Sermon notes:
When Israel called upon the Lord because of the Midianite opression, God sent a prophet to Israel. He declares to them why they are being opressed. He is sent to tell them he cause of their opression. They were disobedient to the God who redeemed them.
Israel wondered why are we not experiencing God’s blessing and crying out, “ O, where is the Lord in all of this?” Unlike the previous times the Lord delivered his people he first sends a prophet to declare their guilt before Him. Israel did not obey. Israel wanted to be dileverd, but did not understand the cause of their current circumstances.
Then the scene shifts to the calling of Gideon. The Angel of the Lord apperas to ideon as he is hiding from the Midianites, secretly beating out the winepress. The angel adresses him as a “Mighty man of Valour.” Adressing him not according to his present state, but rather in terms of his great calling.
We see here how God raises up a deliverer for Israel. Israel is not aware of what the Lord is doing at this time, God had set out to discipline and deliver his people. They do not need to know every detail of God’s plan, in order for God to suceed.
God promises to be with Gideon, in his calling as Israel’s deliverer. Gideon seeks confirmation of this calling, and when the Lord appears, Gideon is terrified. Gideon’s response is appropriate, since God is Holy and a consuming fire.
The wonder for Gideon is that the God who is a consuming fire, declares peace with Gideon. God encourages him that he is with him and gives him his first task.
0 Comments