Under Gods Command
Proverbs 12:16 A fool show his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
When someone annoys or insults you, it is natural to retaliate. But this solves nothing and only encourages trouble. Instead, answer slowly and quietly. Your positive response will achieve positive results. Remember Proverbs 15:01: A gentle answer turns away wrath.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 11:27 He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
What are your goals? What is your reputation? How does your life affect others? If the answer to all three questions is doing good and helping others, you will obtain the blessed favor of God and men. If the answer is to serve yourself and cause trouble for others, then certain punishment is coming from God and men.
This proverb offers blessing or trouble. Which will you choose? The key is how you treat others. If you are good to men, you will be blessed. David and Peter wrote, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no deviousness: Let him avoid evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”.
If you are selfish or hurtful to others, if you are critical or negative, if you are bitter or envious, or if you sow discord or irritate others, then you are in for a painful and troubled life. It is that simple. As the saying declares, “What goes around comes around
Under Gods Command
Gideon
Judges 8:22-23 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us – you, your son and your grandson – because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.” But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.”
The people wanted to make Gideon their King but Gideon stressed that the LORD was to rule over them. Despite his inconsistencies, Gideon never lost sight of the importance for both a nation and an individual of putting God first.
Let’s Bring It Home: Is God first in your life? If he is, he must affect every dimension of your life not just what you do in church.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 28:09 – If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law even his prayers are detestable.
God does not listen to our prayers if we intend to go back to our sin as soon as we get off our knees. If we want to forsake our sin and follow him, however, he willingly listens-no matter how bad our sin has been. What closes his ears is not the depth of our sin, but our secret intention to do it again. God hears our intentions as clearly as he hears our words.
Under Gods Command
Gideon
Judges 8:4-9 Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. He said to the men of Succoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” But the officials of Succoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Whey should we give bread to your troops?” Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.” From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Succoth had. So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”
The leaders of Succoth and Peniel refused to help Gideon, probably fearing Midian’s revenge should he fail (Gideon’s army was 300 men chasing 15,000). They should have realized that victory was certain because God was with Gideon. But they were so worried about saving themselves that they never thought about God’s power to save.
Lets bring it home: Because of fear for ourselves, we may not recognize God’s presence in other people and therefore miss God’s victory. Then we must face the often bitter consequences of failing to join forces with those God has chosen to do his work. Because God will prevail with or without you, be quick to join others who are engaged in his work. Lend support with your time, money, talents, and prayer.
Under Gods Command
Gideon defeats the Midianites
Judges 7:21 When each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
Gideon’s warriors simply watched as the army of Midian fell into panic, confusion, and disordered retreat. Not one man had to draw a sword to defeat the enemy. Gideon’s small army could never have brought about such a victory in its own strength. God wanted to demonstrate to Israel that victory depends not on strength or numbers, but on obedience and commitment to him.
Remember in Chapter 6:12 When right from the start God called Gideon a mighty warrior. God told Gideon to go save Israel out of the Midian’s hand, and its He who is sending you. Gideon said, how can he save Israel, his clan was the weakest in Manasseh, and he was the least of his family. But the LORD assured him that He would be with him. Gideon failed to see how God could work through him. Notice how God uses the least to shame the great.
Lets bring it home: God is with us today, and we got to move and go forth as a mighty warrior for Christ. We can’t sit back and keep questioning God, when he tells us in his word that
I will never leave you or forsake you, I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me, No weapon form against you will prosper and what can man do to me. We got to stay in his word and be obedient to his commands, not just on the outside, but the inside.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 25:21-22 – If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
God’s form of retaliation is most effective and yet difficult to do. Paul quotes this proverb in Romans 12:19-21. In Mathew 5:44, Jesus encourages us to pray for those who hurt us. By returning good for evil, we are acknowledging God as the balancer of all accounts and trusting him to be the judge.
Under Gods Command
Gideon defeats the Midianites
Judges 7:09-11 During the night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. “If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp”. So he and Purah his servant went down to the outpost of the camp.
Facing overwhelming odds, Gideon was afraid. God understood his fear, but he didn’t excuse Gideon from his task. Instead he allowed Gideon to slip into the enemy camp and over-hear a conversation that would give him courage.
Lets Bring it home: Are you facing a battle with internal or external foes that have defeated you in the past or appear invincible today? God can give you the strength you need for any situation. And don’t be startled by the way he helps you. Like Gideon, you must listen to God and be ready to take the first step. Only after you begin to obey God will you find the courage to move ahead.
Under Gods Command
Gideon defeats the Midianites
Judges 7:02 The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, this one shall go with you, he shall go, but if I say this one shall not go with you, he shall not go. So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.
Self-sufficiency is a handicap when it causes us to believe we can do what needs to be done in our own strength. To prevent this attitude among Gideon’s soldiers, God reduced their number from 32,000 to 300. With an army this vastly outnumbered there could be no doubt that victory was from God. The men could not take the credit.
Lets bring it home: Like Gideon, we must recognize the danger of fighting in our own strength. We can be confident of victory against life’s challenges and temptations only if we put our confidence in God and not ourselves.
Under Gods Command 