Unexpected Opposition (Part A)

He doesn't stay to deal with them a dozen major in the minors and majors in the majors. He stays focused on the important things he goes after the Midianites the war continues and here's another lesson God's horses will march forward without you or with you. It's up to you. It was up to the minute Sue caught the good of drawing ranks. They should've joined ranks anybody think that the just so important that they leave the church.

The church is going to crumble. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher. Rick asked Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Judges, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Judges chapter 8 as he begins his message unexpected opposition. Judges chapter 8 unexpected opposition that seemed that's stands out to me. Maybe you'll see it to or not. But here's Gideon on the brink of total victory.

Driving out the Midianites, 135,000 warriors of the Midianites had invaded the land of Israel and with just 300 men. He started there destruction. And then he called the other tribes in the they joined in the Midianites turning the swords on each other. Other tribes of the Jews, then entering the fight what was left of the Midianite Army began to flee back across the Jordan River to get away from the Jews to get out of the land and Gideon with his 300 men are going to pursue them and so here is on the brink of total victory against these invaded invaders and he's faced with challenges from his own people you you when you win the war on your winning the war, only to find yourself fighting the allies of structures his own people, victory can bring battles.

There is a word that stands out in all of this. If I'm in Gideon's places, but the 300 they stuck with them all the way. I think there's a hidden lesson and that it doesn't take much to support the fight just takes enough, verse one.

Now the men of you from said to him, why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites and they reprimanded him sharply.

Well this is taking place again after the slaughter of the Midianite. The major force the hundred and 20,000 of them. There's always a fly in the ointment. Is this like this part of life such a irritating part of life you really have little control over stopping what you have. You have the opportunity we have the opportunity to learn how to stand up to it. Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes dead flies putrefy. The perfumers ointment and cause it to give off a foul odor.

So does a little folly one respected for wisdom and honor. So you have this distinguished individual and they do something a little silly that just gonna ruins everything not harmlessly there such a thing as a harmlessly that is also such thing as a harmful one. Just a little bit of something to mess it up and that's how it is for Gideon here. He's on this victory. Do you think the men of even reset yeah Gideon thanks for calling us to the battle of no they got a nitpick they got up when you call us first is several reasons for that he did not call them first. He invited them after the initial rally call what they really have followed it a farmer. This best gatekeeper was very proud tribes very large and influential tribe amongst the Jews when they have come to his aid. Usually when these kind of criticisms come up. There's something personal in the background pushing it forward, that you may never find the reason why Jesus often somebody all of a sudden they got a big problem with a little thing and it's really a big problem with and then I letting you go because of something else there and they don't want to tell you because they probably guilty.

I would assume in Ephraim's case, what they really were saying is we wanted to be called to the fight so we can get the spoils of war and you didn't call us so we can get the best stuff that's where this is coming from is good. They Gideon again and Israel did not call them to the battle. What would've happened if this proud tribe was told you need to go back to your tents because you got down your hands and need to drink water and we're looking for those not doing that they would make a bigger problem for every bike a lot use swords is: one to war with Gideon over.

How dare you, we got spoils over there in the Midianite camp. We want to get our hands on.

Who are you to tell us we can go to war. I don't think Gideon planned it that way. I think he just call these other tribes not thinking of me probably said even cyclic, if I call him, but God saw that it was delivered by God unintentional oversight by Gideon not by God.

What would have happened if tribe of Ephraim was totally going war, which is 300 of our men and none for me from so he is faced with this now. God of course in back of it all, because God said he had too many men I want for not your ranks and with the people getting the glory I I need to get this glory. If I was going to pull this again is a tribe we get to Japheth.

Japheth and take any mess from anybody. They messed with the wrong man. When they got up in his face and he started. Gideon was my Japheth. David was not a statesman. Gideon has some class to him. Was he that never studiously said to them, what have I done now in comparison with you is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of advisees or now remember the Midianites and getting away a stop stop all the operations and deal with this silly protest many new cars but instead of handling it like Japheth, which I, like appeals to my carnal major Gideon excels here.

He just rises up his gracious statesmanship versus bloodshed was it would've gotten violent very quickly already had their swords in hand on their hips there ready. Proverbs 51.

A soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up strife and this is a kind answer. He's giving that he's saying to them, where he says God is delivered into your hands. The princes of Midian or Evan cf. verse three. What was I able to do in comparison with you.

Then their anger toward him, subsided, not Gideon.

He is an advisor right he is. As he says in verse two. What have I done in comparison with you is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of advisees or in that. I guess proverb he's saying you came to war late.

So you gleaned and you captured the two princes of the Midianites you came in late what you got the good stuff nobody from my town was able to do this.

This is outstanding.

My hometown boys could not catch these men, you did and you got the spoils that went with them. They heard that they said you could point C instead of him locking horns with them and say I'm the commander who are you to step up your get my fees like Japheth will do. Gideon just tells and think about it guys you not missing anything.

In fact he got better stuff than the rest of us. Proverbs 6 he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city that Amy I wish he was slow to anger him to quit with the guns. If I were a gunslinger had been dead long time ago.

Somebody faster who is me off the hothead not as hotheaded as it used to be an it was totally reckless but I still noticed that about myself and maybe you do to. Or maybe you're married that sorts of notice and someone else but the proverb stands you is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and here is Gideon slow to add anger so fantastic victory that again we covered this last session, the psalmist and Isaiah twice will bring up these two men or Evan Zia with the children of Ephraim had captured and executed or killed in in the battle.

So one of the lessons that comes out of all of this is after victory against foes, there can be wars against friends confrontations at the least so you put a double guard up to since the first of three Allied attacks on Gideon. This one was relatively mild but potentially disastrous. This could have just again gotten out of hand will get to the others as we move through verse four and when Gideon came to the Jordan. He and 300 men who were with him crossed over exhausted but still in pursuit. Now we go to verse five with it and he said to the men of Sukkoth.

Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me. For they are exhausted and I am pursuing zebra and Zalman Luna Kings of Midian, so he had already taken out the princes through the tribe of Ephraim, but the Kings work had gotten away with Gideon's not letting them get away with it is going after them. He saved us a hook.

It is ugly mess with the firm is now behind you and get back on to the business of war against these invaders. Because of these two guys get away just going to regroup and come back next year. He's got to get them. That's his thinking you need to finish the job and that's very admirable about him and so he saying okay and I can fight the enemies wrong.

Incidentally, the radius of the battle theater is expanding very rapidly after he's dealt with the firm is expanding 25 mile 35 Moses we getting the city. The names of the cities would charting them for where all battle.

The battle started to be 65 miles away. That's where it ends at carport that's behind enemy lines.

God picked the God picked 300 men of Gideon the Gideon guard.

That's who was with him and they are exhausted. Look again it says exhausted verse four, but still in pursuit pursuit of what complete victory. Gen. MacArthur told one of his generals while he was moving his way towards the Philippine Philippines. He said you have your teeth in him now. Don't let go and he did let go and of course they want and that's what Gideon is getting as I got my teeth in them not letting go. These guys Gideon's 300, a chasing 15,000 troops out of the land and they don't know it's only 300.

There, he's just full of the spirit in this war. It is dangerous to underestimate the power of evil, but it is also paralyzing to exaggerated got to be able to understand what you're up against, but also understand who is with you and this is the case with Gideon and this is yet another lessons of God gotten a couple lessons.

One is your your your allies can turn you over.

Nothing very quickly and so you you set a guard your victory against the flow. Yes, but confrontation with friends. That's how it is. Don't overestimate.

Don't underestimate the enemy and don't exaggerate his strength either both counter productive and I think in this phrase exhausted but still in pursuit is quite beautiful. I have a topical on this from years ago probably should give it another shot hope lead to better, but this is not a description of Christian perseverance.

Exhausted but still going still chasing still following the commandments of the Lord in this little phrase parallel lessons that their inescapable they said right there waiting for us. The striking application in our own lives, remembering that exhaustion exceeds tiredness goes beyond just being weary.

Your your your now are approaching the end of yourself. Maybe there is a season in your life where you are exhausted in your efforts to carry out the Lords orders. Maybe you are just tired of putting up with someone or something. Perhaps it could be a sickness.

Perhaps it is your own flesh you just sick and tired of not corralling the flesh, but you still go after the Lord, you still pray you still read you still show up to church if you can you do your duty, your exhausted which are still in pursuit of obedience you still have to find also, when you reach the enemy. That's another thing.

They were exhausted. There still chasing what they caught the enemy in their exhausted state that the fight like that. It's not you know you have to hurry up.

Rosie gets away or he gets in a position we going to make a worse for you.

Gideon knows this. They get to a stronghold.

One of the going to do the deal with the next that's just a thought. Gideon is not prepared to embrace verse six.

Then the leaders of Sukkoth said of the hands of zebra and Zalman Luna now in your hand that we should give you bread to your army not an army just company. This is the fruitless victory that Jesus dealt with a promised fruit, but it did not deliver the fig tree saw that it had leaves, which meant the fruit was on the tree and there was none. So he cursed the trick for here is Gideon is down in the territory of Gad is crossed over Jordan and this is in Gad's territory. This these are his people and he's asking them for food for the fight and they're saying is you did you kill these guys generally still out there. What you come back and talk to us when you got their heads until they went give you anything you lose is Gideon thinking to come after us.

Might is more important than right. According to them they are wrong.

Others were risking their lives with these men of Gad, they were withholding blessings they were enabling the enemy to get away and to remain strong, not even recorded blessing, not even getting we can help you with the Lord be with you the woman be foiled. God bless you, not even that critical mission, which is an admission of guilt. Galway was in none of their thoughts. Each did what was right in his own size. Show us their heads and Gideon he's tired he's hungry. He knows he's got these guys and he's not getting help from where he would've expected it the most anything to face his men where they did this for us to go and turn on their own people is going to punish them.

Just not going to do it now, which is another lesson that comes out of all of this. Now you might say, well, the people of Sukkoth had good reason to fear know they did not. The fact that Gideon is chasing a retreating a full Army in full retreat. The fact that he's chasing them out of the land as evidence of the patient rally. This we see you got him, they don't offer troops and he doesn't ask for any markable how people of inaction can almost ruin the war break your heart in the process they offer him nothing. No food, no troops, no blessing.

Nothing in fact were told in letter verses in verse 15 that they even mark him. That probably seal their fate.

So here is another lesson.

He doesn't stay to argue. He doesn't stay to deal with them a dozen major in the minors and majors in the majors.

He stays focused on the important things he goes after the Midianites the war continues and here's another lesson God's forces will march forward without you or with you.

It's up to you.

It was up to the men of Sukkoth they could join ranks they should join ranks anybody think that the just so important that they leave the church. The church is going to crumble. I can't tell you how many people have implied that over the years.

I'm leaving and I'll be taking a bunch of people with me and you'll be out of its car, but you will. God's Satan gets in the heart of the best of us. This was a war that everybody had to take a risk in they didn't know that they were taking a risk with the wrong side. These minimum of Sukkoth, but they were well Gideon was risking his life and his men on the battlefield is worse know where it gets worse. Verse seven so Gideon said for this cause.

When Yahweh has delivered zebra and Zalman Luna into my hand.

Then I would tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briars that's probably the point where they started marking all yes you are a hard right we will were shaking in our sandals.

What Gideon knowing how big this army is he's chasing knowing how small his company is his car. I wouldn't take these guys to kill a horn gets killed goes to, that's all I've got to do what a man that he messes it up from Texas it all up at the end. Not completely, but he does damage. Anyway, this brand of neutrality in the war is going to cost them and is going to cost them severely. The good of again dealt with them on the spot, but he remains focused, refusing to help the servants of Israel. They ended up helping the enemies of Israel.

One lesson Jesus said it this way you is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me scatters and ask the men of Sukkoth and don't worry as I mentioned there's more verse eight.

Then he went up from there to Penny will and spoke to them in the same way in the men of Penny well answered him as the men of Sukkoth that answered more countrymen from dad again six and he's 6 miles hungrier and more tired and more irritated. He's gotta be asking himself what is with these people. Idolatry is with these people. That's what AZ's essay is it me is hitting me.

Why am I the only one that can understand. I've got my deepen these guys and I can't let them go. Don't just see the enemy is in full retreat is not even a sensible retreat, then not even setting regards to slow us down. They think that they just need to pell-mell out here in their faith. And that's going to be the enemy's downfall. Verse eight so he also spoke to the men of Penny will sing when I come back in peace. I would tear down this tower he will and is going to hurt. He's going to hit them where it hurts. You can remind a little bit of me reminded them play around with at this point, but eager to do more damage to them than than their ready for this going to be blood.

So he gives them a heads up, and he says you do, you can't be neutral, not in this you will be scourged for verse 10 now zebra and Zalman were in car core and their armies with them about 15,000, all who were left of all the army of the people of these for 120,000 men who drew the sword had fallen hundred and 35 warriors hundred and 20 killed already and being killed probably is going on west of Jordan back in the promised land and is in car core. We know car course in in enemy territory so that see how far he chased them. Gideon is outnumbered 50 to 1. The size of his he's got 2% of their army just 300 divided into 15,000 is at 2%, 11% of the Midianite Army has survived and he doesn't again. He does not wipe out the whole army just has to take out the leaders.

Incidentally, car core means flat Torah plateau so it's an ideal battlefield and it's an ideal campground but it doesn't offer any coverage when I going to be told how Gideon gets these two guys, but I am suspecting there was some you know's night mission involves just swooped in, took him and went on to suggest you mean you can't eat 300 men just can't kill 15,000 men with the sword, not in a day. As you get tired of eating a sandwich right just type them up just can't be foolish for us to think that the DEET will not annihilate them. They'll do some damage to some of them but gets away with verse 11 then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nob and Jock Beth and he attacked the Army while the camp felt secure while the road where it says the road of those who dwell in the tents at the caravan route and he is surprised is the reason why he gets the advantage of a surprise attack because they let their guard down there like where out of Israel's territory, not even in dad's territory now and they felt pretty good about themselves, move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Judges cross reference radio is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

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