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April 2, 2025 7:53 am
Judges 8-9 Reflection:
Gideon asks an important question in today's reading. "What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?" This is to be taken as how profound Gideon's actions were from the start compared to what theirs were at the end. The tribe of Ephraim's very name means "fruitful" and the "gleanings" were not to be harvested, they were underripened grapes. Abiezer being a leader in the tribe of Manasseh this was to mean that there was an abundant harvest and greater action would be done. The Lord once more fought their battles for them and he reminds them leading only an army of 300. This reminds me of the movie 300. They were a small army but very mighty with their willpower and motivated, along with knowing how to function as a team. The Lord's promise was Gideon and his men's motivation and gave them the confidence to face intimidating odds. An army of 15,000 fled scared from an army of 300 men because God walked with them! Gideon was a fierce judge and he dealt harshly with those that mocked him or God, and commanded a humble army that was made mighty by God. His statement from earlier alluded to how they began with the little things that built up to bigger and better if only they trusted in the Lord and His guidance and the promise that their enemies would be put into their hands on a silver platter, all they had to do was fight. The victory was already theirs.
David Fore reacted
April 2, 2025 10:50 am
Did you notice the difference in chapter 9 verse 9 in the ESV compared to the NKJV? Check it out and let's see if you see it. 😁
April 2, 2025 9:39 pm
In today's new testament reading what stands out to me is how Jesus stands behind teaching how believing and faith can be so deep death is held back and demons are cast out. It shows us that we just need to trust the lord will and his comands and everything in it's right time will be. The woman who touched the hem of his robe only trusted that if she touched Jesus all would be well. He told the parents of the dead girl only believe do not moarn as if they already lost. He says we should trust the battle had already been won not worry as if we might still lose. It's a deep thing to think on from what I'm seeing maybe some day it'll make even deeper since then Iv understood this far till then I just trust Jesus to do as he has taught and promised.
Michelle and David Fore reacted
Topic starter
April 3, 2025 11:07 pm
@briandavid I noticed that one says to "should I cease giving my oil" and the other states "shall I leave my abundance." Couldn't this change the meaning of it entirely through the difference?
April 4, 2025 7:43 am
@dunkirkrose, That could change the meaning of that verse, but I was specifically referring to the word "god" in the ESV and "God" in the NKJV. This can significantly change the meaning and overall understanding of the verse and passage, because when the Bible uses the word God with a capital G, it is referring to the One True God, Jehovah. When it uses the word god with a lower case g, it is referring to the lesser god's, what we understand to be the principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in heavenly places Paul refers to in Ephesians 6. Yet, in the Old Testament both words "God" and "god", both upper case and lower case G, g, are translated from the same Hebrew word "elohim". Just something to be aware of and pay attention to. And when we see this happening in the text, we should dive a little deeper to get a more fuller understanding of the passage so we can understand it correctly, and then teach it correctly.