DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DO AS I DO

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – DO AS I DO

"Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers. And he said to them, 'Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do.' " (Judges 7:16-17).

Yesterday, we considered leadership. But what makes a leader? It is the ability to say to other people, "Follow me. Do as I do."

Gideon was not always a leader, but he grew into the role. In the beginning, he was a fearful, reticent person who saw himself as the least of the least. He did not view himself as a leader. When the Angel of the Lord called him, he was hiding, threshing wheat in a winepress so that the Midianites would not discover him. When the Angel said, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!", Gideon said, "Who, me? My family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house" Judges 6:12, 15). This is not exactly the confidence expected of a leader.

After this meeting with the Angel of the LORD, Gideon took up the challenge by destroying the altar to Baal that his father owned. But he did it at night because he feared his father and the people of the city (6:25-27) – not exactly an exhibition of bravery. But as time went by, he took on the mantle of leadership more and more, because he knew that God had called him to this position.

Now, Gideon was not perfect. Even though he did not let the success of his leadership go to his head, he still had his weaknesses. When the people wanted to make Gideon king, he deferred, and said that the LORD would be their ruler (8:22-23). However, he then turned around and made an idol that he set up in his city, Ophrah, which became a place of false worship, and became a snare to Gideon and his household (vs. 27). He also was a polygamist with a concubine.

As humans, we are not perfect, and we need to be careful. Leaders can lead people to victory, but they can also lead people into evil. May we always be intentional in leading into righteousness. As the Apostle Paul said, "You became followers of us and of the Lord" (I Thessalonians 1:6). This is our challenge and our joy, to lead people to Jesus.

Love,  Dad