patriarchs and prophets-第115部分

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to　their　homes　returned　and　joined　in　pursuit　of　their　fleeing　enemies。　The
Midianites　were　making　their　way　toward　the　Jordan；　hoping　to　reach　their
own　territory；　beyond　the　river。　Gideon　sent　messengers　to　the　tribe　of
Ephraim；　rousing　them　to　intercept　the　fugitives　at　the　southern　fords。
Meanwhile；　with　his　three　hundred；　〃faint；　yet　pursuing；〃　Gideon　crossed　the
stream　hard　after　those　who　had　already　gained　the　farther　side。　The　two
princes；　Zebah　and　Zalmunna；　who　had　been　over　the　entire　host；　and　who　had
escaped　with　an　army　of　fifteen　thousand　men；　were　overtaken　by　Gideon；
their　force　completely　scattered；　and　the　leaders　captured　and　slain。

In　this　signal　defeat　not　less　than　one　hundred　and　twenty　thousand　of　the
invaders　perished。　The　power　of　the　Midianites　was　broken；　so　that　they　were
never　again　able　to　make　war　upon　Israel。　The　tidings　spread　swiftly　far　and
wide；　that　Israel's　God　had　again　fought　for　His　people。　No　words　can
describe　the　terror　of　the　surrounding　nations　when　they　learned　what　simple
means　had　prevailed　against　the　power　of　a　bold；　warlike　people。

The　leader　whom　God　chose　to　overthrow　the　Midianites　occupied　no　prominent
position　in　Israel。　He　was　not　a　ruler；　a　priest；　or　a　Levite。　He　thought
himself　the　least　in　his　father's　house。　But　God　saw　in　him　a　man　of　courage
and　integrity。　He　was　distrustful　of　himself　and　willing　to　follow　the
guidance　of　the　Lord。　God　does　not　always　choose　for　His　work　men　of　the
greatest　talents；　but　He　selects　those　whom　He　can　best　use。　〃Before　honor
is　humility。〃　Proverbs　15：33。　The　Lord　can　work　most　effectually　through
those　who　are　most　sensible　of　their　own　insufficiency；　and　who　will　rely
upon　Him　as　their　leader　and　source　of　strength。　He　will　make　them　strong　by
uniting　their　weakness　to　His　might；　and　wise　by　connecting　their　ignorance
with　His　wisdom。

If　they　would　cherish　true　humility；　the　Lord　could　do　much　more　for　His
people；　but　there　are　few　who　can　be　trusted　with　any　large　measure　of
responsibility　or　success　without　becoming

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self…confident　and　forgetful　of　their　dependence　upon　God。　This　is　why；　in
choosing　the　instruments　for　His　work；　the　Lord　passes　by　those　whom　the
world　honors　as　great；　talented；　and　brilliant。　They　are　too　often　proud　and
self…sufficient。　They　feel　competent　to　act　without　counsel　from　God。

The　simple　act　of　blowing　a　blast　upon　the　trumpet　by　the　army　of　Joshua
around　Jericho；　and　by　Gideon's　little　band　about　the　hosts　of　Midian；　was
made　effectual；　through　the　power　of　God；　to　overthrow　the　might　of　His
enemies。　The　most　complete　system　that　men　have　ever　devised；　apart　from　the
power　and　wisdom　of　God；　will　prove　a　failure；　while　the　most　unpromising
methods　will　succeed　when　divinely　appointed　and　entered　upon　with　humility
and　faith。　Trust　in　God　and　obedience　to　His　will　are　as　essential　to　the
Christian　in　the　spiritual　warfare　as　to　Gideon　and　Joshua　in　their　battles
with　the　Canaanites。　By　the　repeated　manifestations　of　His　power　in　behalf
of　Israel；　God　would　lead　them　to　have　faith　in　Himwith　confidence　to　seek
His　help　in　every　emergency。　He　is　just　as　willing　to　work　with　the　efforts
of　His　people　now　and　to　accomplish　great　things　through　weak
instrumentalities。　All　heaven　awaits　our　demand　upon　its　wisdom　and
strength。　God　is　〃able　to　do　exceeding　abundantly　above　all　that　we　ask　or
think。〃　Ephesians　3：20。

Gideon　returned　from　pursuing　the　enemies　of　the　nation；　to　meet　censure　and
accusation　from　his　own　countrymen。　When　at　his　call　the　men　of　Israel　had
rallied　against　the　Midianites；　the　tribe　of　Ephraim　had　remained　behind。
They　looked　upon　the　effort　as　a　perilous　undertaking；　and　as　Gideon　sent
them　no　special　summons；　they　availed　themselves　of　this　excuse　not　to　join
their　brethren。　But　when　the　news　of　Israel's　triumph　reached　them；　the
Ephraimites　were　envious　because　they　had　not　shared　it。　After　the　rout　of
the　Midianites；　the　men　of　Ephraim　had；　by　Gideon's　direction；　seized　the
fords　of　the　Jordan；　thus　preventing　the　escape　of　the　fugitives。　By　this
means　a　large　number　of　the　enemy　were　slain；　among　whom　were　two　princes；
Oreb　and　Zeeb。　Thus　the　men　of　Ephraim　followed　up　the　battle；　and　helped
complete　the　victory。　Nevertheless；　they　were　jealous　and　angry；　as　though
Gideon　had　been　led　by　his　own　will　and　judgment。　They　did　not　discern　God's
hand　in　the　triumph　of　Israel；　they　did　not　appreciate　His　power　and　mercy
in　their

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deliverance；　and　this　very　fact　showed　them　unworthy　to　be　chosen　as　His
special　instruments。

Returning　with　the　trophies　of　victory；　they　angrily　reproached　Gideon：　〃Why
hast　thou　served　us　thus；　that　thou　calledst　us　not；　when　thou　wentest　to
fight　with　the　Midianites？〃

〃What　have　I　done　now；　in　comparison　of　you？〃　said　Gideon。　〃Is　not　the
gleaning　of　the　grapes　of　Ephraim　better　than　the　vintage　of　Abiezer？　God
hath　delivered　into　your　hands　the　princes　of　Midian；　Oreb　and　Zeeb：　and
what　was　I　able　to　do　in　comparison　of　you？〃

The　spirit　of　jealousy　might　easily　have　been　fanned　into　a　quarrel　that
would　have　caused　strife　and　bloodshed；　but　Gideon's　modest　answer　soothed
the　anger　of　the　men　of　Ephraim；　and　they　returned　in　peace　to　their　homes。
Firm　and　uncompromising　where　principle　was　concerned；　and　in　war　a　〃mighty
man　of　valor；〃　Gideon　displayed　also　a　spirit　of　courtesy　that　is　rarely
witnessed。

The　people　of　Israel；　in　their　gratitude　at　deliverance　from　the　Midianites；
proposed　to　Gideon　that　he　should　become　their　king；　and　that　the　throne
should　be　confirmed　to　his　descendants。　This　proposition　was　in　direct
violation　of　the　principles　of　the　theocracy。　God　was　the　king　of　Israel；
and　for　them　to　place　a　man　upon　the　throne　would　be　a　rejection　of　their
Divine　Sovereign。　Gideon　recognized　this　fact；　his　answer　shows　how　true　and
noble　were　his　motives。　〃I　will　not　rule　over　you；〃　he　declared；　〃neither
shall　my　son　rule　over　you：　the　Lord　shall　rule　over　you。〃

But　Gideon　was　betrayed　into　another　error；　which　brought　disaster　upon　his
house　and　upon　all　Israel。　The　season　of　inactivity　that　succeeds　a　great
struggle　is　often　fraught　with　greater　danger　than　is　the　period　of
conflict。　To　this　danger　Gideon　was　now　exposed。　A　spirit　of　unrest　was　upon
him。　Hitherto　he　had　been　content　to　fulfill　the　directions　given　him　from
God；　but　now；　instead　of　waiting　for　divine　guidance；　he　began　to　plan　for
himself。　When　the　armies　of　the　Lord　have　gained　a　signal　victory；　Satan
will　redouble　his　efforts　to　overthrow　the　work　of　God。　Thus　thoughts　and
plans　were　suggested　to　the　mind　of　Gideon；　by　which　the　people　of　Israel
were　led　astray。

Because　he　had　been　commanded　to　offer　sacrifice　upon　the　rock　where　the
Angel　appeared　to　him；　Gideon　concluded　that

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he　had　been　appointed　to　officiate　as　a　priest。　Without　waiting　for　the
divine　sanction；　he　determined　to　provide　a　suitable　place；　and　to　institute
a　system　of　worship　similar　to　that　carried　on　at　the　tabernacle。　With　the
strong　popular　feeling　in　his　favor　he　found　no　difficulty　in　carrying　out
his　plan。　At　his　request　all　the　earrings　of　gold　taken　from　the　Midianites
were　given　him　as　his　share　of　the　spoil。　The　people　also　collected　many
other　costly　materials；　together　with　the　richly　adorned　garments　of　the
princes　of　Midian。　From　the　material　thus　furnished；　Gideon　constructed　an
ephod　and　a　breastplate；　in　imitation　of　those　worn　by　the　high　priest。　His
course　proved　a　snare　to　himself　and　his　family；　as　well　as　to　Israel。　The
unauthorized　worship　led　many　of　the　people　finally　to　forsake　the　Lord
altogether；　to　serve　idols。　After　Gideon's　death　great　numbers；　among　whom
were　his　own　family；　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

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king；　who；　to　sustain　his　power；　murdered　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　o