Leaders in the Covenant Community

On September 13, we will be discussing Gideon, "An Unexpected Leader" (Judges 6:1-3, 7-14). The Israelites had promises Joshua that they would serve God, who had delivered them from Egypt, provided and taken care of them and gave them the "Promised Land." After Joshua 's death, they began to worship other gods and following their own desires, which caused God to withdraw His hedge of divine protection from them. Then, Israel suffered at the hands of the Midianites. After seven years of losing their crops, battles,and everything, they cried out to the Lord. The Lord heard their cry, sent a prophet to pointed out how they were not keeping their Covenent with Him-to love Him with all their heart, soul and mind. An angel of the Lord came to Gideon, who later reveal Himself as the Lord God, while he was at the winepress threshing wheat. Although, Gideon's self confidence and expectations of himself may have been low, the angel addressed him as a mighty man of valour. Gideon was commissioned to deliver Israel from their enemies, through divine enablement and endowed power from on High. We must love God. In John 14:15, Jesus reminds us that love equals obedience.