patriarchs and prophets-第142章
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plain。 They came as soon as the harvests began to ripen； and remained until
the last fruits of the earth had been gathered。 They stripped the fields of
their increase and robbed and maltreated the inhabitants and then returned
to the deserts。 Thus the Israelites dwelling in the open country were forced
to abandon their homes； and to congregate in walled towns； to seek refuge in
fortresses； or even to find shelter in caves and rocky fastnesses among the
mountains。 For seven years this oppression continued； and then； as the
people in their distress gave heed to the Lord's reproof； and confessed
their sins； God again raised up a helper for them。
Gideon was the son of Joash； of the tribe of Manasseh。 The division to which
this family belonged held no leading position； but the household of Joash
was distinguished for courage and integrity。 Of his brave sons it is said；
〃Each one resembled the children of a king。〃 All but one had fallen in the
struggles against the Midianites； and he had caused his name to be feared by
the invaders。 To Gideon came the divine call to deliver his people。 He was
engaged at the time in threshing wheat。 A small quantity of grain had been
concealed； and not daring to beat it out on the ordinary threshing floor； he
had resorted to a spot near the winepress； for the season of ripe grapes
being still far off； little notice was now taken of the vineyards。 As Gideon
labored in secrecy and silence； he sadly pondered upon the condition of
Israel and considered how the oppressor's yoke might be broken from off his
people。
Suddenly the 〃Angel of the Lord〃 appeared and addressed him with the words；
〃Jehovah is with thee； thou mighty man of valor。〃
〃O my Lord；〃 was his answer； 〃if the Lord be with us； why then is all this
befallen us？ and where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of；
saying； Did not the Lord bring us up from
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Egypt？ but now the Lord hath forsaken us； and delivered us into the hands of
the Midianites。〃
The Messenger of heaven replied； 〃Go in this thy might； and thou shalt save
Israel from the hand of the Midianites： have not I sent thee？〃
Gideon desired some token that the one now addressing him was the Covenant
Angel； who in time past had wrought for Israel。 Angels of God； who communed
with Abraham； had once tarried to share his hospitality； and Gideon now
entreated the divine Messenger to remain as his guest。 Hastening to his
tent； he prepared from his scanty store a kid and unleavened cakes； which he
brought forth and set before Him。 But the Angel bade him； 〃Take the flesh
and the unleavened cakes； and lay them upon this rock； and pour out the
broth。〃 Gideon did so； and then the sign which he had desired was given：
with the staff in His hand； the Angel touched the flesh and the unleavened
cakes； and a flame bursting from the rock consumed the sacrifice。 Then the
Angel vanished from his sight。
Gideon's father； Joash； who shared in the apostasy of his countrymen； had
erected at Ophrah； where he dwelt； a large altar to Baal； at which the
people of the town worshiped。 Gideon was commanded to destroy this altar and
to erect an altar to Jehovah over the rock on which the offering had been
consumed； and there to present a sacrifice to the Lord。 The offering of
sacrifice to God had been committed to the priests； and had been restricted
to the altar at Shiloh； but He who had established the ritual service； and
to whom all its offerings pointed； had power to change its requirements。 The
deliverance of Israel was to be preceded by a solemn protest against the
worship of Baal。 Gideon must declare war upon idolatry before going out to
battle with the enemies of his people。
The divine direction was faithfully carried out。 Knowing that he would be
opposed if it were attempted openly； Gideon performed the work in secret；
with the aid of his servants； accomplishing the whole in one night。 Great
was the rage of the men of Ophrah when they came next morning to pay their
devotions to Baal。 They would have taken Gideon's life had not Joashwho
had been told of the Angel's visitstood in defense of his son。 〃Will ye
plead for Baal？〃 said Joash。 〃Will ye save him？ he that will plead for him；
let him be put to death whilst it is yet
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morning： if he be a god； let him plead for himself； because one hath cast
down his altar。〃 If Baal could not defend his own altar； how could he be
trusted to protect his worshipers？
All thoughts of violence toward Gideon were dismissed； and when he sounded
the trumpet of war； the men of Ophrah were among the first to gather to his
standard。 Heralds were dispatched to his own tribe of Manasseh； and also to
Asher； Zebulum； and Naphthali； and all answered to the call。
Gideon dared not place himself at the head of the army without still further
evidence that God had called him to his work； and that He would be with him。
He prayed； 〃If Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand； as Thou hast said；
behold； I will put a fleece of wool in the floor； and if the dew be on the
fleece only； and it be dry upon all the earth besides； then shall I know
that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand； as Thou hast said。〃 In the morning
the fleece was wet； while the ground was dry。 But now a doubt arose； since
wool naturally absorbs moisture when there is any in the air； the test might
not be decisive。 Hence he asked that the sign be reversed； pleading that his
extreme caution might not displease the Lord。 His request was granted。
Thus encouraged； Gideon led out his forces to give battle to the invaders。
〃All the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were
gathered together； and went over； and pitched in the valley of Jezreel。〃 The
entire force under Gideon's command numbered only thirty…two thousand men；
but with the vast host of the enemy spread out before him； the word of the
Lord came to him： 〃The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give
the Midianites into their hands； lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me；
saying； Mine own hand hath saved me。 Now therefore go to； proclaim in the
ears of the people； saying； Whosoever is fearful and afraid； let him return
and depart early from Mount Gilead。〃 Those who were unwilling to face danger
and hardships； or whose worldly interests would draw their hearts from the
work of God； would add no strength to the armies of Israel。 Their presence
would prove only a cause of weakness。
It had been made a law in Israel that before they went to battle the
following proclamation should be made throughout the army： 〃What man is
there that hath built a new house； and hath not dedicated it？ let him go and
return to his house； lest he die in the battle； and another man dedicate it。
And what man
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is he that hath planted a vineyard； and hath not yet eaten of it？ let him
also go and return unto his house； lest he die in the battle； and another
man eat of it。 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife； and hath
not taken her？ let him go and return unto his house； lest he die in the
battle； and another man take her。〃 And the officers were to speak further to
the people； saying； 〃What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted？ let
him go and return unto his house； lest his brethren's heart faint as well as
his heart。〃 Deuteronomy 20：5…8。
Because his numbers were so few compared with those of the enemy； Gideon had
refrained from making the usual proclamation。 He was filled with
astonishment at the declaration that his army was too large。 But the Lord
saw the pride and unbelief existing in the hearts of His people。 Aroused by
the stirring appeals of Gideon； they had readily enlisted； but many were
filled with fear when they saw the multitudes of the Midianites。 Yet； had
Israel triumphed； those very ones would have taken the glory to themselves
instead of ascribing the victory to God。
Gideon obeyed the Lord's direction； and with a heavy heart he saw twenty…two
thousand； or more than two thirds of his entire force； depart for their
homes。 Again the word of the Lord
