Examples of anti-Christian sentiments saturate the media. If we lived in an “upright” world, sin would be recognized as sin. Black would be black and white would be white.
There are a host of examples of our (spiritual) family in Scripture who were successful in living upright in an upside down world. How did they maintain their faith? What did they do? What impact did they have on their ungodly surroundings? What influence did their surroundings have on them?
Consider the judge named Gideon. The so-called “Gideon cycle” (Judges 6-8) is the longest section of the book of Judges, longer even than the three chapters devoted to Samson (by four verses).
AN ANGEL OF THE LORD CHALLENGES GIDEON – 6:11-24:
Observe what God sees in Gideon – “O valiant warrior” – vs 12. In verse 13, we see that Gideon struggled with an intellectual doubt about God’s ability. God’s response to Gideon is also telling, in verse 14 – “Go in this your strength and deliver…” God certainly saw something in Gideon that Gideon did not see in himself. Notice God’s message in verse 16.
Gideon asks a sign and prepares a sacrifice for God in verses 19-21. Then the angel disappears out of his sight and Gideon builds an altar to the Lord of Peace. Gideon had peace because he had spoken to the Lord.
GIDEON & HIS FATHER’S RELIGION – 6:25-35:
That same night, God gave Gideon his first commission – to destroy his daddy’s idol – the altar of Baal. Then he was to build an altar to the Lord. Then, he was to take another idol – an Asherah, and use it as firewood to offer a burnt offering to God.
The men of the city weren’t too happy; they wanted to kill Gideon. Heresy had become the predominant religion! Observe Joash’s defense of Gideon in verse 31.
God then gives Gideon two more signs to strengthen his faith that God would provide victory through him – verses 36-40.
GIDEON’S ARMY OF GLORY – 7:1-8
Gideon had 32,000 and he was going to be fighting a force of Midianites of 135,000 (8:10) [A 4:1 ratio is pretty bad odds] but he had too many soldiers; notice verse 2.
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GOD IS GLORIFIED IN THE ENEMIES’ DEFEAT – 7:19-23
The 300 trumpet blasts would frighten the enemy, who were changing their posts. The breaking of the pitchers would disorient the enemy and the torches would help give the impression of a greater number of troops. In the confusion, the Midianites – God’s enemies – fought each other (vss 21-22)!
GIDEON’S EPHOD – 8:22-27:
The Israelites want Gideon to rule over him as a king (8:22) but Gideon correctly points out that God is already their king (8:23). Instead, Gideon takes their gold earrings (35-75 lbs of gold, depending on the size of the shekel!) and makes an ephod out of it (vs 27). The ephod was an apron like the garment worn by the high priest with the Urim and Thummim in it, used to consult with God.
What was he thinking? He tore down his father’s idols and set up an idol in its place. “It became a snare to Gideon and his household.”
How do we live upright in an upside down world?
- See God’s gift within yourself – 6:12.
- God has given us ample evidence to trust Him – 6:19-24.
- Follow God, not your parents – 6:25-35.
- Remember that God “is not restrained to save by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6).
- God can use unbelievers to accomplish His will – 7:13-14.
- We need to pay attention to ourselves – 8:27 (cf. 1 Tim. 4:16).
–Paul Holland
