Today’s Reading: Judges 9-10, Luke 5:17-39
Today’s Reflection: Judges 9:56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren.
Imagine that! One of Gideon’s very own sons rises up and kills all of his brothers but one. First, it’s hard to fathom anyone having that much greed and hatred for their own blood kin, that for 40 pieces of silver and a political position they would do this.
Second, he not only commits these crimes against men, but God. So many laws of God and principles of God are broken here, but there is one I believe all other violations stem from. Namely, that of dishonoring the man of God AND his children.
Now remember, God raised up Gideon to deliver Israel out of the hands of their enemies. Also remember that God is a defender of His servants and their families. Know that! In fact, let me pause by saying that if you are a preacher’s son or daughter, suffering at the hand of others who despise your parents for their service to God, just know that God has your back too.
You may be targeted by the enemy by default because of association, but you are also defended by God by default as well! That said, let us now consider Proverbs 17:13, which says, “Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.”
You see, Abimelech was a cheap, counterfeit opportunist who sought to get gain at any price that others had to pay to get him there. In fact, he was SO blinded by his own foolishness and deception of heart, that he forgot one thing; you will ALWAYS reap what you sow (see Galatians 6:7)!
If you build your house on sinking sand, it will crumble. If you live a dishonorable life, you will also die a dishonorable death. BUT, if you live an HONOURABLE life, though men may not honour your life, nor honor you in your death, God does not forget (see Heb. 6:10)!
Though a prophet is not without the honour of men, except in his own house and country (see Matt. 13:57), remember this; he is NOT without the honour of GOD HIMSELF! Even though men dishonored Gideon (even his own son), GOD honored him by defending his name and his reputation.
And this was even after Gideon had messed up. Although Gideon had set up a golden ephod that the Bible says became a snare to him because people began to worship the thing, Gideon was honored by God not for the things he did wrong, but the things he did right.
I’m speaking now to some servant of God who has been gravely dishonored by men, and you may even feel you deserve the dishonor, but hear me now; God DEFENDS your honor!
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Floodgates of Heaven, Volume 2, Entry 89 of 365
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copyright © by Gary D. Caudill
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copyright © by Gary D. Caudill
Give 365 Days of Inspiration for only $2.99
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