Barley in the Bible, part 22
We left off in the previous installment at the point where Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress. That is weird! Normally, one threshes grain crops on a threshing floor.
But at this stage in the history of ancient Israel, the land has been invaded by aliens who are so numerous that they are described as swarms of locusts or grasshoppers.
They overwhelm the Israelites to the point where they (the aliens) were, in effect, ruling over Israel. We know that because they are demanding and confiscating a large portion of the fruit of the labor of the Israelites. This is a close parallel to Christian-Israel in America today.
Truthful news sources have been reporting in recent weeks on the vast number (billions of dollars) that are being stolen from American taxpayers via various schemes such as fake daycare centers, fake autism care facilities, fake senior care centers, fake transportation companies which fake transporting fake patients on Medicare/Medicaid to fake clinics, all of which fake businesses bill the state government, which is supplied with the money by the federal government.
Oh, and that $9 billion of fraud uncovered thus far is just in the Minneapolis area, mostly (90%) of it emanating from the Somali community, represented in Congress by the America- and Constitution-hating, Somali-born immigrant (perhaps fraudulently in America) “squad” member, Ilhan Omar.
Funny, how approximately a year ago, her net worth was a tad over $50k, and in one year it increased to the $30 million range! How does that happen—lawfully?
Back to Gideon who was threshing his grain in a winepress to hide it from the alien thieves. We resume the story.
Judges 6:12 And the angel of the LORD (Yahweh) appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD (Yahweh) is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
Now picture this scene. There is Gideon, down in the wine press. He is keeping is eyes peeled for the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east so that when they come to collect his wheat for taxes, he can get at least a portion of his wheat hidden so that he can avoid paying those excessive taxes which would leave him and his family impoverished.
Suddenly, this angel of Yahweh appears to Gideon, and the angel-messenger says to Gideon: “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor.” And Gideon looks up a bit startled and Gideon says, “Huh, are you talking to me?”
At this point we might say that Giddy had low self-esteem, as evidenced by the ensuing conversation.
Judges 6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD (Yahweh) be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD (Yahweh) bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD (Yahweh) hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14 And the LORD (Yahweh) looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
Now when Gideon is told “go in this thy might,” what was the “might,” or what was Gideon’s strength or power that was going to help him save Israel from the Midianites? By this strength or power—whatever it was—he would be enabled to save Israel.
Well, I believe it is what we just read in the previous verse. It was the knowledge that the bondage that Israel was in was God’s doing because Gideon said, “but now Yahweh has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”
Gideon had a correct understanding of the underlying reasons why his people were in the woeful predicament. He understood that God had forsaken them because of disobedience and that the aliens were a judgment from God. God had brought the aliens into the land.
That knowledge and understanding was the strength that the angel was referring to when he said, Go in this thy strength or thy might and you will save Israel.
15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
In other words, Gideon is looking at the resources he has available (from a carnal perspective), and he pleads that he is not the guy to do the job.
Here again is a reluctant individual who is going to be used by God. It reminds us of others whom God chose for great works. Recall the first reaction of Moses, you know, God, I… I… I stutter. I… I… uh, You… You don’t want to use m… m… me, Lord.
Or recall when God called Jeremiah. He was reluctant also. He claimed his youth as an excuse. You know, Lord, I’m just too young. I don’t think I can handle this job. No, Lord, you don’t want to use me.
Similarly, Gideon protests. Well I’m just the … I’m the least in my father’s house, and our family… well, we’re the poorest family in the whole tribe of Manasseh. Why me, Lord?
16 And the LORD (Yahweh) said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
Notice that both in this verse and back in verse 14 that this angel is identified as Yahweh Himself, or as theologians would say, this is a theophany, a manifestation of the pre-incarnate Christ.
But I think it is logical and likely that this angel (Yahweh Himself) had throttled down or diminished His divine glory and essence to the point where to Gideon, He looked pretty much like an ordinary man. Oh, except for that popping up out of nowhere stunt to chat with Giddy in the winepress.
Gideon by this time knew this “fella” was not one of his neighbors, but Someone very special; so he simultaneously humbles himself in submission while asking for some “ID,” i.e., proof that the “angel” is truly divine.
17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
Many people think that Gideon asking for a sign here was an indication of weakness or vacillation on his part, but I think he was acting appropriately. Consider how we are taught to verify the identity of some one or some entity.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
It is likely that Gideon was just wanting to put this being to the test and see if this “angel” was legitimate and was truly who He claimed to be. Gideon want to verify whether “this is really God speaking to me.”
I mean, when you try to put yourself in his place, that’s a pretty weighty situation. “This angel tells me that I—little ol’ me—that I am going to deliver our entire nation from these millions of illegal aliens. You gotta be kiddin’ me… but then, I have to admit, He sure sounds authentic. I need to test Him to see if He’s for real.”
So Gideon suddenly remembers that he forgot his manners, and that he has not offered the stranger any food, so he asks the stranger to remain while he goes to prepare a meal.
18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
We are not told how long it took him but considering the menu, and the travel time back to the house and back to the winepress (which probably was nearby), but still, it might have taken a good hour or two to do all this:
19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
21 Then the angel of the LORD (Yahweh) put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD (Yahweh) departed out of his sight.
Whoa! The angel touches the meat and the cakes and fire came up out of the rock and apparently disintegrated the dinner. And then the angel disappears. Did He just walk away, or did He simply vanish? Poof! And He was gone? Now, that made a deep impression on Giddy and one would think he was fully on board with the divine program at that point, right? (Well, not quite, as we shall see next time.)
22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD (Yahweh), Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD (Yahweh)! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD (Yahweh) face to face.
23 And the LORD (Yahweh) said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
(To be continued.)
~END~
