January 8, 2022

Passage Read: Judges 6-9
Meditation Verses: 9:55-57

Thought

Gideon risked his life and saved the Israelites from the Midianites. They wanted to make him king, but he refused. Yet still, he judged Israel and his sons apparently judged Israel after him. Until the son of his concubine plotted against his brothers and killed all but the youngest. And God allowed all this to happen. He didn't stop it; He didn't keep Gideon's sons from being killed. He allowed Abimelech to wipe out almost all of Gideon's sons. God did bring the curse of Jotham upon Abimelech and the people of Shechem.

Application

God allows wicked men to do evil things, and so confirm their condemnation. Those "innocents" killed by wicked men are not all that innocent, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). Neither are those killed in such brutal or unexpected ways more evil than those who remain alive. We are not owed a lifetime, but it is urgent to make peace with God as quickly as possible. We do not know the length of our days and must never assume we have all the time in the world to serve the Lord and bring Him glory. I really need to learn to take every opportunity given me, and to go and make more opportunities to serve the Lord.