Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-03-21

CT 10 worship AT Ine ldOlaJTOuS SHRINE,
but he knew his father had not done
right and he had held aloof from the
iniquitous worship, Notwithstanding
the opportunities and even threats
of his father.
In fact that very afternoon his ia
ther had urged him to remain to the
festival which was being arranged for
the day after the morrow, for 1t was
hoped by this recognition and wor-
ship of the heather gods that they
might win the favor Of the nations
about them, and secure relief from
the hardships they had been forced
to endure. But Gideon manfully with
stood the pleading of his father, say
ing:
Thou we'll knowest we cannot Sc
cure deliverance from our troubles by
plunging further into sin Didst not
the prophet who passed through our
town yesterday declare plainly that
because we had disobeyed our God
who led us out of Egypt and gave us
this land all this evil had come upon
us? Let us consider his words
But his father, fearing the displeas-
ure of his neighbors, and knowing
that If he gave fresh offense to his
enemies he and his household would
become the special object of perse
cution, he refused to listen to the
voice of his son. And Gideon had
slipped away soon afterwards and
had come to the place of the wine
| press, where he had secretly placed
portion of the wheat harvest.
Bright and early the next morn
ing he began the threshing cheered
by the thought that even If the en-
envy did discover its hiding place and
seize 1t, 1t were better for him to
he thus occupied than to be mingling
with the worshipers of Baal~e at
home.
| Along towards noon as he paused in
! his work and looked out from behind
! the rock he was startled to see sit.
ting under the oak man. He had
heard no one approach, and he had
kept sharp lookout all morning to see
that no one crept in upon him un.
awares And yet in some mysterious
way this stranger had gained his re-
treat and was reclining under the
tree as though he had been there all
morning. The newcomer caught Gid
| cons startled look, and before the
latter could ask who he was or width
er he had come, he greeted him with
the salutation:
"The Lord is with thee, thou
mighty man of valor."
Who was this man that he should
speak so Familiarity and so reassuring-
ly? Surely he was not of the enemy,
as his face and raiment plainly
showed. Recovering his composure,
Gideon said: Sir, If the Lord be with
us, why, then. is all this befallen us?
and where be all his muscles which
our fathers tell us of, saying: Did
not the Lord bring us up from Egypt
But now the Lord hath forsaken us,
and delivered us into the hands of
the Midanites"
AS he spoke Gideon felt the eyes
of the stranger searching him and
, even while he was charging God with
desertion he became conscious of the
, sin of Israel which had brought all
the evil upon them. In confusion and
shame he let his eyes fall and stood
, silent. Why should he be so abash-
) ed in the presence of this stranger?
he asked himself, and then the
thought came to him: This must be
some one sent from God. But the
voice of the stranger reused him.
go in this thy might, Gideon, and
| ha1 ~
of the Midianites; have not l sent
thee?"
'Wherewith shall l save Israeli?
exclaimed Gideon incredulously. BE
hold my family is poor in Manasseh
and | am the least in my fathers
5 house"
Again came the confident reply OF
the stranger:
, Surely l will be with thee, and
thou shalt smite the Midianites as
: one man."
. The heart OF Gideon leaped within
| him as the stranger thus continued
q to address him. Gould this be the
l. Lord HIMSELF" he asked himself, and
f then eager to test him and know
p that of a surety it was the Lord who
was speaking with him he looked vi
half appealingly, and said, in falterins
;. voice:
:. IF now | have found grace in thy
G sight, then show me a sign that thou
q talkest with me. Depart not hence
+ | pray thee, until l come unto thee
and bring forth my present and set il
before thee"
: With quiet dignity came the re
= ply:
!. Il will tarry until thou come
y again"
. And Gideon fastened away and made
~ ready a kid and unleavened cakes o.
an ephah of flour: the flesh he pu
N in basket and he put the broth in {
II pot and brought it unto the stranger