In the book of Judges we learned how Gideon told the people of Ephraim, “God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midia. And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread unto your army? And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers”, and in chapter eight and verse eight of Judges, we learn how Gideon, “went up there to Penuel, and spoke unto them likewise”, where we read,
And he went up there to Penuel, and spoke unto them likewise:
and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
The verse reads, “And he went up there to Penuel, and spoke unto them likewise:” The writer began with the words, “and he went up there” which means “and he, Gideon, ascended from Succoth” “to Penuel” or “toward Penuel or Peniel whose name means ‘facing God’ and was the place named by Jacob when he wrestled with God and located on the north bank of the Jabbok close to the Jordan”, “and spoke unto them likewise” which means “and talked, warned and threatened them, the people of Penuel, in a similar and like manner”. The writer shared how “Gideon” talked to the people of “Penuel” in a similar manner to the way he talked to “men of Succoth”.
The verse goes on to say, “and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.” The writer continued with the words, “and the men of Penuel answered him” which means “and the male human beings from Penuel whose name means ‘facing God’ responded to Gideon” “as the men of Succoth” which means “similar way and likeness to the male human beings belonging to Succoth whose name means ‘booths’” “had answered him” or “responded and spoke to him, Gideon”. The writer shared how the male human beings from “Penuel” responded to “Gideon” in a similar manner as the “men of Succoth”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how “Gideon” moved on to “Penuel” and talked with the people there the same way he did to the “men of Succoth”, however, the people of “Penuel” responded to his words in a similar manner as the men of “Succoth”. When “Gideon” faced a mission from God, it was not without opposition and lack of assistance. We may encounter a similar reaction when we work in the Kingdom of God. God wants to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and give us the ability to continue His assignments even when others oppose or do not assist us at all. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12)
Next time we learn how Gideon says to the people of Penuel, “when I come again in peace, I will break down this tower”, 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".
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