Day 58 - God Saves the People!

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"Gideon thanks God for the Miracle of the Dew", painting by Maarten van Heemskerck (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg)
2024 Read the Bible in a Year February 27, 2024

Readings for Today: Judges 6:1-8:35

Day 58 - God saves the people!

Illustrative overview of Judges


Prayer:

When your Son lived on the earth he gathered the children into his arms and rejoiced in the simplicity of their faith.


Give us such faith, that we who are bowed down by doubts and fears we know, deep in our hearts, the truth of your love, and like the children be ready to accept the wonder and mystery of faith without seeking always to understand.


Amen.

Pat Robson, A Celtic Liturgy, Prayers of Intercession, page 78, © 2008, ISBN 978-0-281-06096-2 


Reflection:

The people lived in the land the God had given them and began to worship local gods (Baal) other than God. They did evil in God’s sight and by forgetting God, God handed them over to the rulers of Midian and the people of Israel under their dominion for several years.


The people cry for help and God talks with Gideon to bring back the people to the faith and eliminate the Midians. Wikipedia has a good overview of the commissioning of Gideon and the war that takes place and how God won the battle for them. Gideon is one of the Judges that help rule the Israelites.


The conversation between God and Gideon goes back and forth where God makes demands - Gideon fulfills them - Gideon wants proof God is with him and God does what Gideon asks. It is very interesting the relationship and conversation they have together through this crisis that leads to the restoration of the people. The account is a very detailed saga in action -reaction- and more action.


God gives victory through Gideon to the people in order to win them back to faith and belief. The people want to make Gideon king,he declines, and lives to a ripe old age.


The last paragraph of this reading, says that as soon as Gideon dies the Israelities revert back to the worship of Baal.  So sad.


Thought of the Day:

God is willing to fight for you and bring you back in order to have a relationship with you. We know this through the one called Jesus.


Tomorrow's Readings: Judges 9:1 - 12:15


First Quarter Readings


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2024 Read the Bible in a Year is a featured Bible Study to inspire spirituality. This plan has been used on The Bible in Time blog site in the past and now includes new material and reflections.

By Dave Eitland. Free for faith community use. Thanks, Katheryn for the editorial help. This was published on February 26,2024, in Oregon, USA.

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