Gideon used powerful leadership tools to avoid civil war with Ephraim.

Many people consider Gideon a hero. He was a hero, except for the fact he ended his career by causing Israel to go whoring after a golden ephod (see the Bible verses in Judges 8:27). We could stop and ask why so many good men in the Bible finished their lives poorly. At least the land had forty years of rest, despite the snare Gideon put in Israel’s way.

Overview

Gideon was one of the judges in Israel. God used him to deliver the people and win major battles. As a leader, he exemplified boldness, courage and assertiveness in ways that can instruct us all.

The enemy

Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, so God sent Midian to afflict Israel for seven years. When the time came to set the people free, God raised up Gideon to cast off the forces of Midian. After confirming the will of God with a fleece, Gideon raised an army and set out to defeat the Midianites.

The battle

The soldiers of Midian were like locusts, swarming about the land. For years, Israel lived in fear of Midian. The people had to hide in caves because the Midianites would kill the Israelites on sight. The Midianites would steal crops whenever the Israelites tried to grow food.

Gideon had 32,000 men to fight against Midian, but God said the army was too big. Gideon first sent 22,000 fearful and trembling soldiers home. Out of the remaining 10,000, God chose 300 men who lapped when they drank water. The rest went home.

The victory

To make a long story short, God gave Gideon and his 300 men a major victory. Most people recognize the victory God gave Gideon over the Midianites as one of the great victories of the Bible.

When Gideon returned home after liberating Israel, they had ticker tape parades. They were, no doubt, shouting with joy. They gave high fives, chest bumps and knuckle touches. Some did cartwheels. This was a great victory. The people were free.

The disagreement

Everyone was happy except Ephraim. They acted like someone had urinated on their corn flakes. They were not happy campers. They wanted help win the victory, but they weren’t allowed. They wanted to take part in the battle, but Gideon had sent their sorry tails home.

That’s right. The men of Ephraim either didn’t join the army, were fearful and trembling, or failed to lap when they drank water.

Jdg 8:1     Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely.

Lessons in leadership

Gideon, high from the victory, could have told the men of Ephraim to stifle. He could have ridiculed them for their failure to qualify for the élite company that fought the battle and won. Gideon could have told the men of Ephraim how utterly pathetic, sorry and disgraceful they were. They should shut up and go home. Stinkin’ party poopers.

Israel was free and Ephraim was pouting and not shouting.

Seek to understand before being understood

Gideon took the time to understand the complaint the men of Ephraim had. They were left out. They felt ignored. Like a youth baseball team, the coach chose his favorites to get all the glory, but left the rest of the team sitting on the bench. Gideon showed leadership by listening to – and understanding – the complaint against him.

Everyone likes being a part of success

Gideon knew that human nature wants to take part in success. After all, Ephraim was just as good as any other part of the team, so why couldn’t Ephraim play too? Gideon understood human nature.

The wise response of a leader

Gideon could have jumped all over the men of Ephraim. He could have told them how low-down and sorry they were. He could have told them to shut up and leave the country if they didn’t like the way he operated. He could have mocked them in front of the rest of the nation.

The situation could have gotten out of hand. Civil war could have erupted with Gideon putting down Ephraim by force.

Giving kudos

Instead of berating Ephraim, Gideon chose to highlight the great contributions Ephraim had made to the cause. Compared to Gideon, Ephraim had done much more to bring liberty to Israel.

What have I been able to do in comparison with you?

Humility, respect and empowerment

In these Bible verses, the men of Ephraim fiercely argued with Gideon, yet Gideon kept his cool. He diffused a tough situation by showing humility and respect. He held up Ephraim’s accomplishments as better than his own.

Rather than fighting with Ephraim, Gideon effected peace. Rather than having division, Gideon brought unity.

True leaders will us a little understanding, patience, humility and respect to keep the team together so everyone can enjoy important victories. Wherever you have a leadership role, remember to use this Truth in the Word to help you and your team succeed.

Those who focus their minds on God will have peace.

Those who turn to God find out that He will help people when they experience distress, poverty and need. Even when God turns the world upside down, scattering everyone, those who anchor their mind on God will live to see  better day.

Isaiah praises the faithfulness of God in Isaiah chapter 26 and then reveals the secret to inner personal peace.

In 2.5 minutes, this Moment of Truth can change your life.

Bruce Tyson's popular book on the four personalities of Third John is now avaialble in Kindle format.

First published in 1991, Strangers in the House? by Bruce Tyson has been a popular staple for Christians looking for a simple, but thoughtful analysis of the Book of Third John.

Summary

In the book, Bruce examines the four personalities found in the Book of Third John in the Bible: John, Gaius, Demetrius and Diotrephes. The first three are commendable, yet are often strangers in the House of God. Diotrephes, an example of all that can possibly go wrong with the local church, is far too common inside the church setting.

This exciting book examines these four men and challenges readers to avoid the bad example of Diotrephes so he – rather than the others become strangers in the house.

More Information

Strangers in the House? is available in Kindle format for Kindle book readers and Kindle software. It’s current list price is $2.99. Buy Strangers in the House? today.

"We shall see what will become of his dreams" - Joseph's brothers

Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. Gen 37:20

The Bible never says anything bad about Joseph, but from the perspective of the flesh we could say something bad about him: He should have zipped his lip. His brothers wouldn’t have hated him had he not gone spouting off to them about his phenomenal dreams. (What I just said sounds like part of Ron Paul’s foreign policy.)

Guilt serves no purpose

A few moments of thought will help us understand about the relationship between Joseph and his brethren.

Understanding the brethren

If someone at the office continually bragged to others about knowing for certain that one day he or she would be their boss, how do you think they’d react? Most people don’t like other people who brag. Most people don’t like other people who brag about their superiority. Most people don’t like people who brag about their superiority and say that God told them about it. Such a coworker would probably be branded as the coworker from Hell in most workplaces. Joseph’s brethren were clearly not nice to him, but we can at least understand why the brethren threw Joseph into the ditch.

Just be yourself

While lying in the ditch awaiting his fate, Joseph may have (he probably didn’t, but he may have) second-guessed the wisdom of sharing his visions with his brethren. “If I had just kept quiet, I’d be in good shape at my father’s house,” he might have thought.

An ordinary person could easily be filled with guilt, knowing that his or her own behavior resulted in a dire predicament. Onlookers could easily judge a person for running their mouth and then suffering the consequences for it. The message here is that people should accept who they are. Guilt serves no purpose and worry is a waste of time.

Despite the fact that Joseph caused his own problem, God still used him. Joseph later would be put in jail. Still, God used him to deliver the Hebrew nation from severe famine.

What could have been?

Maybe if Joseph didn’t share his dreams with his brethren, God would have done something else to get Joseph into Egypt. Maybe. Maybe not. There’s no sense wondering what could have been. People should accept things as they are right now. That’s all that matters.

We shall see …

If you have big dreams, don’t be surprised when you draw the ire of those around you. Friends, loved ones, coworkers and acquaintances will work overtime to see you fail. They will gloat when they see you lying in a ditch by the side of life’s road. They will mock you as they see your life become a shambles. They will do everything possible to keep you from becoming what you know you are destined to be.

Don’t give up.

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. Gen 43:26

The brethren actually did see what would become of Joseph’s dreams. He kept believing in God, in himself and in his dreams and they ultimately came true. When they came true, even his enemies shared in the blessing.

Whether you’re life is in the ditch or you’re in jail, don’t give up on your dreams. God can still make them come true.

What is Christianity?

Christianity as defined by the AP and Pew appears to mean any religion that is not Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or atheist. In secular terms, Christian often means Roman Catholic and could include Protestants and Baptists. Truth in the Word believes Christians are those who have received the New Birth through faith in Jesus Christ. After all, how else can anyone be Christ-like?

The terms used in the Pew study seem to include almost everyone who is neither Jewish nor Muslim in the group under the Christian label. Because of its broad definition of Christianity, the new report shows a demographic shift that is both cultural and religious. For many, the report signals a disturbing trend.

European Decline

Religious shifts reflect the cultural, moral and political decline of Europe. Where the continent once hosted one-third of all Christians, it now hosts just one-quarter. Two times as many Christians live in Brazil as live in Italy, and Nigeria has double the number of Christians as Germany has.

Strong in the Americas

About 37 percent of the world’s Christian population lives in North and South America, but South America has seen the largest expansion of the faith. Meanwhile, the U.S. Christian population continues to erode as the nation embraces Islam and other alternatives.

Conflicting trends

Just because Christianity is spreading doesn’t mean adherents hold consistent beliefs throughout the world. In the U.S. and Europe, many mainstream denominations including the Church of Rome have diluted their beliefs to accommodate secular trends such as gay clergy, sodomite marriage, non-literal interpretations of the Bible and lax enforcement of Christian doctrine.

In Africa, South America and Asia,  Christianity is distinctly more conservative, causing problems among Denominational leaders who want to strengthen international ties.

Often in the Minority

According to the study, 90 percent of all Christians live in countries that have a Christian majority. This leaves much of the world, including the Middle East and North Africa hosting minority Christian groups that are often targets of violence. Since turmoil in Egypt overthrew the pro-western government there, Egyptian Christians have become systematically attacked by that nation’s Islamic majority.

According to 1 Timothy chapter 1, the law is good, but only when properly applied.

Believers in Christ Jesus are not under Hebrew law. That law is a schoolmaster that teaches us about God, but it has no effect on us. Because of this, some people might disparage the law, saying that it has no value. Such a conclusion is incorrect.

The Law is Good

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully … (1 Timothy 1:

We learn from the Bible that the law has uses that are both good and bad. Therefore, we must rightly divide the Word so that we apply it properly as a teacher, and not as a dictator. Still realize that the law is not for born again believers.

… the law is not laid down for the just … (1 Timothy 1:9)

Who the law is for

• the lawless and disobedient
• for the ungodly and sinners
• for the unholy and profane
• for those who strike their fathers and mothers
• for murderers
• the sexually immoral
• men who practice homosexuality
• enslavers (That is, those who take someone captive to sell him into slavery)
• liars
• perjurers
• whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine