A Study of Gideon
Judges 8
Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general.
Once God has removed fear from the leader, the mission can be accomplished with haste. Fear holds us back. Valor moves us forward. Valor can be defined as: “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery.” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/valor)
Gideon’s fear has been removed (Judges 7-8) and now he lives out the title the Angel of the Lord had given him, “mighty man of valor.” (Judges 6:12, ESV) When Gideon embraced his valor, he changed significantly. In his transformation, we can see seven actions in the new leader that instruct us in becoming “mighty leaders of valor.” How do I flesh these out …
- Valor Calms Disputes By Praising Others Accomplishments. Judges 8.1-3
If I am to be a mighty man of valor, I must recognize and applaud the efforts and contributions of others on my team to them publicly.
- Valor Remembers the Uncooperative, But Remains “On Mission” Until The Victory Is Won. Judges 8.4-9
It is all right to remember when groups of people don’t want to help me, because of fear, mistrust, or orneriness. However, I can’t let that distract me from the urgency of the mission God has sent me on.
- Valor Attacks a Secure Enemy, Throwing Them Into a Panic. Judges 8.10-12
One of the best strategies I can use, when God has given me a mission, is to go to the stronghold and take it out first. Victory is won when the giant falls!
- Valor Removes the Uncooperative After the Victory Is Won. Judges 8.13-17
After the victory is won and the celebration is about to commence, it is appropriate to assess who helped and who did not. Those who didn’t help need to be removed for a lack of loyalty and cooperation.
- Valor Exacts Consequences From Unrepentant Enemies. Judges 8.18-21
When victory comes, the resistant to change need to be removed permanently from the scene. This allows for the mission to proceed and the momentum to continue without fear of reprisal or insurrection by the naysayers.
- Valor Requests Compensation From a Great Victory’s Abundance. Judges 8.22-28
While the leader is never “on mission” for the spoils, it is appropriate od me to ask for a portion (here a small one – “the earrings”) of the spoils from the victory’s abundance.
- Valor Is Forgotten Quickly Once the Mighty Leader Dies. Judges 8.33-35
I should not think that the people who joined the battle and enjoyed the spoils with me would remember or even follow my leadership lessons once I am off the scene.
That’s my take on valor. Did you see any other lessons in the account of Gideon from Judges 8? I’d love to hear about them!
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