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 Midian”, and in chapter eight and verse six of Judges, we learn how, “the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand”, where we read,
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand,
that we should give bread unto you army?
The verse reads, “And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, …” The writer began with the words, “and the princes of Succoth said” which means “and the rulers, leaders, chiefs, chieftains and officials belonging to Succoth whose name means ‘booths’ and was the site where Jacob put up booths for his cattle and built a house for himself; apparently east of the Jordan near the ford of the torrent Jabbok and later allotted to the tribe of Gad, uttered, declared and asked”, “are the hands of Zebah” or “is the power, might and authority belonging to Zebah whose name means ‘deprived of protection’ and was one of the two kings of Midian who commanded the great invasion of Palestine and finally were defeated by Gideon” “and Zalmunna” whose name means “‘deprived of protection” “now in your hand” or “at this time within your, Gideon’s, power, might and strength”. The writer shared how the rulers of “Succoth” asked whether “Zebah and Zalmunna” were already captured by them.
The verse goes on to say, “… that we should give bread unto your army?” The writer continued with the words, “that we should give bread” which means “so we, the men of Succoth, ought to give food and provision” “unto your army” which means “to your, Gideon’s, men of military action and service”? The writer shared how the “men of Succoth” told “Gideon” that when he and his men captured “Zebah and Zalmunna”, they would feed his men.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how the “men of Succoth” did not want to provide food to “Gideon and his three hundred men” until they captured the two kings of the “Midianites” known as “Zebah and Zalmunna”. This was not what “Gideon” desired, and we shall see what he does about it in our next verse, but for now let us consider that others were involved in the work of Jehovah God, and they wanted things to be done in their order and way. That’s not how it works with God. He alone provided His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be 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 to empower us to live according to that truth so we perform in ways that are pleasing to Him and not to our own ideas for living. (See John 3:16; 14:6; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)
Next time we learn how Gideon says, “I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers”, 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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