Bible Answer, 72

~ Did You Get It Right? ~

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~~~~ bible answer ~~~~

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question:  Which Bible character broke 300 pitchers? 

answer:  Gideon and his men.

“And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped.  He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, ‘Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.’  Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers.  And he said to them, ‘Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: when I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!”’  So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.  Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers — they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing — and they cried, ‘The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!’  And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled.  When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath” (Judges 7:15-22). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Learn From Gideon, 52of52

~ Cause And Effect ~

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 have discovered practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Summary  ~  God rewards our behavior—good and bad.  From an eternal perspective we are all headed to judgement and hell.  But the Beloved Son of God gave His life as payment for our sins—but forgiveness of an individual’s sins only comes when they accept by faith the reality of Scripture.

“God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10). 

Learn From Gideon  ~  Nations and individuals eventually reap what they sow.

1. There is a general principle which stands out in the life of Gideon: God wants obedience and God is faithful to those who are obedient.
2. We trust God by faith—and in so doing receive salvation by God’s grace.
3. Having trusted God He works in and through us.
4. As God works in us we do good works (not to earn salvation but as a result of salvation). 
5. We reap what we sow.  “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8). 
6. Gideon started out as a spiritual coward but God used him as a mighty warrior.
7. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “He who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” 

Challenge For Us  ~  What are you sowing for eternity?  There are no U-Hauls in heaven.  What eternal treasure are you laying up in heaven?

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

NOTE:  We now resume our “Fear God” series after skipping 2018 with a “Learn from Gideon” 52-week series.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Learn From Gideon, 51

~ Gideon Entered The Hall of Faith ~

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 are discovering practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Scripture  ~  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  …  “And what more shall I say?  For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-34)

Learn From Gideon  ~  God calls and God rewards.

1. Gideon was faithful to what God called him to do.  It was not always easy.
1. Gideon was a very human hero.
2. He was a very reluctant warrior.
3. Gideon was a doubter who was strengthened by His God.  God can raise up a doubter for great kingdom work.
4. Gideon had to learn that his strength came from God—not the size of his army.  God reduced his massive army to “a few good men” (300).  In the process he had to trust God to downsize his army multiple times.
2. God looks beyond the way we are and sees what we can become. 
3. Even after being called by God Gideon continued to make excuses and question God.
4. Because of a growing faith and trust Gideon became courageous. 
5. Even though Gideon failed at times Gideon is listed in God’s “Hall of Fame” or more accurately God’s “Hall of Faith.” In fact, he is listed before King David.
6. Life on earth is preparation time for reigning time. 

Challenge For Us  ~  Are you fulfilling your calling? 

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

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .