Monday, August 31, 2015

Judges 8: Fair-Weather Friends

Gideon finds that he has some score-settling to do in Judges 8.  
In hot pursuit of the Midianites, Gideon crosses the Jordan with an exhausted force.  He comes across two towns (Succoth and Penuel) and asks for bread for his troops.  Both towns give him the same answer: "Do you already have in your possession the hands of the kings of the Midianites?" meaning, "Have you already won the war?"  

The leaders of Succoth and Penuel were unwilling to "take sides" with Gideon while his victory was still incomplete and thus insecure, so they refused to help him.  He swore vengeance upon them, however, telling them that when he did return victorious, he would teach them a lesson.  

Sure enough, Gideon's forces captured the kings of the Midianites, and, when he visited Succoth and Penuel again, punishment was handed out for their refusal to help in a time of need.  

Gideon had no use for "fair-weather friends."  I believe the spiritual lesson here for us is that we must not be "fair-weather friends" of God, either!  The time to be on God's side is always NOW, not waiting until it's safe or profitable to be so.

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