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The night after Gideon had seen
the angel of the Lord, God spoke to him again. There was much for
Gideon to do, and he must not be idle; he must show all the idolatrous
people around him, that he loved and served the true God. God said
to him, "Take thy father's bullock, and throw down the altar of Baal
which they father has, and build an altar unto the Lord, and offer the
bullock in sacrifice upon it." Gideon's family all worshiped
Baal; they might be very angry if the idol altar was thrown down; perhaps
they might kill Gideon. Was he not afraid to obey God? No;
Gideon knew that he ought to fear God more than men. He knew that
God had promised to be with him, and that He had power to keep him safely
from all his enemies. So Gideon rose directly; he thought it best to
destroy Baal's altar in the night, because he feared the men of the city
might try to prevent him, if he waited till morning. He was right;
when we have work to do, we should always do it directly: the sooner
the better. When the people
rose next day, they wondered to see Baal's altar thrown down, and a new
altar to God ready built, and a bullock offered upon it. Then they
asked, "Who did all this?" and soon they heard that Gideon had
done it. He was not afraid to confess the truth; he was bold,
because he knew God was with him. But the people were all very angry
with Gideon, and they said to Joash, "Bring out thy son, that he may
die." Satan's people
have often tried to destroy God's people in all ages of the world, many
holy martyrs have suffered, because they would not worship idols, nor obey
the wicked commands of men. These faithful servants of God, like
Gideon, were not afraid to confess their belief in the true God.
They thought it better to obey God and die, than to disobey Him and
live. They trusted boldly in Him alone, and then they went to cruel,
painful deaths, peacefully and happily. But
was Gideon killed? No; God had given him work to do, and He helped
him to do it, and did not let his enemies hurt him. Joash was not
angry, but kind and gentle to his son; and he said that all who tried to
build again the altar of Baal, should be put to death, because Baal was a
vain idol, and could not save himself. All the Midianites and
Amalekites were now gathered together at Jezreel; but Gideon did not fear
them, because God's Spirit came upon him; and he blew a trumpet, and
called together a great many soldiers, and made them ready to fight.
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