by George Runyan | Jun 9, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Judges 7:22 – When they blew 300 trumpets, the Lord set the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army, and the army fled.
The seventh chapter of Judges is a wonderful example of the wisdom of the Holy Spirit as He directs Gideon and his 300 fellow Israelites fighting against Midian. The wisdom of God is certainly greater than the multitude of counselors that try to understand simply by means of their natural reasoning. God’s people must move by faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The Lord had Gideon send home thousands of his countrymen because there were too many for God to use. The scripture says that Midian’s army was like the “sand of the sea.” The natural man would have said “the more the better”, but the Spirit of God said, “I only need 300 to defeat the enemy.” READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 8, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Judges 7:2 – The Lord said to Gideon, The people are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’
What a powerful story of how God delivered His people from the control of Midian. God gave Midian into the hands of His people. The Spirit of God identified one of the largest issues we contend with, “pride.” It is so human for us to take the credit when we are successful, rather than giving God the glory due His holy name. As revealed here in the story of Gideon, God’s wisdom is given to cause His people to be faced with impossible situations by creating a scenario where only God can be glorified. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 7, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Judges 6:34 – So the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet.
After the angel of God had called Gideon, He gave him instructions to tear down the altar of Baal using his father’s bull. He was further instructed to take a second bull, seven years old and offer it as a sacrifice using the wood from Baal’s altar. Gideon did as he was instructed. Of course, this caused a great anger among the men of the city and they sought to kill Gideon. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and Gideon blew a trumpet to summon the men of Israel to battle.
Jesus was anointed with God’s Holy Spirit and power to destroy the works of the devil (Acts 10:38). Jesus, in turn, when raised from the dead and ascended to the Father’s right hand poured out the Holy Spirit on all who believed in Him. We, like Gideon of old, are called to “blow the trumpet” of God’s Word. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 6, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Judges 6:7 – Now it came about, when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord on account of Midian, that the Lord sent a prophet to the sons of Israel.
The prophet prophesied deliverance to the children of Israel. Gideon is the man that the Spirit of the Lord chose to deliver Israel. He did not look like a deliverer or sound like one either. When the angel of the Lord addressed Gideon, He said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior” (Judges 6:12). Gideon had “why” questions for the angel. Why has all this happened to us? Where are the miracles which our fathers told us about?
Again, we see when God’s people cried out to the Lord, the Lord responded. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 5, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Judges 5:31 – Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.
This verse is taken from the song of Deborah which covers the whole fifth chapter. It is her song of victory after defeating the Canaanites. The enemy had created problems for the work force in Israel. The highways were deserted and travelers went by roundabout ways. Society was in turmoil without security for tomorrow. When God’s people are serving the Lord and His purpose there are “pleasantries.” But when God’s people choose to serve the gods of this world, the pleasantries cease.
At the time of this writing, our nation has forsaken the Spirit of the living God and we are hurting in many areas, just as Israel was at that time. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 4, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Judges 3:15 – When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera.
We must always be vigilant when it comes to sin. The enemy is always waiting to lure us away from our relationship with the Lord. Israel had known the peace of God for forty years and then they reverted to idolatry. The Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.
The Lord will strengthen the enemy against us in order to bring us to repentance. Jesus covers this point in Matthew 18:31-35 when he tells the story of how a king dealt with an unforgiving servant who failed to forgive one that owed him a little compared to what he owed the king. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
