Gideon, Rule Over Us - Judges 8:22

In the book of Judges we learned how Gideon, “beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom you slew at Tabor? And they answered, As you are, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not slay you. And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise you, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-two of Judges, we learn how, “the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule you over us” where we read,

Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule you over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also: for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.

The verse reads, “Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule you over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also:” The writer began with the words, “then the men of Israel” which means “at that time the male human beings belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “said unto Gideon” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Gideon whose name means ‘hewer’ and was the youngest son of Joash of the Abiezrites, fifth judge of Israel who led the Israelites against the Midianites”, “rule you over us” which means “you, Gideon, have dominion and reign over us, the people of Israel”, “both you” or “both you, Gideon, ”, “and your son” which means “and your, Gideon’s, male offspring and progeny”, “and your son’s son also” or “and your, Gideon’s, grandson”. The writer shared how the people of “Israel” wanted “Gideon”, his male offspring and his grandson to have reign and dominion over them. 

The verse continues, “for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” The writer added the words, “for you have delivered us” which means “because, since and on account that you, Gideon, have rescued and saved us, the people of Israel” “from the hand of Midian” which means “separate and apart from the power, might and authority belonging to Midian or Midianite whose name means ‘strife” and was the son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians”. The writer shared how the people of “Israel” told “Gideon” that he rescued and saved them from the power and might of “Midian”. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how the people of “Israel” wanted “Gideon” and his male progeny to reign over them. They knew “Gideon” was responsible for their freedom from the “Midianites”, and they desired to have him as their ruler because of his accomplishments. We shall see how he answers them in the next few verses, but for now let us consider how meek and weak “Gideon” considered himself at the beginning of his calling by God (See Judges 6:15), and now he is so strong the people of Israel wanted him to rule over them. God recognized “Gideon” as a “mighty man of valor” (See Judges 6:12) even when he thought himself much less, and God sees us for our potential as well. When we receive God’s Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of everyone and was raised from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and equip us to be as conquerors like “Gideon” in His Kingdom and this world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:37)

Next time we learn how, “Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you”, 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".