Date: 04-05-25
Preacher: Ps Lorena Tsai
Title: Gideon – The rise and fall of life
Gideon – The rise and fall of life
I must pay tribute to Ps Lorena’s title for, after naming Gideon as the biblical figure she would use in this morning’s message, she used a generic term ‘the rise and fall of life’ which I feel is most apt as she was targeting the lives of all believers and not just Gideon’s alone. It was a most balanced message and knowing what a thick-necked people we all are, all of us must take heed.
Ps Lorena started by giving the background of Gideon and then went on to share how he was called upon by God to carry out His task of defeating the Midianites who were oppressing the Israelites. Of course, Gideon had his doubts initially but when he stepped up to the plate, God was able to use him mightily.
Gideon also wanted confirmation from God in his prayers that He had really appointed him. God left him in no doubt. In fact, God only wanted him to bring an army of only 300 men against an army many times Gideon’s and if you were to read how God helped him in the book of Judges, you would understand why only 300 men were needed.
Gideon destroyed the idols of his town after his calling, but soon after his victory he had forgotten God and erected idols himself. In fact, he did the following:
- Let his eldest son kill the 2nd King of Midianites
- Ask for people to offer their loot from the war
- Made an ephod to worship
- Had many wives and sons
- Named his son Abimelek
These were the things that turned the Israelites against God in the first place and incurred His wrath to subject the Israelites to suffer under the Midianites.
Ps Lorena cautioned the congregation to see through the schemes of the devil each time when we do things for God. She shared that whenever she heard her members do outreach to bring a couple to Christ, the couple would quarrel before the members reached their home. She would smile knowingly that it is the devil’s scheme of things but still we must persevere.
Let us do right for God and His blessings will not stop with us but for generations to come.
