One quarter of the way through the Bible today. Yay! Today we hear about little Gideon’s hour of glory.
Gideon’s army reduced
Judges 7:1-8
Gideon encouraged
Judges 7:9-15
The defeat of the Midianites
Judges 7:16-22
The Ephraimites take Oreb & Zeeb
Judges 7:23-25
Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites
Judges 8:1-3
Succoth and Penuel are punished
Judges 8:4-17
Gideon avenges his brethren
Judges 8: 18-21
Gideon gives occasion for idolatry
Judges 8:22-30
Birth of Abimelech
Judges 8:31
Gideon’s death
Judges 8:32-35
Abimelech made king
Judges 9:1-6
The unusual aspect of Gideon’s army is going to be its small size. “Too many people!” God keeps saying, “send them home!” Eventually he ends up with an army less than 2% the size he started with, only 300 men. Finally God lets him fight with this tiny number, and throws the Midianites into confusion.
Gideon is covered in glory, and although he resists being made into a king, he nevertheless slips up by allowing an object of worship to be made - a golden ephod. A little like the golden calf? Why didn’t he rebuke people for what they did? Perhaps he enjoyed the reflected glory.
One of his sons wanted that glory for himself, and after his father’s death, even got himself set up as king. I foresee trouble tomorrow!
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