"Gideon and his three hundred arrived at the Jordan and crossed over. They were bone-tired but still pressing the pursuit. He asked the men of Succoth, “Please, give me some loaves of bread for my troops I have with me. They’re worn out, and I’m hot on the trail of Zebah and Zalmunna, the Midianite kings.” But the leaders in Succoth said, “You’re on a wild goose chase; why should we help you on a fool’s errand?” Gideon said, “If you say so. But when God gives me Zebah and Zalmunna, I’ll give you a thrashing, whip your bare flesh with desert thorns and thistles!” He went from there to Peniel and made the same request. The men of Peniel, like the men of Succoth, also refused. Gideon told them, “When I return safe and sound, I’ll demolish this tower.” 8:4-9
Succoth was part of the Exodus route. The Israelites crossed through this land on their way from exile into freedom. The leaders here saw God deliver His people; yet they were more worried about savings themselves than trusting God would save them.
When we have fear over our lives, we neglect to see the power of God, and forfeit a victory for ourselves. That brings consequences. The Lord chooses people to do His work. He can accomplish His will, without us, but he gives us the great honor and privilege to be a part of it anyway. The Lord requires us to join others that are doing things for Him, by lending our time, money, talents, and prayers.
There was a time when I was faced with a decision about moving forward in serving the Lord. The Lord very clearly spoke to me and said, "I don't NEED you to do anything, but if you don't do this, I will ask someone else." I think back on that a lot, and then I look at all that the Lord has let me be a part of since that time, and how much I would have missed had I not said "yes" to Him. Someone else would have gotten to love on all my kids. Someone else would have gotten to walk through the journey in Midtown. Someone else would have gotten to experience all the great things I have been able to over the last few years. I am so glad I didn't give that gift to someone else!
We don't HAVE TO, we GET TO. That changes your perspective on everything.
"Gideon went up the caravan trail east of Nobah and Jogbehah, found and attacked the undefended camp. Zebah and Zalmunna fled, but he chased and captured the two kings of Midian. The whole camp had panicked. Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by way of the Heres Pass. He captured a young man from Succoth and asked some questions. The young man wrote down the names of the officials and leaders of Succoth, seventy-seven men. Then Gideon went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are the wild geese, Zebah and Zalmunna, you said I’d never catch. You wouldn’t give so much as a scrap of bread to my worn-out men; you taunted us, saying that we were on a fool’s errand.” Then he took the seventy-seven leaders of Succoth and thrashed them with desert thorns and thistles. And he demolished the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the city. He then addressed Zebah and Zalmunna: “Tell me about the men you killed at Tabor.” “They were men much like you,” they said, “each one like a king’s son.” Gideon said, “They were my brothers, my mother’s sons. As God lives, if you had let them live, I would let you live.” Then he spoke to Jether, his firstborn: “Get up and kill them.” But he couldn’t do it, couldn’t draw his sword. He was afraid—he was still just a boy. Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Do it yourself—if you’re man enough!” And Gideon did it. He stepped up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna. Then he took the crescents that hung on the necks of their camels." 8:10-21
Gideon did what he said he was going to. He moved forward, but he still came back and "thrashed them with thorns and thistles." I can't really understand why Gideon didn't just move forward without this punishment, being faithful to the Lord and letting the Lord handle the selfishness of the people. Even though the leaders in Succoth showed no respect for Gideon, or God, their punishment was not Gideon's responsibility.
Two things here:
1 - We should always leave the judgement and punishment up to God. Even when we think we have to right to do so.
2 - We should always help others because it is right, regardless of whether we will benefit personally from doing it.
It can get hard to serve the Lord, and serve people. There are very few times when I have been given anything back, from those that I give to. In my flesh, I feel like "Hey, what about me? I deserve at least a thank you, or something!" But then I remember who I am giving to. Not to the person, not to myself, I am giving in the name and in the honor of the Lord. And for ALL He has done for me, and continues to do, how could I be so selfish to think I am owed something in return.
a reasonable act of worship.
"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:1-2
I am learning how to give up being selfish, and grow into being sacred.
I just wonder......if the leaders in Succoth would have done the same......
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