WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 Again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:15.060 Again, it's this ongoing repetitive thing like a parent to a child. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:17.600 How many times do I need to tell you? 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:19.940 There are three places for clothes. 00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:23.800 Not in every room of the house, just three places. 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:24.879 That's all they need to be. 00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:26.920 How many times do I need to say this? 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:30.580 My tools go back where you found them. 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:32.460 How many times do I need to tell you? 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:33.960 Not all over the backyard. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:36.480 Your scooters go here. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:40.260 How many times have I got to tell you this? 00:00:40.900 --> 00:00:42.760 It's a repetitive behavior. 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:52.500 It's the familiar beginning of another judge's cycle as God's people fail to wholeheartedly serve their Lord and they keep forgetting Him. 00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:58.320 They have failed to remember who the Lord is, what He had done for them. 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:06.099 They turned instead to the idols, which is what it means here to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:16.659 This time, for their rebellion, God gave Israel into the hands of the Midianites for seven years. 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:19.140 And this is the worst oppression yet. 00:01:20.019 --> 00:01:20.879 Have a look at it. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:34.000 Israelites, we are told, are forced to leave their homes and to live in the harsh and inaccessible mountain ranges. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:52.480 That's because whenever the Israelites would plant their crops, Midian and his mates would invade the land, ruin the produce, take the produce for themselves and consistently pillage and plunder the land. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:58.659 They would allow their livestock to walk through the crops that they had harvested themselves. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:03.520 They took Israel's sheep and their cattle and their donkeys. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:10.419 That's equivalent to not just stealing the mechanic's job. 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:15.519 They also took his tools as well so that he couldn't work again. 00:02:16.579 --> 00:02:18.519 And so Israel is poor. 00:02:19.460 --> 00:02:21.879 They are hungry and they are tired. 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:22.840 They are oppressed. 00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:29.640 They are doing this constant run from their farmlands up into the hills to escape. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:36.879 And that's why Gideon in this moment is threshing wheat in a wine press. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:41.080 Because the Midianites wouldn't expect that. 00:02:42.920 --> 00:02:44.659 He's hiding from them. 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:51.680 And they cry out to God in verse 6 for help. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:56.099 And in verse 8 it says God sends them a prophet. 00:02:57.859 --> 00:03:02.379 Now that seems like a ludicrous response, solution from God. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:04.379 Imagine you're on the side of the road. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:05.159 You're broken down. 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:06.159 Your car's broken down. 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:07.120 You're on the freeway somewhere. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:12.000 You call the NRMA and the NRMA sends out to you a philosopher. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:12.120 A philosopher. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:15.620 Not helpful. 00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:17.520 I need a mechanic. 00:03:20.740 --> 00:03:24.819 And we have to marvel at what appears to be, at least at times, 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:29.859 the inappropriate answers that God gives to our urgent needs. 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:37.500 We want escape from a circumstance while God wants to interpret the circumstances for us. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:44.219 Sometimes we need understanding, clarity. 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:46.659 More than we need relief. 00:03:48.020 --> 00:03:53.300 Sometimes God must give us insight before he grants us safety. 00:03:53.939 --> 00:03:58.180 Before they can appreciate the rescue that will come to them, 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:04.259 these people need to understand why they need rescuing in the first place. 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:08.439 Israel wants to get out of the bind. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:11.939 God wants them to see their idolatry. 00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:14.300 The prophet comes. 00:04:14.900 --> 00:04:19.420 And the prophet comes and helps them understand why they're in the trouble they're in. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:28.060 What that means is that the crying out to God that we see in verses 6 and 7 00:04:28.060 --> 00:04:31.620 is not a sign of genuine repentance. 00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:38.240 And the history of Israel tells us this as well. 00:04:40.819 --> 00:04:44.360 Their sorrow was skin deep. 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:49.240 And so what God does, he sends his prophet along and reminds them of two things. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.460 He reminds them about what he has done. 00:04:52.520 --> 00:04:55.139 Have a look at verses 8 to 10 there in Judges 6. 00:04:55.139 --> 00:05:23.279 That's what God's done. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:26.599 What has Israel done? 00:05:26.599 --> 00:05:27.599 Verse 10. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:32.000 But you have not listened to me. 00:05:33.219 --> 00:05:37.379 And so God sends his prophet to convict sin. 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:44.319 Convict his people of sin before he sends the judge to rescue them from oppression. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:54.899 And so Israel, from what we can tell here, is regretful but not repentant. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:58.699 And there's a clear distinction between the two. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:04.600 If you look at 2 Corinthians 7 verse 10, it says, 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:12.360 Godly sorrow brings repentance and it leads to salvation and it leaves no regrets. 00:06:13.320 --> 00:06:16.620 But worldly sorrow brings death. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:24.840 Both are characterized by very deep sorrow and distress. 00:06:26.140 --> 00:06:27.900 But they're very different. 00:06:27.899 --> 00:06:33.779 Regret doesn't produce any real change. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:37.099 Repentance does. 00:06:37.979 --> 00:06:43.219 And the difference is that regret is sorrow over the consequence of the sin, 00:06:43.859 --> 00:06:47.120 not over the sin itself. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:57.139 If there was no consequences, then there would be no sorrow over sin. 00:06:59.019 --> 00:07:04.340 There is no sorrow over the sin for what it is in itself, 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:08.639 for how it grieves God and how it violates our relationship with him. 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:13.360 And when the consequences go away, the behavior just comes back. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:20.240 And this kind of sorrow stays regretful, 00:07:20.900 --> 00:07:24.240 whereas repentance removes regret. 00:07:25.840 --> 00:07:31.639 Real repentance focuses itself on the only real permanent result of sin, 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:37.660 and that is damage to our relationship with our God, with our Heavenly Father. 00:07:39.340 --> 00:07:40.680 That's repentance. 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:48.620 Repentance makes us able to accept the failure and to move past it 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.800 because we realize that God has forgiven us 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:54.840 and we haven't actually lost him in the end. 00:07:56.439 --> 00:08:00.899 Real repentance means we get God. 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:03.680 We get God. 00:08:06.019 --> 00:08:08.420 And we don't end up hating ourselves. 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:15.759 When someone is inconsolable about a failure, 00:08:16.460 --> 00:08:22.680 it means that they've made something other than God their real hope. 00:08:23.700 --> 00:08:26.139 When you're inconsolable about a failure, 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:30.759 it means that something apart from God is your real hope. 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:37.279 And that thing is what judges would call an idol. 00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:42.980 And its loss is therefore impossible to heal 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:48.059 unless its idol status is removed. 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:54.179 That is, regret is about me. 00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:56.739 How I'm being hurt. 00:08:56.859 --> 00:08:57.939 How I'm being ruined. 00:08:58.039 --> 00:08:59.539 About how my heart is breaking. 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:03.399 Repentance is, on the other hand, is about God. 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:06.519 It's about how we have grieved God. 00:09:06.839 --> 00:09:12.199 It's about how his nature as our creator and as a redeemer is being trampled on. 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:16.800 About how his saving actions are being trivialized in our life. 00:09:19.800 --> 00:09:25.280 It's been made clear to us in Judges that the Israelites are idolaters. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:30.939 And God's response to the crying out to him 00:09:30.939 --> 00:09:35.059 shows that they are regretful for what they've lost. 00:09:37.079 --> 00:09:38.379 And they want it back. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:41.120 We want the Midianites gone. 00:09:41.199 --> 00:09:42.139 We want our land back. 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:44.079 We want life to be back the way it was. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:48.480 Like a married person who has committed adultery 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:50.799 wants the anger of their spouse to disappear. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:56.719 They want things to go back the way they were before they were caught out. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:58.019 And they even say things like, 00:09:58.299 --> 00:10:00.439 tell me what I need to do here to make this right. 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:08.259 Or like the child who has been punished for whatever. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:09.639 You take the iPad away. 00:10:09.819 --> 00:10:13.620 And what they want to do is make up for it so they get the iPad back. 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.039 That's what they want. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:16.179 They want it back. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:20.000 They're regretful about consequences. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:26.359 They're expressing regret, not repentance. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.699 And so God's aim here in sending his prophet 00:10:30.699 --> 00:10:34.599 is to move them beyond regret to repentance. 00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:38.579 And I think we should take the time to let us, 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:40.899 let God teach us the same lesson. 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:45.659 Do a check on what it is that you are sorry about. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:48.199 Do a check on what are your regrets. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:54.720 Are you sorry for the consequence of sin in your life or for the sin itself? 00:10:56.080 --> 00:11:02.240 Is it the loss of the pleasure of an idol that an idol offered? 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:05.800 Or the damage to our relationship with God? 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:11.199 Unfortunately, when you look at the text here, 00:11:11.599 --> 00:11:15.519 there's no sign of Israel repenting at all. 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:21.699 And just at that moment, you would expect God's word of accusation 00:11:21.699 --> 00:11:26.419 to move to a pronouncement of judgment. 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:31.179 But just when you would expect that to happen, God turns the table. 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:36.199 Instead of judgment, what he does is the very next thing he does is he prepares to save. 00:11:37.839 --> 00:11:41.979 Instead, what we do here is we read the commissioning of the new judge. 00:11:42.839 --> 00:11:43.579 No repentance. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:45.139 The commissioning of a new judge. 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:45.679 Verse 11. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:52.939 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abizarite, 00:11:53.319 --> 00:11:58.580 where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:04.240 Even though the people, there's no indication of repentance, 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:07.419 God still sends his rescuer. 00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:11.839 He doesn't wait for the repentance before he begins to save. 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:15.860 And this is the glorious news of the Christian faith, 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:22.159 which distinguishes the Christian faith from every other philosophical system and religion in the world. 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:27.079 Romans 5.8 summarizes it. 00:12:27.939 --> 00:12:32.179 Why we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:12:32.179 --> 00:12:38.479 God doesn't wait for us to pull our socks up before he rescued us. 00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:43.639 Doesn't wait for us to achieve before he affirms us. 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:52.239 God does not begin to save us because we repent. 00:12:53.059 --> 00:12:57.419 We repent because he has begun his saving work in us 00:12:57.419 --> 00:13:00.399 through the external finished work of Jesus on the cross 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:02.879 and the internal work of the Holy Spirit 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:08.279 to move us to see and savor the work of Christ on the cross for what it is, 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:12.059 the saving act of God on our behalf. 00:13:13.459 --> 00:13:20.959 What that means is that God is significantly more holy and more gracious than we are. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:30.840 He responds to a cry for help by sending a prophet to tell them about their sin 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.940 and explain why they're in the mess they're in. 00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:38.180 But he still recruits and prepares his rescuer, 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:41.540 even though there's no evidence of change whatsoever. 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:51.699 This is a much more gracious response than we would give to someone who continued to hurt us 00:13:51.699 --> 00:13:53.879 and show no sign of stopping. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:58.500 My goodness, it's even a much more gracious response than I give to my children. 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:01.419 Don't celebrate me on Father's Day, for goodness sake. 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:10.799 And yet, in all of this, God does not compromise in his holiness or his grace. 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:13.059 The only way we can hold these things together 00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:17.799 and appreciate God's, both his perfect holiness, his perfect standards, 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.779 and his endless compassion and mercy and grace 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:26.159 is to grasp more and more deeply the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:32.199 The cross is where God's holiness, his perfect standards, 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:36.199 and his endless compassion meet together. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:41.980 And so, right at the beginning of Judges 6, in the new cycle, 00:14:42.719 --> 00:14:49.219 we see this cycle repeated again of sin and grace on repeat, 00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:52.259 sin and grace on repeat, sin and grace, sin and grace. 00:14:52.259 --> 00:15:00.620 The second thing we see is that this grace of God is a grace that calls us to himself. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:06.259 The angel of the Lord opening light to Gideon in verse 12 00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:09.600 is that the Lord is with you. 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:14.519 Gideon, on the other hand, is like, pardon me? 00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:16.039 What? 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:16.259 What? 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:23.080 Gideon argues, how can God be with us? 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:26.139 Because he's put us into the hand of the Midianites 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:32.620 instead of rescuing them like he did with their ancestors out of Egypt. 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:37.659 Gideon seems to be implying here 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:44.039 that what Israel needs is another Egypt-style rescuer. 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:50.000 What Israel needs in this moment is another Moses. 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:55.240 God says, Gideon, that's you. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.620 You are the salvation I am sending. 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.699 You are the mighty warrior. 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:02.759 Verse 12. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:08.579 Now, we make the mistake here that Gideon does as well. 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:14.420 We tend to see any of our troubles as evidence that God has left us 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:18.780 instead of asking how God is working in and through it for our good. 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:23.660 And that is the promise of the New Testament in Romans 8, 28. 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:27.040 And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:29.320 who have been called according to his purpose. 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:34.260 And we also tend to do what Gideon does here 00:16:34.260 --> 00:16:39.240 and wait for God to do something to us and for us. 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:42.620 We wonder why God hasn't removed a problem 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:47.200 rather than asking him to make us a person who's able to handle the problem. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:55.020 God tells Gideon that you, Gideon, are going to be the solution. 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:58.320 You are going to be sent as the rescuer. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:01.980 He's the one who God will use to solve this problem. 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:05.600 He is the Moses-like figure. 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:13.000 And this provokes Gideon's second disagreement with the angel of the Lord. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:18.539 In fact, he reacts here in exactly the same way that Moses did 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.920 at the burning bush in Exodus chapter 3. 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.819 Have a look at verse 15. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.200 Pardon me, Lord? 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.160 Me? 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:32.220 I'm the solution? 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:36.400 And Gideon says, how can I save Israel? 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:42.839 My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I'm the least in my family. 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:48.839 Gideon is economically and socially the poorest member of the weakest clan 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:52.460 of a non-prominent Israelite tribe. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:55.839 How on earth can I save Israel? 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:57.160 How can I be a saviour? 00:17:57.559 --> 00:18:00.680 God, when we're picking teams for basketball, 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:03.819 I'm the last guy picked. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.779 How can you use me? 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:14.220 And on the surface, you'd have to agree with him. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:19.259 We know the angel of the Lord calls him a mighty warrior in verse 12, 00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:20.119 but is that right? 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:25.339 I mean, potentially the angel of the Lord here is mocking Gideon, 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.799 but apparently he's not. 00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:30.839 Gideon is crouching in a winepress in fear of the Midianites. 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:33.819 He's not doing what you'd imagine with a wheat crop 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:37.459 and threshing the wheat at the threshing floor. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.980 He's taking it to the winepress 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:42.119 because it's not the season for grapes, 00:18:42.199 --> 00:18:45.299 so they won't expect to find it here. 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:52.240 It's like hiding the chocolate from the kids under the soap. 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:54.039 They won't look for it there. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:58.000 They just won't find it there. 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:06.359 We do need to take seriously both God's power and his word here. 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:08.139 If the angel of the Lord said to Gideon, 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:10.399 you are a mighty warrior, then he is. 00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:16.319 And verse 14 indicates that Gideon will use his own abilities, 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:20.159 but those abilities won't be enough. 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:26.820 Those abilities need to be combined with the promise of God 00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:29.880 because their abilities, their strength, Gideon's strength is not enough. 00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:36.080 Verses 14 and 16 says that they must be combined with the promise of God. 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:40.519 Everything that Gideon needs for this task 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:44.400 is supplied in a very brief statement in verse 16. 00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:49.100 I will be with you. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:53.800 There's his strength right there. 00:19:55.560 --> 00:19:59.019 The promises that God is sending him and will be with him 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:02.360 is everything he needs. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:08.340 Basically, God has nothing else, nothing more to offer him. 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.759 There's nothing more coming up here. 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:12.940 And he can go through an enormous amount 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:18.480 just with that promise alone that I will be with you. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:23.880 And it's enough. 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:28.039 That promise doesn't provide him with the details, 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:30.059 but it provides him with the essentials. 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:34.599 Nothing about the when, the how, the why, 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:37.220 just simply the who. 00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:38.940 Me. 00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.920 I will be with you. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:48.140 So why should he believe the angel of the Lord? 00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:52.020 And what we see in the rest of this text is that 00:20:52.020 --> 00:20:56.740 Gideon needs the assurance of the word of the Lord here. 00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:59.720 He's heard the word of the Lord. 00:20:59.840 --> 00:21:04.340 He needs confidence that this word is true and it's right. 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:09.259 And so in verse 17, he replies, 00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:11.799 if now I have found favor in your eyes, 00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:15.139 give me a sign that this really is you talking to me. 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:19.939 He wants to know for sure that this is God's word he's hearing. 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:22.059 He's looking for assurance of God's promises, 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:24.399 but when the assurance comes, 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.980 it terrifies him rather than comforts him. 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:32.399 Gideon's reaction to the angel of the Lord 00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:35.639 following the miracle in verse 21 is the key. 00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:40.079 He now knows who it is that he's been talking to. 00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:41.700 Verse 22. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:46.019 Alas, sovereign Lord, 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:50.980 I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face. 00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:57.539 What Gideon realizes here is that 00:21:57.539 --> 00:22:02.460 he has seen the word angel in the original language 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.200 meaning messenger. 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:05.720 I've seen the messenger of the Lord face to face. 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:13.460 In fact, commentators would tell you this. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:16.960 There are a number of factors here in this story itself 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:19.140 and in the rest of Judges 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:21.100 and in various parts of the Old Testament 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:24.740 that would indicate that Gideon came face to face 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:26.279 with the son of God himself, 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:29.180 as Daniel did in Daniel chapter seven. 00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:31.339 That's who he's speaking to. 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:34.640 And he finally realizes that's who he's speaking to. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:38.980 And he's terrified. 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.019 He's terrified. 00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:43.819 And we struggle with this in our modern world 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:45.620 because we think a gentle Jesus, meek and mild. 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:48.839 We struggle with his response. 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.799 We have no sense of the terror 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.440 and the awesomeness of God. 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:57.299 We tend to think that intimacy with God 00:22:57.299 --> 00:23:00.100 is an inalienable right of ours 00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:03.339 rather than an indescribable gift. 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:09.319 But friends, there is nothing amazing about God's grace 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:12.359 as long as there is nothing fearful about his holiness. 00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:16.720 There is nothing amazing about God's grace 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.359 while ever we think there is nothing fearful 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.199 about his holiness. 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:26.500 Verse 23, God reassures him that he's not going to die. 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:30.339 Gideon knows that according to Exodus 33 verse 20, 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:34.920 no one can look at the holy God face to face and live. 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:40.039 And yet he's still alive. 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.980 And so he knows in that moment 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:45.900 that this God has provided grace for him 00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:50.120 so that he can be at peace with him. 00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:53.640 It is only God who can speak peace to the trembling. 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:58.460 And Gideon's response is one of enormous gratitude. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:03.280 God's grace to him overwhelms him with gratitude. 00:24:03.280 --> 00:24:06.220 In verse 24, he builds an altar to the Lord 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.740 and calls it, 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:10.779 the Lord is peace. 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:14.039 The Lord has made it possible 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:17.359 for me to be at peace with him. 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:23.720 And so we see sin and grace on repeat 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:27.120 and Gideon has been called by the grace of God. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:30.420 And this grace is a grace that commits us 00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:34.180 and commits him to live a life of obedience to him. 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:37.099 His grace calls us to commitment. 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:40.859 Now that he has built an altar 00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:44.240 to the true living and saving God, 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:49.559 what's the very next thing that Gideon has to do? 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:53.579 Tear down the one that he's been used 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.859 to serving the false God. 00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.859 These two altars, 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.839 the altar that he's just built, 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:02.240 the Lord is peace by his grace to me. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.680 And the altar to Baal, 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.700 they cannot coexist. 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:09.539 You cannot serve the true and living God 00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.500 and a false God, 00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:11.960 an idol at the same time. 00:25:12.580 --> 00:25:14.860 Gideon, you must destroy that other idol. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:19.259 The demand is placed on Gideon here 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:22.799 is a paradigm for all the people of Israel. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:26.779 It is for the follower of Jesus too. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:29.180 When the rich young ruler came up to Jesus 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:31.220 and asked him the famous question, 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:34.639 Jesus, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:37.960 Jesus didn't hand him a card, 00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.980 asking him to tick the box that says, 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.579 I follow you. 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.899 I choose to follow you, Jesus. 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:45.419 Didn't ask him to raise a hand 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:47.759 and pray a prayer of commitment. 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.779 Instead, what Jesus does 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:53.120 to the rich young ruler at that moment 00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:54.580 is he exposes 00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:58.800 this apparent moral man's 00:25:58.800 --> 00:26:01.060 breaking of the first commandment 00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:04.900 and called him to smash his idol. 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:08.420 Smash your idol, 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:10.380 then come follow me. 00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:15.019 There can be no dual commitment, 00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:16.680 no double-mindedness. 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.320 Not for Gideon, 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.860 not for Israel, 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.580 not for the rich young ruler in Luke 18 00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:21.460 and not for us. 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:24.539 If God is to be their saviour, 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:26.480 then Baal must go. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:28.600 And Baal may be tolerant, 00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:31.800 but this God is jealous. 00:26:33.620 --> 00:26:35.120 Baal may be tolerant, 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.740 but this God is jealous. 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:40.640 There can be no limping 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.960 between two opinions. 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:45.060 We cannot serve two masters. 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.900 The particular altar 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:50.560 that Gideon is called to smash 00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:53.860 belongs to his father. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.120 Have a look, verse 25. 00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:58.860 That same night, 00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.660 the Lord said to him, 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.700 take the second bull 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:02.080 from your father's herd, 00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:04.539 the one seven years old, 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:07.320 tear down your father's altar to Baal 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:09.439 and cut down the Asherah pole beside it, 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:11.480 then build a proper kind of altar 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:13.299 to the Lord your God 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:15.079 on the top of this height. 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:19.119 Now, it's no surprise here 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:21.819 that Gideon's dad has an altar 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:24.000 and a pole for the worship 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.500 of the Canaanite idols, 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.480 the Canaanite gods. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:28.059 The Israelites, 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:30.000 as I've said a number of times 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.640 through this series, 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:32.180 they didn't abandon, 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.660 they didn't abandon the worship of God 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.319 for idols. 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:37.720 They combined the worship of God 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:39.079 with idols. 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:42.700 And Gideon is essentially being told here 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:45.400 to make the God, 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.779 the true and living God 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.940 who has, by his grace, 00:27:49.140 --> 00:27:50.660 called you into relationship 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.640 and peace with him, 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:53.780 to make him Lord 00:27:53.780 --> 00:27:56.720 of every area of your life. 00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:02.220 And Gideon 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:05.360 begins to do 00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:06.759 what the Lord told him to do. 00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.120 Although, 00:28:09.280 --> 00:28:10.800 in verse 27, 00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:12.740 he does it 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.080 in the middle of the night 00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.820 out of fear 00:28:15.820 --> 00:28:17.780 with a bunch of his helpers. 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:22.740 But he still did it. 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:26.160 There's an element of weakness 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.420 here in Gideon. 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.819 He's God's weak, 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.220 mighty warrior. 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.940 He still did it. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.799 Obedience to God's call here 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.639 was essential. 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.319 Heroics was optional. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.379 Obedience is essential. 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:45.799 Heroics is optional. 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:49.899 And the reaction 00:28:49.899 --> 00:28:52.319 is swift. 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:53.899 Next morning, 00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:56.379 it would appear 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.319 that one of the guys 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.160 who helped Gideon 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.720 kind of caved. 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.980 Not me, 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.399 it was him. 00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:04.160 Gideon did it. 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:04.980 And you would think 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:06.399 from verses 28 to 30 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:07.779 that Gideon is not long 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.539 for this world. 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:09.799 Thankfully, 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.879 Gideon's dad 00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:11.859 steps in 00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:14.359 with a really wise suggestion. 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:14.960 Good on him, 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:16.039 Father's Day. 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:17.859 and suggests 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.639 that Baal, 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.759 if this Baal 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.659 is divine, 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.579 then he can pretty much 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.440 take care of himself. 00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:25.019 We don't need to help him. 00:29:26.659 --> 00:29:27.859 And his words 00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:29.259 are in effect 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.119 a challenge 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:31.019 to Israel. 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:32.500 Israel 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.879 either continue 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.759 to prop up 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.359 Baal 00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:38.099 or worship 00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:38.719 the altar 00:29:38.719 --> 00:29:39.539 of the true 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.359 and living God. 00:29:41.179 --> 00:29:41.959 Worship at the altar 00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:42.199 of the true 00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:42.799 and living God 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.359 or continue 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:44.299 to prop up Baal 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:44.859 who cannot 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.759 help you 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.759 at all. 00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.799 And the townspeople 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.379 at this point 00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:50.959 give Gideon 00:29:50.959 --> 00:29:51.579 a nickname. 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.379 Verse 32, 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.159 let Baal 00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:57.119 contend 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.079 with him. 00:29:59.179 --> 00:29:59.659 Jerobo 00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.039 Baal 00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:00.559 Baal 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.459 Baal 00:30:01.459 --> 00:30:02.339 something. 00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:03.919 That's his nickname. 00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:04.980 Great nickname. 00:30:05.959 --> 00:30:06.319 I'm not sure, 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:06.799 you know, 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:07.299 growing up, 00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:07.939 this is an Australian 00:30:07.939 --> 00:30:08.199 thing, 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.699 nicknames. 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.639 I think I've told you 00:30:09.639 --> 00:30:09.939 before, 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.599 my nickname 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:11.279 when I was growing up 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:11.959 was Fox 00:30:11.959 --> 00:30:13.899 because my hair 00:30:13.899 --> 00:30:14.599 was like red 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.159 and so, 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:15.399 you know, 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.139 Bunsen Burner, 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.599 Match, 00:30:17.399 --> 00:30:17.939 Fox, 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:18.480 all kinds 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.220 of different things. 00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:20.299 I also had a nickname 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.159 a little bit 00:30:21.159 --> 00:30:22.379 older in life 00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:23.299 called Showbag, 00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:25.039 which if you've ever 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.919 been to the Sydney 00:30:25.919 --> 00:30:26.779 Royal Show, 00:30:27.199 --> 00:30:28.299 you can buy a showbag 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.159 for not much money, 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.899 actually more expensive 00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.340 nowadays, 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.320 but it's full of rubbish 00:30:31.320 --> 00:30:32.880 and so that might be 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.660 a pointer as to why 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.620 they called me Showbag. 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:37.540 And, 00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:39.360 but nicknames 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:40.420 carried something, 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.640 carried something. 00:30:42.540 --> 00:30:43.580 There was a guy, 00:30:43.800 --> 00:30:45.240 I remember years ago, 00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.680 an electrical contractor 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.060 many, 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.640 many years ago 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.060 when I worked 00:30:48.060 --> 00:30:48.880 in the National Parks, 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.100 we used to call him 00:30:50.100 --> 00:30:50.720 Alternator 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:52.540 because he charged 00:30:52.540 --> 00:30:53.340 while he was idle 00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:56.340 and Pothole, 00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:56.880 another guy 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.480 used to work with, 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:57.940 we used to call him 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.340 Pothole 00:30:58.340 --> 00:30:58.800 because he always 00:30:58.800 --> 00:30:59.519 got in the road 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:01.359 nicknames 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.400 mean something 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:04.680 and the nickname 00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:05.319 here 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:06.879 means something 00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:08.119 quite significant 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:11.019 for Israel. 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.599 It sums up 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.420 the struggle 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:15.220 of the whole 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.579 book of Judges. 00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.660 It is the battle 00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.859 between the real 00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:21.160 God of Israel 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.539 and the idols 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:23.379 of Canaan 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:24.200 for the hearts 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:24.960 of God's people. 00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:27.220 That's the battle. 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:29.259 contending 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.100 with Baal 00:31:30.100 --> 00:31:33.579 for the hearts 00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:34.360 of God's people. 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:35.680 And Gideon 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.880 has made his choice. 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.700 He is God's 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:40.120 mighty warrior 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:40.960 or more appropriately 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.500 as I said, 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:42.339 God's weak, 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.180 mighty warrior. 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.180 The power 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.960 of the Spirit 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.620 of God 00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:46.740 on his life 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.579 is combined 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:49.259 with his real 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:49.720 genuine 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.700 human weakness. 00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:54.900 Gideon desires 00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.660 to wholly 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:56.799 trust in God 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:58.019 but he 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.059 constantly 00:31:59.059 --> 00:31:59.980 needs 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.840 assurance 00:32:00.840 --> 00:32:02.620 that this is 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.640 God speaking 00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:04.240 to him. 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:05.519 These are God's 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:05.920 promises 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.700 are true. 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.539 And that's what we 00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.500 get at the end 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.220 of chapter 6 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.279 with this fleece 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:12.700 thing. 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:15.380 Verses 36 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:16.680 to 40 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:18.400 is demonstrating 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:19.240 that he 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.020 is still 00:32:20.020 --> 00:32:20.540 unsure 00:32:20.540 --> 00:32:21.140 of God's 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.560 calling 00:32:21.560 --> 00:32:22.140 and God's 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:22.500 promises 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.400 on his life. 00:32:24.840 --> 00:32:25.320 He wants 00:32:25.320 --> 00:32:26.220 to be sure 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.380 that this 00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:28.300 is God 00:32:28.300 --> 00:32:29.420 speaking to 00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:29.820 him. 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:30.800 That this 00:32:30.800 --> 00:32:31.400 God 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.960 is true. 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.000 What is the 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.760 character and 00:32:34.760 --> 00:32:35.480 nature of this 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:35.900 God? 00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:36.960 And so 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.980 he is hesitant 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.980 but he's not 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:39.720 unbelieving. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.700 It's not an 00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.540 absence of faith 00:32:42.540 --> 00:32:43.400 here for Gideon. 00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:45.000 it's the caution 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.680 of faith 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:46.259 that we see 00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:47.140 here with 00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:47.600 Gideon. 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.820 And he sets 00:32:49.820 --> 00:32:50.900 out this fleece 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.700 and asks God 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.380 to confirm 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:53.460 his plans 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:55.019 by making 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.420 the fleece 00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.160 wet 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:58.120 but the 00:32:58.120 --> 00:32:58.680 dry 00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.400 the ground 00:32:59.400 --> 00:32:59.980 dry 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.740 around it. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.140 And God 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:02.580 does it. 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.019 And then he 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.440 asks God 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.400 to you know 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.300 just one more 00:33:05.300 --> 00:33:05.780 time God 00:33:05.780 --> 00:33:06.000 you know 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.320 a little bit 00:33:06.320 --> 00:33:06.680 of patience 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.180 with me here 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:09.240 to re-confirm 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.019 it by 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.900 reversing the 00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:11.560 instructions 00:33:11.560 --> 00:33:12.780 make the 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.500 fleece 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.160 dry 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.879 and the 00:33:14.879 --> 00:33:15.279 ground 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:15.960 wet 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.759 and God 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.099 does it 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:17.980 both times. 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.200 Now over 00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:20.920 the years 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.759 there have 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.819 been many 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.460 many 00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:24.019 Christians 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.799 who have 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.940 imitated 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:26.599 Gideon's 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:27.119 actions 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:27.599 here 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:29.660 as a 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.399 sign of 00:33:30.399 --> 00:33:31.039 a way 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.299 of 00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:32.339 God 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:32.879 guiding 00:33:32.879 --> 00:33:33.139 them. 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.899 That's 00:33:34.899 --> 00:33:35.440 not what's 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:35.680 happening 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.000 here. 00:33:37.899 --> 00:33:38.839 They say 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.420 things like 00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:39.859 God if you 00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.160 want me to 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:40.500 buy that 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.099 new car 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.740 then make 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:42.139 my car 00:33:42.139 --> 00:33:42.519 break down 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:42.839 today. 00:33:43.699 --> 00:33:44.039 And if my 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.459 car breaks 00:33:44.459 --> 00:33:44.619 down 00:33:44.619 --> 00:33:44.879 today 00:33:44.879 --> 00:33:45.139 then I 00:33:45.139 --> 00:33:45.419 know you 00:33:45.419 --> 00:33:45.639 want me 00:33:45.639 --> 00:33:45.819 to buy 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.119 that new 00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:46.439 car. 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:47.099 Or God 00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:47.240 if you 00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.480 want me to 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:47.779 take that 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.259 job make 00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:48.459 sure I 00:33:48.459 --> 00:33:48.639 get a 00:33:48.639 --> 00:33:49.059 call from 00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:51.019 the company 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.559 today and 00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:51.779 then I'll 00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.059 know for 00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:52.339 sure that 00:33:52.339 --> 00:33:52.579 you want 00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:52.759 me to 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.079 take it. 00:33:53.139 --> 00:33:53.299 It's 00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:53.939 your sign 00:33:53.939 --> 00:33:54.299 of guiding 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.559 me at 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:54.939 this point. 00:33:55.719 --> 00:33:56.139 That's not 00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:56.579 what Gideon's 00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:57.079 doing here. 00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:58.679 He isn't 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:59.899 asking for 00:33:59.899 --> 00:34:00.799 guidance from 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.219 God. 00:34:02.939 --> 00:34:03.740 Gideon is 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.679 specifically 00:34:04.679 --> 00:34:06.019 asking God 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.740 to show 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:08.139 him that 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:08.619 he was 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.699 not one 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.139 of the 00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:11.119 forces of 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.119 nature of 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:12.960 the Canaanite 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.460 gods. 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.799 But was 00:34:16.799 --> 00:34:17.599 in fact 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:19.299 the sovereign 00:34:19.299 --> 00:34:20.639 God over 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.219 all the 00:34:21.219 --> 00:34:21.739 forces of 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:22.380 nature and 00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:23.980 therefore the 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.779 gods of 00:34:24.779 --> 00:34:25.219 Canaan. 00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:27.799 But he was 00:34:27.799 --> 00:34:28.339 doing something 00:34:28.339 --> 00:34:29.039 slightly more 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.759 significant than 00:34:29.759 --> 00:34:30.000 that. 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.339 He was 00:34:32.339 --> 00:34:33.779 checking that 00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.819 the God who 00:34:34.819 --> 00:34:35.759 he saw face 00:34:35.759 --> 00:34:37.059 to face and 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.940 the God who 00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.739 he has 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.460 been asked 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.159 to and 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:40.799 commissioned 00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:42.099 to to 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.980 rescue his 00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:44.279 people from 00:34:44.279 --> 00:34:45.579 slavery from 00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:46.559 the Midianites 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:48.119 is the same 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:50.099 God who 00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.799 rescued his 00:34:50.799 --> 00:34:51.759 people Israel 00:34:51.759 --> 00:34:53.039 through Moses 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:54.259 out of Egypt. 00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:58.440 And he did 00:34:58.440 --> 00:35:00.880 it with a 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.779 powerful 00:35:01.779 --> 00:35:03.000 sovereign 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:05.519 display of 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:07.719 sovereignty 00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:09.019 over the 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.559 Egyptian 00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.400 gods of 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.039 nature 00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:14.500 through 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.079 ten 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:15.880 plagues. 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.599 Remember 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.000 right at the 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.579 very beginning 00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:23.079 I'm the 00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:23.440 God who 00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:23.800 called you 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.059 out of 00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:24.420 Egypt. 00:35:25.780 --> 00:35:26.179 Gideon 00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:26.559 here is 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.239 confirming that 00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:27.599 the God 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.039 who sat 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:28.400 with me 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:28.619 and has 00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:28.920 called me 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.280 to rescue 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:29.679 Israel is 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:29.960 the same 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.239 God who 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:30.539 did that 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:30.980 back then. 00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:32.800 The God 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.659 who displayed, 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:34.920 who crushed 00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:35.780 the Egyptian 00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:36.460 gods, 00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.559 which each 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:37.960 one of the 00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:38.300 plagues 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:38.960 represented, 00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:40.019 a crushing 00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:40.300 of the 00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:40.619 Egyptian 00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:40.960 gods. 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:41.200 They were 00:35:41.200 --> 00:35:41.680 not random 00:35:41.680 --> 00:35:42.139 acts. 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:42.980 These were 00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:44.159 ten key 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:44.780 gods the 00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:45.200 Egyptians 00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:46.340 worshipped 00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.539 and God 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:48.380 sovereignly 00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:49.280 smashed each 00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:49.619 one of them. 00:35:49.680 --> 00:35:49.780 And he 00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:49.920 says, 00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:51.659 can you do 00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.280 that here 00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:53.340 for me? 00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:54.380 Can you 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:54.880 show me 00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:55.300 that you 00:35:55.300 --> 00:35:55.960 are sovereign 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.659 over the 00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:57.200 Canaanite 00:35:57.200 --> 00:35:57.680 gods of 00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:58.039 nature? 00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:58.920 Just one 00:35:58.920 --> 00:35:59.500 more time, 00:35:59.599 --> 00:35:59.920 just to 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.380 confirm that 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:00.680 you're the 00:36:00.680 --> 00:36:01.180 same God 00:36:01.180 --> 00:36:01.720 who rescued 00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:02.460 your people 00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:02.960 before. 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.099 Gideon was 00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:08.599 not looking 00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:09.199 for signs 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:09.519 here to 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:09.760 help him 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.059 make a 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.519 decision. 00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.220 He was 00:36:12.220 --> 00:36:12.900 seeking to 00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:14.400 understand the 00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.119 nature of 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:15.599 the God 00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:15.940 who was 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.559 speaking to 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:16.860 him. 00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:17.420 He was 00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:17.820 looking to 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:18.079 get a 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:18.740 big picture, 00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:19.340 a massive 00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:19.800 picture of 00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:20.119 who this 00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:21.019 God is. 00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.280 Is this 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:24.980 the God 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:26.300 who I've 00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:26.940 heard about 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.400 from my 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:27.900 father? 00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:32.119 the God 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:32.980 who saves? 00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:36.740 The God 00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:37.039 who was 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:37.720 mightily 00:36:37.720 --> 00:36:38.139 sovereign 00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:38.539 over the 00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:38.960 gods of 00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.480 Egypt? 00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:43.059 If it 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:43.260 is, 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:43.579 can you 00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.680 please 00:36:44.680 --> 00:36:45.180 reaffirm 00:36:45.180 --> 00:36:45.539 that for 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:45.740 me? 00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:50.780 Now, 00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.099 Gideon 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:51.420 did not 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:51.780 have the 00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.019 Bible 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:52.519 like we 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:52.840 have it. 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:54.900 Living 00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.260 where we 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:55.579 do in 00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:56.000 history, 00:36:56.180 --> 00:36:56.500 we have 00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:56.760 this 00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:57.559 advantage 00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.079 over 00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.539 Gideon. 00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:00.279 We can 00:37:00.279 --> 00:37:00.559 know 00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:00.900 Jesus 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:01.539 Christ, 00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:03.719 the 00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:04.340 incarnate 00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:04.840 Son of 00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.299 God, 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:06.320 who came 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:06.779 into this 00:37:06.779 --> 00:37:07.159 world, 00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:07.659 who broke 00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:08.039 into 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:08.500 history, 00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:09.299 who controlled 00:37:09.299 --> 00:37:09.880 the wind 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.639 and the 00:37:10.639 --> 00:37:11.199 waves 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:12.139 and the 00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:12.539 demons 00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.179 and healed 00:37:13.179 --> 00:37:13.699 the sick 00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:14.099 and set 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:14.659 the oppressed 00:37:14.659 --> 00:37:15.059 free. 00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:16.320 He showed 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.099 sovereignty 00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:18.039 over all 00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:18.619 things. 00:37:20.059 --> 00:37:20.639 He is the 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:21.059 God who 00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:21.619 is sovereign. 00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:23.019 And 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.559 Jesus, 00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:25.259 we have in 00:37:25.259 --> 00:37:25.739 his word 00:37:25.739 --> 00:37:26.320 the Jesus 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:27.400 who revealed 00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:27.920 the nature 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.320 of God 00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:28.780 to all 00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:28.920 of 00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:29.380 humanity. 00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:29.980 This 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.300 is the 00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:30.579 Jesus 00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.260 who calls 00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:31.700 us by 00:37:31.700 --> 00:37:32.480 his grace 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.260 and who 00:37:33.260 --> 00:37:33.900 promises to 00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:34.280 give his 00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:35.139 spirit and 00:37:35.139 --> 00:37:35.559 the Jesus 00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:36.039 who promised 00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:36.480 to never 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:37.079 leave us, 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.180 never forsake 00:37:38.180 --> 00:37:38.539 us. 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:40.460 The Jesus 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:40.740 said, 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:41.460 even in 00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:42.180 spite of 00:37:42.180 --> 00:37:42.420 your 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.099 sinfulness, 00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.220 in spite of 00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:45.039 your weakness, 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:47.079 I will be 00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:47.599 with you. 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:48.400 I will never 00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:48.980 abandon you. 00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:53.800 this is the 00:37:53.800 --> 00:37:54.360 Jesus who 00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:55.019 offers us 00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:55.579 peace with 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:56.000 God, 00:37:56.219 --> 00:37:57.260 who calls 00:37:57.260 --> 00:37:57.559 us to 00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:58.240 follow him 00:37:58.240 --> 00:38:00.539 and calls 00:38:00.539 --> 00:38:01.059 us to tear 00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:01.460 down the 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:01.940 idols of 00:38:01.940 --> 00:38:02.480 our heart 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:04.159 and align 00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:04.480 ourselves 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:04.860 with him 00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:05.139 alone. 00:38:07.619 --> 00:38:08.380 And this 00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:09.079 same Jesus 00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:10.139 reveals himself 00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:11.000 today in 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:11.840 his word, 00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:12.360 the Bible. 00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:13.840 We don't 00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:14.780 need a 00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:15.400 fleece, 00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.539 we need 00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:16.920 the word 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:17.440 of God. 00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:19.039 Hebrews 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.539 1, 00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:21.579 verse 1 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:21.860 says, 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:22.440 in the past 00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:22.920 God spoke 00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:23.219 to our 00:38:23.219 --> 00:38:23.559 ancestors 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:23.960 through the 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.259 prophets 00:38:24.259 --> 00:38:24.639 at many 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.059 times and 00:38:25.059 --> 00:38:25.400 in various 00:38:25.400 --> 00:38:25.880 ways, 00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:26.920 but in 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:27.500 these last 00:38:27.500 --> 00:38:27.980 days he 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:28.500 has spoken 00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:28.980 to us 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:30.239 by his 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:31.039 son, 00:38:31.320 --> 00:38:31.719 whom he 00:38:31.719 --> 00:38:32.139 appointed 00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:32.599 heir of 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:33.059 all things 00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:33.380 and through 00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:34.119 whom he 00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.980 also made 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:35.599 the universe. 00:38:36.099 --> 00:38:36.739 The God, 00:38:36.960 --> 00:38:37.460 the son, 00:38:37.579 --> 00:38:37.940 is the 00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:38.539 radiance of 00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:39.340 God's glory 00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:40.279 and the 00:38:40.279 --> 00:38:40.779 exact 00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:41.279 representation 00:38:41.279 --> 00:38:41.800 of his 00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:42.179 being, 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:42.840 sustaining 00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:43.619 all things 00:38:43.619 --> 00:38:44.000 by his 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.759 powerful word. 00:38:45.099 --> 00:38:45.440 And after 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:45.880 he provided 00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.519 purification 00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:47.119 for sins, 00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:47.480 he sat 00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:47.800 down at 00:38:47.800 --> 00:38:48.179 the right 00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:48.900 hand of 00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:49.500 the majesty 00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:50.579 in heaven. 00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:52.679 Gideon's 00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:54.360 request was 00:38:54.360 --> 00:38:55.659 for help 00:38:55.659 --> 00:38:56.239 in his 00:38:56.239 --> 00:38:56.900 weakness to 00:38:56.900 --> 00:38:57.539 build up 00:38:57.539 --> 00:38:58.079 his faith 00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:58.619 in God. 00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:01.159 God in 00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:01.739 his grace 00:39:01.739 --> 00:39:02.739 responded to 00:39:02.739 --> 00:39:03.759 him twice. 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:04.980 Twice. 00:39:07.059 --> 00:39:07.360 You see, 00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:07.860 this God 00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.780 is not ashamed 00:39:08.780 --> 00:39:09.400 to stoop 00:39:09.400 --> 00:39:10.139 down and 00:39:10.139 --> 00:39:11.079 reassure us 00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:11.440 in our 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.000 weakness and 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:13.179 fears as 00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:13.759 we seek to 00:39:13.759 --> 00:39:14.179 faithfully 00:39:14.179 --> 00:39:14.880 follow him. 00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:17.019 He is 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:17.780 patient with 00:39:17.780 --> 00:39:17.960 our 00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.420 weakness. 00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.460 He doesn't 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:20.160 even mind 00:39:20.160 --> 00:39:20.539 humbling 00:39:20.539 --> 00:39:21.160 himself, 00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:23.840 even to 00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:24.420 the cross, 00:39:25.160 --> 00:39:25.840 in order to 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:26.579 bolster our 00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:27.519 fragile faith 00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:28.400 and our 00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:29.180 wavering grip 00:39:29.180 --> 00:39:29.680 on his 00:39:29.680 --> 00:39:30.099 word. 00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:32.000 He knows 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:32.720 our faith 00:39:32.720 --> 00:39:33.680 in him is 00:39:33.680 --> 00:39:34.340 feeble and 00:39:34.340 --> 00:39:35.059 it is weak. 00:39:35.660 --> 00:39:36.300 Our obedience 00:39:36.300 --> 00:39:37.220 to him is 00:39:37.220 --> 00:39:38.340 often in the 00:39:38.340 --> 00:39:38.860 dark. 00:39:39.180 --> 00:39:39.820 It is often 00:39:39.820 --> 00:39:40.640 half-hearted. 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:41.279 It is 00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:42.219 often fearful. 00:39:44.199 --> 00:39:44.960 And when we 00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:45.559 make the same 00:39:45.559 --> 00:39:46.219 request of 00:39:46.219 --> 00:39:47.699 him, he 00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:48.259 graciously 00:39:48.259 --> 00:39:49.000 responds. 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:51.679 And when we 00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:52.239 like Gideon 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:52.920 find ourselves 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:53.659 doubting God's 00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:54.859 promises or 00:39:54.859 --> 00:39:55.659 God's presence, 00:39:56.159 --> 00:39:57.219 we can ask 00:39:57.219 --> 00:39:58.239 him again and 00:39:58.239 --> 00:39:58.900 again and 00:39:58.900 --> 00:39:59.579 again to 00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:01.179 point us to 00:40:01.179 --> 00:40:02.259 the majesty 00:40:02.259 --> 00:40:02.679 of the 00:40:02.679 --> 00:40:03.000 son. 00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:06.840 And he 00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:07.559 points us to 00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:08.179 the fullest 00:40:08.179 --> 00:40:09.639 final revelation 00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:10.340 of his nature 00:40:10.340 --> 00:40:10.559 and his 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:10.980 character and 00:40:10.980 --> 00:40:11.380 his purposes 00:40:11.380 --> 00:40:11.719 in the 00:40:11.719 --> 00:40:12.219 Lord Jesus. 00:40:12.840 --> 00:40:13.639 Again and 00:40:13.639 --> 00:40:14.380 again and 00:40:14.380 --> 00:40:15.260 again to 00:40:15.260 --> 00:40:16.119 see God for 00:40:16.119 --> 00:40:16.780 who he is is 00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:17.579 what Gideon 00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:18.239 needed and 00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:18.780 what Gideon 00:40:18.780 --> 00:40:19.860 received and 00:40:19.860 --> 00:40:20.360 he will do 00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:21.019 the same for 00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.500 us. 00:40:23.179 --> 00:40:23.960 In fact, 00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:24.780 he is so 00:40:24.780 --> 00:40:25.800 eager to do 00:40:25.800 --> 00:40:26.599 it for us 00:40:26.599 --> 00:40:27.920 that he has 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:28.500 provided 00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:30.579 multiple means 00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:31.519 for our 00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.559 strengthening in 00:40:32.559 --> 00:40:33.179 our weakness. 00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:34.840 We have 00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:35.559 his word. 00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:37.820 It's where we 00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:38.539 find God 00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:39.259 revealing himself 00:40:39.259 --> 00:40:39.820 to us. 00:40:40.299 --> 00:40:41.239 And so as 00:40:41.239 --> 00:40:41.659 we have a 00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:42.099 core value 00:40:42.099 --> 00:40:42.360 of this 00:40:42.360 --> 00:40:42.639 church, 00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:43.679 saturate 00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:44.679 yourself in 00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:45.360 God's word, 00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:45.900 the Bible. 00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:47.400 If you do 00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:48.119 not have your 00:40:48.119 --> 00:40:48.940 face planted 00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:49.420 in the 00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:49.820 scriptures, 00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:50.980 your faith 00:40:50.980 --> 00:40:51.360 will be 00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:51.860 feeble, 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:52.420 it will be 00:40:52.420 --> 00:40:53.159 weak and 00:40:53.159 --> 00:40:54.059 don't guarantee 00:40:54.059 --> 00:40:55.079 at all that 00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:55.340 it will 00:40:55.340 --> 00:40:55.860 survive. 00:40:57.779 --> 00:40:58.799 The word 00:40:58.799 --> 00:41:00.019 is essential. 00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:04.900 So to 00:41:04.900 --> 00:41:05.739 Timothy 3, 00:41:05.900 --> 00:41:06.519 have confidence 00:41:06.519 --> 00:41:07.079 in God's 00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:07.259 word. 00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:07.679 Everything 00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:08.940 you need 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:09.500 for life 00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:09.840 and for 00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:10.400 salvation 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:11.480 is found 00:41:11.480 --> 00:41:11.759 in the 00:41:11.759 --> 00:41:12.119 word. 00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:14.219 But 00:41:14.219 --> 00:41:16.599 instead of 00:41:16.599 --> 00:41:17.380 a fleece, 00:41:18.179 --> 00:41:19.239 we also 00:41:19.239 --> 00:41:19.900 have the 00:41:19.900 --> 00:41:20.199 Lord's 00:41:20.199 --> 00:41:20.440 Supper. 00:41:22.299 --> 00:41:22.900 In 00:41:22.900 --> 00:41:23.420 communion, 00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:24.420 we are 00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:25.659 reminded of 00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:26.360 the nature 00:41:26.360 --> 00:41:27.000 and the 00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:27.779 character of 00:41:27.779 --> 00:41:28.259 God, 00:41:28.460 --> 00:41:28.980 the God 00:41:28.980 --> 00:41:29.559 of grace. 00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:34.039 Come to 00:41:34.039 --> 00:41:35.219 commence 00:41:35.219 --> 00:41:38.139 the 00:41:38.139 --> 00:41:38.719 word 00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:39.519 chapter 00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:40.159 is 00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:41.659 having 00:41:41.659 --> 00:41:42.659 been 00:41:42.659 --> 00:41:43.000 a 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:44.199 mythical 00:41:44.199 --> 00:41:45.099 manada 00:41:45.099 --> 00:41:45.900 in 00:41:45.900 --> 00:41:46.799 song 00:41:46.799 --> 00:41:47.840 with 00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:48.579 Juli 00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:49.840 快 00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:50.679 div 00:41:50.679 --> 00:41:51.159 are 00:41:51.159 --> 00:41:51.559 right. 00:41:52.820 --> 00:41:54.099 It can be 00:41:54.099 --> 00:41:55.199 a 00:41:55.199 --> 00:41:56.019 cant 00:41:56.019 --> 00:41:56.079 going 00:41:56.079 --> 00:41:56.400 and 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:57.119 trip 00:41:57.199 --> 00:41:57.699 this 00:41:57.699 --> 00:41:58.079 is 00:41:58.079 --> 00:41:58.539 kn