28 Apr 2008

The story of Gideon was well known. 3 hundreds men routed the thouands men of Midean.

After the war, the story however was very different. Judges 8:23 Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”

Well said, not the actions that followed was wrong - 27 And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.

Further sad story comes after his death. 33 As soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god.

Moreover, one of his son Abimelech, killed Gideon other 70 sons.

By Gideon nature he was a weak fellow. Not a confident leader, but God lead him all the way. Because he knew waht he cannot do, he tested God and make sure God is with him. But soon after the war, when peace was all around, Gideon failed to seek God. He speech failed to equate with the actions and you don't see the word God anymore in the passage. Things god worse and worse, crumbling to a state a leader end should not be. Compare to the moment of death of Israel, where he bless his children and the forefathers when they make sure their children continue to know God.

In the same situation, Paster Chung Kai preach about not being disapoointed with God enough. We are not in a situation desperate enough to cry out to God and depend on Him. Worse still when we are out of the situation, we forget God. I pray, and want to rememeber God. In situation, when things seem fine, praise God. And when things is getting worse, depends on God. I pray for this dependency on God that I will contiune to reply on Him in every step that I take, that my feet are lead by Him and that my success is because of Him.

I pray for my family that they will continue to serve God and know God. I pray in particular for Josef that he will be well use by you. As for Deborah, let her come to know you in a early age.

As for Racahel, I pray that you continue to give her strength, God you handle the situation.

Give strength to my father. He is like Gideon who know how to need you when he is weak and when victory is gain, it became all about himself. I pray that he will be yolk through from knowing in his mind to knowing in his heart. That his speech and actions will reflect on his acknowledgment of Jesus.