“But Joash shouted to the mob, "Why are you defending Baal? Will you argue his case? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself and destroy the one who knocked down his altar!"NLT”
Judg.6.31
Discussion
Gideon had an encounter with God that turned his life around. The Midianites terrorized Israel because Israel had turned away from God and were worshipping Baal. In fact, Gideon's father was a priest of Baal and his household worshipped Baal as well. But the word of the lord came to Gideon telling him to cast down the altar of Baal and in its place erect an altar unto Yahweh. Gideon, being afraid, not of Baal or devils, but of the people, waited until night when everyone was sleeping, then he destroyed the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, and in its place he erected an altar to Yahweh. Judg.6.27; "Then Gideon... did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night." When the people woke up in the morning, they noticed that the altar of Baal had been destroyed. After much inquiry, they discovered the culprit was Gideon, so they asked for his head. They were going to kill him for Baal, but his father stood against them saying; 'if Baal is God, let him fight for himself'. Guess what? Baal never fought for himself. Baal remained powerless until this day. Did you notice that Gideon wasn't afraid of Baal? He was afraid of his people. Men are the power of idols. On the other hand, in Africa we're taught to fear idols and their shrines. We have all kinds of stories that tell of insanity, misfortunes or gruesome death visited on people who have tampered with idols or their shrines. They have so educated themselves on idols that they now have great fear of them and have more confidence in the power of demons than in the power of angels, and have therefore made of none effect the power of God in their lives. The bible calls these idols 'dumb idols'; 1Cor 12:2; Hab.2.18-19; and Ps.115.4-9." Dear child of God, have faith in the ability of God, not in the ability of dumb idols. God defends and protects you, and these dumb idols have absolutely no power over you (Psalm 91). Shalom Uvracha!
Meditation
1Cor 8:4 — As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.