Obedience releases Faith in others

Yesterday I shared a little about God and Gideon. I want to share an additional insight. Lets go back to Judges 6:28-32

28 When the men of the city got up in the morning, they found Baal’s altar torn down, the Asherah pole beside it cut down, and the second bull offered up on the altar that had been built. 29 They said to each other, “Who did this?” After they made a thorough investigation, they said, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he tore down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead Baal’s case for him? Would you save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead his own case, because someone tore down his altar.” 32 That day, Gideon’s father called him Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead his case with him,” because he tore down his altar.

Gideons Obedience stirred something within those around him. I believe the Lord had been stirring within the hearts of his people. In the first verse of Chapter 6 we are told that the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

What did they do? Well verse 10 states, “I said to you: I am the LORD your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites whose land you live in. But you did not obey Me.’”

Wow what a key. You see fear enslaves you to that which you fear. Father God wants us to fear Him alone. Whats more he is perfect love and he casts out all fear so we become sons totally loved and accepted by our Father. When our fear is in the Lord our trust is in Him to deliver. He will provide wisdom and understanding in the ways we should go.

It took the obedience and faith of one man to release others from that fear and bondage. Whats more is Gideon released his father from bondage by destroying the alter his father had erected. That act alone could have caused some family conflict, yet his fathers response is so encouraging. His fathers faith rises to the surface instead and he says (paraphrase) any of you wimps want to speak for baal I am going to whip you to death. Let baal defend himself if he is so great and worthy of our fear and respect.

Guaranteed Father God, Jesus and Holy Spirit have been working in the hearts of others around you and your simple obedience to hearing the voice of God and obeying may just be the spark that sets people free and revival to enter the land.

Proverbs 1:7 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.