Learn From Gideon, 47

~ Strive To Finish Well ~

The Biblical account of the life of Gideon provides for one of the most interesting character studies in all of Scripture.  In this series we will discover practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Scripture  ~  “Then Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.  Gideon had 70 sons who were his own offspring, for he had many wives.  And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.  Now Gideon the son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”  (Judges 8:29-32)

Learn From Gideon  ~  We come to a negative lesson from Gideon. 

1. Strive to finish well—Gideon didn’t finish well!
2. Following a great spiritual victory and celebration (“Gideon made an ephod from Midianite gold”) the people and Gideon departed from God’s ways (the ephod “became an idol to his people.  He also took a foreigner for a concubine, fathering a son [Abimelech] who turned evil”).
3. Gideon we learn took many wives, at least one concubine, and had a child through a concubine.  That child, Abimelech, murdered all 70 of his half-brothers.  Abimelech died in battle following sinful and short reign. 

Challenge For Us  ~  Are you continuing on regardless of circumstances and consequences?  Are you going to finish strong?

concluding comment  ~  We learn about Gideon primarily from Judges 6-8, but also Isaiah 9:1-7, and Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-34.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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