GIDEON: GENERATIONAL AFTERMATH OF VICTORY
Judges 7.26 – 10.2
We Need A Better Savior – Part 8
7.23–24 “… the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian. Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, ‘Come down against the Midianites …’” (esv)
VICTORY WASTED: Prosperity IS MORE REVEALING THAN Adversity
Proverbs 27.21 “… man is tested by the praise he receives.” (niv)
- Ephraim – 8.1 “… they accused him fiercely.” (esv)
8.3 “‘What have I been able to do in comparison with you?’ Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.” (esv)
Succoth & Penuel – 8.7 “I will flail your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.” (esv)
- Zebah & Zalmunna – 8.18 “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?”
8.19 “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother!” (csb)
- Ephods & Wives – 8.22 “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” (esv)
8.27 “… Gideon made an ephod … and put it in his city … all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.” (esv)
8.30 “Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives.” (esv)
VICTORY INVERTED: Internal Vanity IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN External Enemies
9.5 “… [Abimelech] killed his brothers … seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son … was left, for he hid himself.” (esv)
- Jotham’s Curse –
- Shechem & Thebez –
9.53 “… a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.” (esv)
9.56–57 “Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech … Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads …” (nas)
Galatians 6.7 “Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap …” (csb)
VICTORY RECOVERED: God’s Fidelity IS MORE RESILIENT THAN Our Piety
10.1 “After the time of Abimelech a man of Issachar, Tola … rose to save Israel.” (niv)