Are You Prepared To Tear Down the False Altars?
So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace.
. . . That same night the LORD said to him, "Take the second bull from your father's herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering."
. . . In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal's altar, demolished . . . When they carefully investigated, they were told, "Gideon son of Joash did it." The people of the town demanded of Joash, "Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it."
But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, "Are you going to plead Baal's cause? . . . If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself . . . So because Gideon broke down Baal's altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal . . . saying, "Let Baal contend with him." Judges 6:24-32
. . . That same night the LORD said to him, "Take the second bull from your father's herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering."
. . . In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal's altar, demolished . . . When they carefully investigated, they were told, "Gideon son of Joash did it." The people of the town demanded of Joash, "Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it."
But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, "Are you going to plead Baal's cause? . . . If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself . . . So because Gideon broke down Baal's altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal . . . saying, "Let Baal contend with him." Judges 6:24-32
The Promised Land had become infested with the worship of false gods. God's children had become a part of the problem instead of being the solution. They had rejected Yahweh, their Covenant God, and joined in the worship of Baal and other false gods. The result was divine wrath which brought great suffering to God's people and much pain to God's heart. God could simply not stand the pain from the cry of His children so He empowered Gideon to lead Israel in battle against their enemies. What a merciful God!
Before the victory could be secured, however, a proper spiritual foundation had to be laid. The despicable altar of Baal had to be torn down and a proper altar set up in its place to honor Yahweh. The problem was that God directed Gideon to start by tearing down the altar in his own father's house. This was so risky that Gideon did it at night for fear of death! Not surprisingly, the people sought to kill him when they found out. But God spared Gideon's life. God used Gideon's own father to save him from death. Lost for words, the people could only say of Gideon, "Let Baal contend with him."
Many of us desire to be used by God to make a difference in society, but we are not willing to pay the price. God was ready to change the deplorable conditions of His children in Canaan but Gideon had to be willing to confront the false gods and tear down their false altars at the risk of his life. Gideon had to start with his own father's house. Genuine change always starts with self!
Question: Do you really want God to use you? Then think about this: Are you willing to confront the status quo? Are you willing to tear down the false gods of deception even from within the church? Deception in your own family? Deception in society at large? Are you willing to be confronted and discredited by society? Are you willing to incur the wrath of people? If yes, then be prepared to be used by God. The good news is that the Almighty Himself will contend with those who contend with you! God will shield you and use you for His divine purposes.
Before the victory could be secured, however, a proper spiritual foundation had to be laid. The despicable altar of Baal had to be torn down and a proper altar set up in its place to honor Yahweh. The problem was that God directed Gideon to start by tearing down the altar in his own father's house. This was so risky that Gideon did it at night for fear of death! Not surprisingly, the people sought to kill him when they found out. But God spared Gideon's life. God used Gideon's own father to save him from death. Lost for words, the people could only say of Gideon, "Let Baal contend with him."
Many of us desire to be used by God to make a difference in society, but we are not willing to pay the price. God was ready to change the deplorable conditions of His children in Canaan but Gideon had to be willing to confront the false gods and tear down their false altars at the risk of his life. Gideon had to start with his own father's house. Genuine change always starts with self!
Question: Do you really want God to use you? Then think about this: Are you willing to confront the status quo? Are you willing to tear down the false gods of deception even from within the church? Deception in your own family? Deception in society at large? Are you willing to be confronted and discredited by society? Are you willing to incur the wrath of people? If yes, then be prepared to be used by God. The good news is that the Almighty Himself will contend with those who contend with you! God will shield you and use you for His divine purposes.
Prayer: Lord, I am willing to be used by you. Please strengthen me with great resolve. Amen.