Today I read Judges 8 where Gideon is pursuing the kings of the Midianites. As he was pursuing them he asked for help from two of the Israelites cities. Both of them scorned Gideon and refused to aid them. Gideon told them that when he had finished his business with the Midianites he would return and whip them with thorns and briars for one city, and tear down their towers in the other.
It is crazy to me that the Israelites would not assist Gideon in his destruction of the Midianites. I suppose that the people of the cities that refused to help him were afraid that Gideon would lose and that they would be punished for their support of Gideon. At least I assume that is what they were doing, I really don't know if that is the case or not. However, you would think that after seeing the Israelites rout the Midianites once already, that they would be willing to help out Gideon and his followers.
This is a clear case of someone fearing man more than they fear God. If they had feared God like they should have, they would have assisted Gideon and helped him when he needed it. But they were more afraid of the Midianites and what they would do to them if it were discovered that they had assisted their enemies. This sounds silly to us now, but is it any different than what we do, or don't do, in our day? Do we stand up for what is right at all times? Or do we shy away from standing up for Heavenly Father? When righteousness is called into question and mocked, do we stand tall and proudly say that we are a Latter-day Saint? Satan has done a fantastic job of confusing the world and convincing them that standing up for what is morally right is bigotry and hateful. But it is not bigotry to stand up for what is right and what God stands for. If it comes down to standing with God and offending people here, or joining the crowd and offending God, I know which one I will choose. Do you? Until tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment