his proof.
Going on from there, God tells Gideon to go break down his father's alter to Baal, build a proper alter, then cut down the Asherah pole (which was made of wood) and use it for the fire for the offering. Now God has been reassuring Gideon that he is with him and that Gideon does not need to be afraid. However, Gideon is still afraid, so he goes at night and tears down the alter and pole. Notice that Gideon is fearful, but he is still obedient. He does what God tells him to, which is good, but he does it in the least risky way possible. God is telling Gideon that he is a warrior, but he does not look or feel like one yet.
Gideon's hometown is very angry and want to kill him, but God manages to work it out for Gideon that there are no repurcussions. Plus, he gets a cool nickname out of the deal.
Are we like Gideon, , fearful, trying to be disciples with easiest way possible. Well, if that is case, then, also like Gideon that is a warrior inside there trying to break out. Fearful or not, Gideon was obedient. let's do the same, and allow God to stretch our faith the way he ultimately stretches Gideon's.
The Lord is with you mighty warrior.
Tom
Leaving in the morning for Teen Camp. I thought I would share one more time before going. I will continue the story of Gideon out of Judges 6. Gideon wasn't afraid to question God, and God was very patient with Gideon. Altogether, God gives Gideon four signs that he is with him and that Gideon has no reason to fear.
The first of these signs comes when Gideon asks God to show him a sign that it was really God speaking to him. (6:17 - 23) Perhaps Gideon feared that this was some one else's voice speaking to him, just claiming to be God, or perhaps he was just afraid to do what God was telling him. but either way, Gideon wanted prof that this was coming from God. Perhaps we can be like this as well, when we question God's will in our lives. "How can this really be your will God?" I've said it, have you?
Any way, Gideon prepares meat and bread and sets it on a rock. The angel of the Lord touches it with his staff and flames shoot up out the rock and devour it all. As signs from God go, this one must have been very cool to watch. So Gideon gets his proof.
Going on from there, God tells Gideon to go break down his father's alter to Baal, build a proper alter, then cut down the Asherah pole (which was made of wood) and use it for the fire for the offering. Now God has been reassuring Gideon that he is with him and that Gideon does not need to be afraid. However, Gideon is still afraid, so he goes at night and tears down the alter and pole. Notice that Gideon is fearful, but he is still obedient. He does what God tells him to, which is good, but he does it in the least risky way possible. God is telling Gideon that he is a warrior, but he does not look or feel like one yet.
Gideon's hometown is very angry and want to kill him, but God manages to work it out for Gideon that there are no repurcussions. Plus, he gets a cool nickname out of the deal.
Are we like Gideon, , fearful, trying to be disciples with easiest way possible. Well, if that is case, then, also like Gideon that is a warrior inside there trying to break out. Fearful or not, Gideon was obedient. let's do the same, and allow God to stretch our faith the way he ultimately stretches Gideon's.
The Lord is with you mighty warrior.
Tom
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Questioner
Hello everyone.
I'm gearing up for camp. I've got some thoughts to share with you before I go. I've been looking a Gideon, whose story is told in Judges 6, 7 and 8.
So here is the background on Gideon's story: The Israelites had turned away from God again and this time he handed them over to the Midianites. Now the Midianites were so oppressive that the Israelites were living in the mountains and hiding in caves. (Judges 6:1-6) The Midianites would show and destroy everything the Israelites had.
OK. So Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress when the angel of the Lord shows up. Gideon is hiding just like everybody else. Never-the-less, the angel greets him, "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." Interestingly, Gideon was not afraid to ask questions of the representative of God. The angel (and God, as well) listens to Gideon's question and is very patient with him.
Gideon's response to the angel was two questions (paraphrased). First, "if God is with us, why have all these bad things happened to us?" that "what has happened to the wondered our fathers have told us about?" Since I often ask similar questions, I will throw my own modern-day versions out there and see if anyone other than me identifies with Gideon here. I ask the first question like this: "Well God I am trying to please, why isn't life easier for me? Why do you allow these difficult things to happen?" The second question goes something like this: "Why does all the awesome stuff happen to somebody else? "When is it going to be my turn?"
I notice that God's response to Gideon's questions doesn't really seem to answer them, but in truth is does. Response to Gideon's questions: "Go on the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" The answer to my own questions is the same. It doesn't matter if I don't have all of those things I think I need. I am to work to accomplish God's will with whatever I have (good or bad) and allow God to make up the difference. This was God's plan.
Gideon responds to God in complete insecurity (Judges 6:15) basically saying, "Who am I?" You ever felt like that? I have? God's response was about the same. It really didn't matter who Gideon was, it mattered who God was. If Gideon would just allow himself to b used by God, the victory would be his. It is a valuable lesson. It really isn't about how strong I am, because God will make up the difference.
The story of Gideon has a lot of good lessons. More to come.
The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.
Tom
I'm gearing up for camp. I've got some thoughts to share with you before I go. I've been looking a Gideon, whose story is told in Judges 6, 7 and 8.
So here is the background on Gideon's story: The Israelites had turned away from God again and this time he handed them over to the Midianites. Now the Midianites were so oppressive that the Israelites were living in the mountains and hiding in caves. (Judges 6:1-6) The Midianites would show and destroy everything the Israelites had.
OK. So Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress when the angel of the Lord shows up. Gideon is hiding just like everybody else. Never-the-less, the angel greets him, "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." Interestingly, Gideon was not afraid to ask questions of the representative of God. The angel (and God, as well) listens to Gideon's question and is very patient with him.
Gideon's response to the angel was two questions (paraphrased). First, "if God is with us, why have all these bad things happened to us?" that "what has happened to the wondered our fathers have told us about?" Since I often ask similar questions, I will throw my own modern-day versions out there and see if anyone other than me identifies with Gideon here. I ask the first question like this: "Well God I am trying to please, why isn't life easier for me? Why do you allow these difficult things to happen?" The second question goes something like this: "Why does all the awesome stuff happen to somebody else? "When is it going to be my turn?"
I notice that God's response to Gideon's questions doesn't really seem to answer them, but in truth is does. Response to Gideon's questions: "Go on the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" The answer to my own questions is the same. It doesn't matter if I don't have all of those things I think I need. I am to work to accomplish God's will with whatever I have (good or bad) and allow God to make up the difference. This was God's plan.
Gideon responds to God in complete insecurity (Judges 6:15) basically saying, "Who am I?" You ever felt like that? I have? God's response was about the same. It really didn't matter who Gideon was, it mattered who God was. If Gideon would just allow himself to b used by God, the victory would be his. It is a valuable lesson. It really isn't about how strong I am, because God will make up the difference.
The story of Gideon has a lot of good lessons. More to come.
The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.
Tom
Friday, July 20, 2012
This one is for the ladies
Hey everyone.
As I have continued in my study of Judges, I have come to the story of Deborah in Judges 4 and 5. The clear heroes of this story are two women: Deborah and Jael. Here is the background to the story: As they seemed to always do, after the death Ehud, the Israelites return to evil ways. God allows another power to oppress them, this time it is the Canaanites. They are oppressed by Canaan for twenty years. The king in Canaan is Jabin and the commander of his army is Sisera.
God raises up a new prophet and leader in Israel, her name is Deborah. We know that Deborah was both a wife (Judges 4:4) and a mother (Judges 5:7), and from reading the two chapters about her, we can tell that she was clearly a very impressive person.
Deborah summoned Barak and told him that God had instructed that he should form an army and lead them against Sisera, and that God had given Sisera into his hands. Barak is hesitant and says that he would do it only if Deborah went with him. Deborah agrees to go with him, but tells him that because he asked this that the glory that would have been his would be taken from him and given to a woman. Now Barak did ultimately do as God instructed and so gained the victory and is even mentioned in Hebrews 11, what we often refer to as the Faith Hall of Fame, but initially Barak seems to have more confidence in Deborah than he does in God. Because of this, the glory that would have been his is taken from him just as Deborah prophecied. That glory goes to Jael, the wife of Heber, who kills Sisera. Sisera, in cowardly fashion, runs from the battlefield when it is clear that his army is being routed, and hides in the tent of a woman. Jael allows him to fall asleep in her tent and then drives a tent peg through his head. So Israel is saved from Canaan by two heroic women and one reluctant man.
An interesting side note comes toward the end of Deborah's song which is recorded in chapter 5. Deborah imagines Sisera's mother looking out the window, waiting for his return and wondering what is taking him so long. One of her ladies responds that it must be taking a long time to divide up the women. It is interesting that women like Deborah or Jael were just considered a part of the plunder, prizes for the warriors, as though they were objects rather than people. In many ways our society hasn't changed all that much. Many men still objectify women, but clearly God does not. He places great value on women and is more than willing to use them for his great purposes.
Tom
As I have continued in my study of Judges, I have come to the story of Deborah in Judges 4 and 5. The clear heroes of this story are two women: Deborah and Jael. Here is the background to the story: As they seemed to always do, after the death Ehud, the Israelites return to evil ways. God allows another power to oppress them, this time it is the Canaanites. They are oppressed by Canaan for twenty years. The king in Canaan is Jabin and the commander of his army is Sisera.
God raises up a new prophet and leader in Israel, her name is Deborah. We know that Deborah was both a wife (Judges 4:4) and a mother (Judges 5:7), and from reading the two chapters about her, we can tell that she was clearly a very impressive person.
Deborah summoned Barak and told him that God had instructed that he should form an army and lead them against Sisera, and that God had given Sisera into his hands. Barak is hesitant and says that he would do it only if Deborah went with him. Deborah agrees to go with him, but tells him that because he asked this that the glory that would have been his would be taken from him and given to a woman. Now Barak did ultimately do as God instructed and so gained the victory and is even mentioned in Hebrews 11, what we often refer to as the Faith Hall of Fame, but initially Barak seems to have more confidence in Deborah than he does in God. Because of this, the glory that would have been his is taken from him just as Deborah prophecied. That glory goes to Jael, the wife of Heber, who kills Sisera. Sisera, in cowardly fashion, runs from the battlefield when it is clear that his army is being routed, and hides in the tent of a woman. Jael allows him to fall asleep in her tent and then drives a tent peg through his head. So Israel is saved from Canaan by two heroic women and one reluctant man.
An interesting side note comes toward the end of Deborah's song which is recorded in chapter 5. Deborah imagines Sisera's mother looking out the window, waiting for his return and wondering what is taking him so long. One of her ladies responds that it must be taking a long time to divide up the women. It is interesting that women like Deborah or Jael were just considered a part of the plunder, prizes for the warriors, as though they were objects rather than people. In many ways our society hasn't changed all that much. Many men still objectify women, but clearly God does not. He places great value on women and is more than willing to use them for his great purposes.
Tom
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