From: April 28, 2024
‘Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”’ (Judges 8:23 ESV).
Gideon, the hesitant judge, would not be coaxed into being king. He recognized that it was the Lord, and not the people, who had called him to be a judge and lead Israel against the Midianites. Therefore, he did not recognize the people’s authority to name him king and rightly refused. He overcame the temptation to accept power that did not belong to him.
However, in this moment of victory over the Midianites and victory over temptation to power, he made the mistake of allowing the spoils of victory to become a snare to him. For the golden earrings that he requested from each of his warrior’s share of the spoils became like the golden calf to him and all of Israel. Gideon stepped over the snare of power only to become entangled in the snare of riches and idolatry.
And so we must pray as the Lord Jesus taught us, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13). For even in our best moments we are still vulnerable to sin. None of us are immune to every temptation. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray as our Lord taught us. Lead us not into temptation. For we are often weak and blind to its snare. And if we are tempted, strengthen us and show us a way of escape as You have promised (1 Cor. 10:13). In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: April 28, 2023
‘When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem! Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!”‘ (Judges 9:7 NLT).
Jotham was the only surviving son of Gideon. All of his brothers had been murdered by their half-brother, Abimelech. Jotham had barely escaped with his life. Abimelech had conspired with his mother’s family who lived in the town of Shechem.
Afterwards, the citizens of Shechem made him their king. When Jotham heard about their treachery, he climbed Mount Gerizim to call down God’s judgment on the inhabitants of Shechem and the murderer, Abimelech.
Surely, the irony of the location would not have been lost on the citizens of Shechem. For Shechem lay in the valley between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, the two mountains where Moses had instructed the people to divide into two groups and shout the blessings and the curses from God’s law (See Deut. 11:29, 27:12, Joshua 8:33). The significance of hearing Jotham shouting God’s judgment down on them from Mount Gerizim would have been evident. Never mind the fact that Shechem had been set apart to be a “city of refuge” (Joshua 21:21), a place where convicted murderers were not to be protected.
It had been in Shechem that Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel saying, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). Yet now years later, the people of Shechem had chosen the murderer Abimelech as their king. And the judgment called down from Mount Gerizim would soon come upon them.
Shechem had chosen to go against God’s law and against the very calling of their city as a place of refuge. They did this with full knowledge, so that they were without excuse.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for forgiving our sins through Jesus, our Refuge. For He alone is able to save. You have rescued us from the curse of sin and have blessed us with your righteousness and eternal life. Shechem cannot live up to its calling. But You, Lord Jesus, have surely lived up to Yours! Thank you for saving us and adopting us as children of God. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: April 28, 2016
After the Sabbath, several women went early in the morning to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body. On the way, they worried about who might move the large stone, so they could gain entrance (Mark 16:3). Yet, when they arrived at the tomb they were surprised to find that the stone was already rolled away. Matthew’s gospel reported that an angel had moved the stone (Matt.28:2). But why? Did the Lord need help getting out? Certainly not. He that could overcome death and the grave needed no help moving a stone. Besides, as John’s gospel reported, the resurrected Jesus had no need of doors anymore (John 20:19). No, the stone wasn’t moved for Jesus. It was moved for the women. It was moved, so that they might bear witness to the empty tomb. God moved the stone that they might believe that Jesus was risen just as He said.
From: April 28, 2015
The curtain that separated the holy of holies in the Jewish temple was torn open when Jesus died. Only the high priest was allowed to go behind the curtain on the Day of Atonement. But now, Jesus has become our Great High Priest, opening up the way for all who are in Him to have access to the Father. And so, we can approach God with confidence, praying in the Name of Jesus, for the curtain that separated sinful man from a holy God has been removed.