Daily Musings ~ Part 14

Judges 6 shows the story of Gideon being chosen by God to confront the idolatry in Israel. The Lord tells Gideon that he has been chosen to deliver Israel from the Midianites that now ruled over them. Gideon, being less than confident, asked for two signs to prove what God said to him would actually happen. The Lord did what Gideon asked, and both signs Gideon asked for proved true. Gideon was also told by the Lord to tear down the altar of Baal. Gideon took ten men with him and tore down the altar, but because he feared the people, he did it at night. The men of the city in their idolatrous defense of Baal went to Joash, the father of Gideon, and demanded that he turn Gideon over to them so they could kill him. But Gideon’s father said to the men, “Would you plead for Baal. Would you save him? If he is a god, then let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!” Joash stood up for Gideon and the Lord.

Gideon leads Israel in defeating the Midianites. But God again lets him know that the glory of the victory will go to Him, not man. He starts to whittle the number down and 22,000 men return home. Then there is 10,000 left and finally God, through His testing, brings the number Gideon will use in conquering the Midianites down to 300 men. Gideon is victorious and the glory is God’s. Sort of where we are today. But we are not seeing a remnant ready to tear down the altars of Baal. We see altars and images of a man. Donald Trump. Some fashioned to look like they are made of gold. But everything about this man is lacking and fake. Yet, speak against him now, tear down an image, and watch those who serve him call for blood. Watch as they send their obsequious acolytes to threaten you when you stand up and speak against his evil. Watch as they threaten you with countless and endless lawsuits hoping you’ll bend the knee. Watch as they put your name in print. Watch as those who at one time knew the evil in this man, now have no shame in wearing the badge of a sycophant. And watch and listen as those who claim the title of apostle or prophet now follow a different gospel without shame. They follow one who is said to be sent by God yet somehow forgetting that the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he would devour. And the devil uses this man for extremely dark purposes. Lying, cheating, sexual deviancy, racism, anti-semitism, and using God’s name as if endorsed by Him are all done without fear of recrimination. But as it says in Galatians 6, God will not be mocked. Whatever a man sows, that he also will reap. He that continually sows to the flesh will reap corruption. Step away from people like this.

C.S. Lewis spoke of a man like this that we see in Trump in his book “The Problem of Pain.” He said, “Picture to yourself a man who has risen to wealth or power by a continued course of treachery and cruelty, by exploiting for purely selfish ends the noble motions of his victims, laughing the while at their simplicity; who, having thus attained success, uses it for gratification of lust and hatred and finally parts with the last rag of honour among thieves by betraying his own accomplices and jeering at their last moments of bewildered disillusionment. Suppose further, that he does all this, not (as we like to imagine) tormented by remorse or even misgiving, but eating like a schoolboy and sleeping like a healthy infant, a jolly, ruddy cheeked man, without a care in the world, unshakably confident to the very end that he alone has found the answer to the riddle of life, that God and man are fools whom he has got the better of, that his way of life is utterly successful, satisfactory, unassailable.” And this very man is still being supported by so many Christians or those trying to still claim that title. From such men we are told to step away! Have no part in what should be easily seen as a work of darkness. “This is the way of those who are foolish.” (Psalm 49:13) Do not cast your lot with those who follow a god of their own making. An image of Baal they have made with their own hands and brought to power with their minds and deeds. Step away from them and be separate. We are coming to a place where warnings will cease and as even now, man will make up his own words and directions as if they were from the Lord. It there were even 300 valiant men, anointed by God, steadfast in purpose, they like Gideon would prevail over what seems like insurmountable odds. But if God is for you, who can be against you? He is the same today as He was yesterday. I pray you stand and pray without ceasing. Blessings.