The L'Anse sentinel., 1907-03-23

| right, and he had held aloof from the
iniquitous worship. Notwithstanding
the opportunities and even threats
| OF his fathef.
In fact that very afternoon his fa-
ther had urged him to remain to the
festival which was being arranged for
the day after the morrow. for It 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 well 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 tho displeas-
ure of his neighbors, and knowing
that II 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
a portion Of the wheat harvest.
Bright and early the next morn
ing he began the threshing cheered
I by the thought that even II the en-
emy did discover its hiding place and
seize 1t, 1t were better for him to
be thus occupied than to be mingling
with the worshipers of Baal at
home.
Along towards noon as he paused In
his work and looked out from behind
the rock he was startled to SEQ sit.
ting under the oak a 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 whith-
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 familiarly and 80 reassuring-
ly? Surely he was not of the enemy.
as his face and raiment plainly
showed. Recovering his composure.,
Gideon said: "Sir, II 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?
and delivered US into the hands Of
the Midianites."
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
J thou shalt save Israel from the hand
of the Midianites; have not I sent
, thee?"
"Wherewith shall I save Israeli"
exclaimed Gideon incredulously. BE
hold my family Is poor In Manasseh,
and I am the least In my fathers
house."
Again came the confident reply of
the stranger:
Surely 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
, to address him. could this be the
Lord himself?" he asked himself, and
, then eager to test him and know
, that of surety 1t was the Lord who
was speaking with him he looked up
half appealingly, and said, in faltering
voice:
IF now l have found grace in thy
sight, then show me sign that thou
, talkest with me. Depart not hence,
! pray thee, until l come unto thee
and bring forth my present and set it
before thee"
With quiet dignity came the 70.
, ply:
II will tarry until thou come
again"
;, And Gideon hastened away and made
ready kid and unleavened cakes of
an ephah Of -four: the flesh he put
.. In basket and he put the broth in q
: pot and brought It unto the stranger
,, under the oak and presented II to him
Then in accordance with his instruc
tions he took the flesh and the un
leavened cakes and laid them upon
2 the rock and poured out the broth
and then while he beheld the strange,
roachod forth his ataR ana tr,cts~