Sun.’s Devo - The Spotless Lamb

Read: Judges 7:1-17; Luke 23:13-43; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 14:7-8 Gideon’s name given by the people was Jerub-babel which means “Baal will be contended with”. Gideon was sent by God to contend with the worship of Baal. The Moabites worshiped Baal and had oppressed Israel for 7 years. They now camped in the valley of Moreh and Gideon had gathered 31,000 men to fight them. God told Gideon he had too many because when He gave them the victory, they would think they had done it in their own strength. Gideon told all the men who were afraid of fighting to go home and 22,000 took him up on it. That left 10,000 which was still too many. So, Gideon took them to the stream to drink water and only chose the 300 who stayed on their knees and brought the water to their mouths. These men knew the importance of being able to get up quickly to fight and not be caught lying down lapping like a dog. *** Gideon took these men to camp close to the valley they were going to fight in. That night, God told Gideon if he had any fear about the next day, he should go down to their camp and listen. He took his servant Purah with him. They saw the hoard of enemies spread out like locusts. *** When they got close, they heard a man telling his friends his dream. He had dreamed that a loaf of barley that tumbled down into their camp and knocked it flat. His friend interpreted his dream to mean that Gideon would have victory over them the next day. That was all Gideon needed. *** He went back and divided his men into three groups. He gave them a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it. He gave them instructions. Just after midnight they surrounded the enemy camp. His group sounded their horns and broke their jars, then the other groups did the same. Then they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” Then they just stood and watched. It woke the enemy up out a dead sleep, scared them to death then shone light on them. Scared and confused, fought each other. The ones who tried to escape were chased down. *** Gideon sent news to the tribes these warriors were running towards and they got their army to cut them off. The men of Ephraim captured Oreb and Zeeb who were the Midianites two commanders. Their names meant “a wolf” and “a raven”. They brought their heads to Gideon. *** Gideon and his 300 warriors took off after the two kings of Midian who were Zebah and Zalmunah. Gideon’s army was getting very hungry and stopped at Succoth to ask for some food, but they said they would only give them food after they had captured the two kings. Gideon promised to whip them with thorns when he returned. *** Gideon then went to Peniel asking for food and got the same answer. He promised he would return and tear down their tower. *** Gideon and his army continued and captured the two kings and all their warriors. Then he came back to Succoth and Peniel and did what he promised. He beat the 77 officials in the town of Succoth and tore down the tower and killed all the men in Peniel. *** By following the Lord and not leaning to their own understanding - because clearly God’s way did not make sense to the natural mind, Gideon was able to kill 120,000 not counting the ones who killed themselves. God got the victory! *** Pilate met with the Jewish leaders and explained that neither he nor Pilate found any fault in Jesus. Jesus was the spotless lamb. Pilate planned to flog him and release him. The crowd roared that they wanted Barabbas released instead. He was probably the most notorious prisoner in his care. Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus and they cried, “Crucify him!” *** Three times, Pilate tried to set Jesus free because he knew he was innocent. But they mob got louder and louder. For fear of a riot, Pilate released Jesus to them to do their evil deed. *** As they led Jesus away, they grabbed Simon, an innocent man who was coming to town from the country and made him carry Jesus’ cross. Women followed Jesus crying loudly. Jesus told them not to weep for him, but for their posterity because if they would do this to him, what will they do to his followers when he is gone. *** Two other criminals were marched out with Jesus to be buried on each side. Jesus prayed that God would forgive his murderers because they didn’t understand what they were doing. The soldiers gambled for his clothes just like Psalm 22 foretold. The crowd and the man mocked him and hung a sign that said, “This is the King of the Jews.” Even one of the criminals hanging with him mocked him, but the other one rebuked him saying they were dying for their sin but Jesus didn’t deserved to die because he was innocent. He asked Jesus to remember him when he came to his kingdom. This man clearly got the message Jesus came to give. Jesus assured him that he would be with him in his kingdom. What a picture of redemption! *** Lord, thank you for dying for the sins of all the world. May many eyes wake up to your salvation and may we be carriers of the Good News.