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Patriarchs and Prophets
joined in this apostasy. The people were led away from God by the
very man who had once overthrown their idolatry.
There are few who realize how far-reaching is the influence of
their words and acts. How often the errors of parents produce the most
disastrous effects upon their children and children’s children, long after
the actors themselves have been laid in the grave. Everyone is exerting
an influence upon others, and will be held accountable for the result of
that influence. Words and actions have a telling power, and the long
hereafter will show the effect of our life here. The impression made
by our words and deeds will surely react upon ourselves in blessing or
in cursing. This thought gives an awful solemnity to life, and should
draw us to God in humble prayer that He will guide us by His wisdom.
Those who stand in the highest positions may lead astray. The
wisest err; the strongest may falter and stumble. There is need that
light from above should be constantly shed upon our pathway. Our
only safety lies in trusting our way implicitly to Him who has said,
“Follow Me.”
After the death of Gideon “the children of Israel remembered not
the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all
their enemies on every side: neither showed they kindness to the house
of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he
had showed unto Israel.” Forgetful of all that they owed to Gideon,
their judge and deliverer, the people of Israel accepted his baseborn
son Abimelech as their king, who, to sustain his power, murdered
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all but one of Gideon’s lawful children. When men cast off the fear
of God they are not long in departing from honor and integrity. An
appreciation of the Lord’s mercy will lead to an appreciation of those
who, like Gideon, have been employed as instruments to bless His
people. The cruel course of Israel toward the house of Gideon was what
might be expected from a people who manifested so great ingratitude
to God.
After the death of Abimelech the rule of judges who feared the
Lord served for a time to put a check upon idolatry, but erelong the
people returned to the practices of the heathen communities around
them. Among the northern tribes the gods of Syria and Sidon had many
worshipers. On the southwest the idols of the Philistines, and on the
east those of Moab and Ammon, had turned the hearts of Israel from
the God of their fathers. But apostasy speedily brought its punishment.