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From Eternity Past
this rock, and pour out the broth.” Gideon did so, and then the sign
he desired was given: with the staff in His hand, the Angel touched
the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and a flame bursting from the rock
consumed the sacrifice. Then the Angel vanished.
Gideon’s father, Joash, who shared in the apostasy of his coun-
trymen, had erected at Ophrah a large altar to Baal. Gideon was
commanded to destroy this altar and to erect an altar to Jehovah over
the rock on which the offering had been consumed, and there present
a sacrifice to the Lord. The offering of sacrifice had been committed
to the priests and restricted to the altar at Shiloh; but He who had
established the ritual service had power to change its requirements.
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Gideon must declare war on idolatry before going out to battle with
the enemies of his people.
Gideon performed the work in secret, with the aid of his servants
accomplishing the whole in one night. Great was the rage of the men
of Ophrah when they came next morning to pay their devotions to
Baal. Joash, who had been told of the Angel’s visit, stood in defense
of his son. “Will ye plead for Baal? Will ye save him? he that will
plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning.” If Baal
could not defend his own altar, how could he be trusted to protect his
worshipers?
All thoughts of violence toward Gideon were dismissed. When he
sounded the trumpet of war, the men of Ophrah were among the first
to gather to his standard. Heralds were dispatched to his own tribe of
Manasseh, and also to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and all answered
the call.
How Could Gideon Be Sure?
Gideon prayed, “If Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou
hast said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the
dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth besides, then
shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as Thou hast
said.” In the morning the fleece was wet, while the ground was dry.
But now a doubt arose, since wool naturally absorbs moisture when
there is any in the air; the test might not be decisive. Hence he asked
that the sign be reversed. His request was granted.