Gideon Returned from Battle - Judges 8:13

In the book of Judges we learned about Gideon, “when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host”, and in chapter eight and verse thirteen of Judges, we learn how, “Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle” where we read,

And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,

The verse reads, “And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle …” The writer began with the words, “and Gideon” whose name means ‘hewer’ and was “of the Abiezrites, fifth judge of Israel who led the Israelites against the Midianites” “the son of Joash” or “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Joash whose name means ‘given by the Lord’ and was the father of Gideon”  “returned from battle” which means “turned and came back from the fighting and war”. The writer shared how “Joash’s” male progeny named “Gideon” came back from the fighting and war against the “Midianites”. 

The verse continues, “… before the sun was up,” The writer added the word, “before the sun” which means “in advance and prior to the sun in the sky” “was up” which means “rising or appearing”. The writer shared how “Gideon” came back prior to the “sun” in the sky rising. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover how “Gideon” came back from the fighting and war in advance of the “sun” in the sky rising. The main battle was over, and it was time to go back to the place from which he started. There is a time and place for fulfilling everything that God desires for our lives, and that journey begins when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the grave after three days as our “Savior and Lord”. As we submit to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to know when to do battle and when to return home after our conquests. (See John 3:16; Romans 8:37)

Next time we learn how Gideon, “caught a young man of the men of Succoth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".