Thought from today’s Bible reading from Judges 8-9.
After defeating the Midianites with only 300 men armed with trumpets and pitchers, Gideon pursued the kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna. Along the way they stopped in Succoth hoping to receive bread to help them finish their mission. However, the leaders were not at all eager to help.
“Then Gideon and the 300 men who were with him came to the Jordan and crossed over, weary yet pursuing. He said to the men of Succoth, ‘Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.’
“The leaders of Succoth said, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?’ Gideon said, ‘All right, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will thrash your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers’” (Judges 8:4-7).
The leaders of Succoth were perfectly willing to provide aid and support to Gideon and his men after the Midianite kings were killed. But while the kings were still alive, these men refused to get involved.
These men were cowards. Gideon was not asking them to fight. He was asking them for aid so that they could continue the fight. But the leaders of Succoth did not want to get involved as long as the fighting was going on. Once the fighting was over, then they would support Gideon and his men. But Gideon made it clear that it would be too late then. If they would not support Gideon during the fight, they would not be his allies after the fight.
We would do well to remember this lesson as it relates to our spiritual conflict today. Too many want nothing to do with contending for the faith (Jude 3). They will not only refuse to fight, but also refuse to support, help, or encourage those who are engaging in the fight. John said, “we ought to support” those who are defending and proclaiming the cause of Christ, “so that we may be fellow workers with the truth” (3 John 8).
If we want nothing to do with legitimate controversies in which the truth is defended against error, we cannot legitimately claim to be on the side of truth.
Tomorrow’s reading: Judges 10-12
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
