Tues.’s Devo - God Delivers

Read: Judges 6:1-40; Luke 22:54-23:12; Psalm 95:1-96:13; Proverbs 14:5-6 The Israelites went into idolatry so God turned them over to the Midianites who were so cruel that the Israelites had to hide in the rocks for safety. Whenever they would plant their crops, the raiders from Midian, Amalek and the people of the east would attack and steal their harvest. They stripped the land bare like locusts. When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, he sent a prophet to tell them why all this was happening to them. Then God sent an angel to Gideon and told him he would be the one to lead the Israelites against the Midianites. Gideon objected to being the leader since he saw himself as poor and the least in his family. The Lord didn’t care about any of that, Gideon had found grace in God’s eyes. Gideon wanted to see a sign that this conversation was real and not just a dream or crazy vision. He went and brought a kid goat, unleavened bread and broth. (He had no wine.) The angel told him to lay it on a rock and then consumed it with fire. The angel then disappeared. Then the Lord talked to Gideon and he was listening. He told him to offer one of his father’s bulls on the altar, then offer his father’s bull that was seven years old (the same number of years they had been attacked by the Midianites). But, first he was to break apart the altar his father had to Baal and the Ashterah pole beside it. He was to use the wood of the pole for the sacrifice. The next morning, the people of the town realized what had happened and went to Gideon’s house to kill Gideon. Gideon’s father said to let Baal defend his own altar and kill Gideon himself. He saved Gideon’s life. Soon, the armies of Midian and Amalek returned to fight against Israel. The Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power and he blew the ram’s horn to call the people to arms. He also sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali to send warriors. They all responded. Gideon went to the Lord for another sign that he was going to help them defeat the Midianites. God gave him two signs. In Luke, Jesus was arrested and sent to the home of the high priest where he was given a mock trial. Peter had followed and was sitting outside in the courtyard by the fire. He was asked by three people if he knew Jesus and denied it all three times. When the rooster crowed he remembered the words of Jesus and wept bitterly. Inside the house, Jesus was beat and mocked. He was led before the Jewish council to give an answer for himself. They asked him if he was the Messiah and he told them that if he told them he was, they wouldn’t believe him. Then he told them that from now on the Son of Man would be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand. They got all upset that he was referring to himself as God’s son. They then took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. They accused Jesus of leading the Jewish people to not pay their taxes to Rome and claimed he was the Messiah and king. Pilate asked Jesus if this was true. Jesus said that he had said that. Pilate proclaimed that Jesus was innocent but the Jews became insistent. They claimed that Jesus caused riots wherever he went - all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem. When Pilate realized he could get out of this since those places were not in his jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod Antipas who was over Galilee. Herod had heard of Jesus and was glad to finally meet him. He had hoped to see a miracle. Herod was the one who had killed John the Baptist. Jesus refused to answer any of his questions. Herod’s soldiers joined the Jewish leaders in mocking Jesus. They put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate who had been enemies, became friends that day. (A picture of Satan’s demons joining together against Jesus.) Lord, help us to be courageous in our own battles against the enemy and his plans. Thank you that you are our strength and our redeemer.