The L'Anse sentinel., 1907-03-30

uhih oiOuus 10 no Iau oVOt tnO PA~n1
In his mind. But what was that!
take thy fathers young bullock,
even the young bullock Of seven years
old, and throw down the altar OF Baal
that thy father hath. and cut down
the grove that is by It." came voice
out of the darkness.
Gideon looked around with a start.
fear and dismay struggling for the
mastery. And while he strove TO
gain control of himself, the voice con-
tinued:
"And build an altar unto the Lord
thy God upon the top of the rock In
the ordered place and take the Sec
ond bullock, and offer burnt sacri-
fee with the wood OF the grove which
thou shalt cut down."
As Gideon listened he became con-
scious that It was the voice of God
speaking to him. But wNAt bold
thing was this which he wss som-
manding him to do. Not only would
It arouse hostility among the mem
bers Of his own household and those
OF his own people, but 1t would warn
the enemy and put them on their
guard, II 1t did not lead to an imme-
diate attack.
And how could he expect to win
the support of his people in the face
Of such difficulties and dangers? How
much better 1t seemed. he reasoned
to himself, to secretly raise an army
and fall upon the enemy unawares
| and overcome them. Then, would
be time enough. he thought, to throw
down the altar of Baal and to build
an altar to the God of israel
| But, came back the answer to his
conscience, can God give you the VIC
tory while yet the high places of
Baal remain in the midst Of Israel?
Where should reform begin II not In
your own household? How could you
go out and claim that the God Of Is
rael was with you while yet your
fathers household is under the shad-
ow Of the altar OF Baal and the
grove? Thus his heart reasoned, and
soon he saw that Gods plan, and not
his, must be followed.
When he yielded to this conviction
he arose and hurried to the place
where 1t had been agreed he should
meet his servants. II was with some
misgivings that he came before them.
How would they receive this new
plan? Would they stand with him?
These questions troubled him as he
faced them, but as he began faithfully
and courageously to relate all that
the Lord had said that he should do,
he gained confidence and when he had
finished speaking without waiting for
reply, he turned to go, saying, simply:
"Come, let us do our work quickly,
lest the mornings light find our
courage fail us, and the friends Of
Baal prove too strong for u.s."
And his servants, ten in number.
rose to man and went forth with
him, and ere the first rays OF light
were gliding the eastern sky, the
trees of the grove lay PROSTATE on
the ground, the altar OF Baal was in
ruins, and the flesh of the bullock
lay smoking upon the altar which had
been erected to the God of Israel.
Silently and quickly the little band
dispersed. each man in the direction
agreed upon.
No small stir was made when the
people Of Ophrah discovered upon the
morrow what had been done, and
when 1t was rumored that Gideon had
wrought the rash deed, they demand
ed that he be broaght forth and
killed.
Then 1t was that Joash, the father
of Gideon, awakened to the sin which
he had committed against God In per"
mitting the altar and grove to Baal
to be erected upon his land, stood
boldly forth and declared:
III Baal be god, let him plead for
himself?" Cd
At these words the people gave q
shout Of approval, and the spirit os
God coming upon Gideon he blew
his trumpet and the people were
gathered after him. Meanwhile his
messengers had gone unto the tribes
of Asher and Zebulun and Naphtali.
and in response to their call a great
company Of fighting men were brought
together, fully $4,000 men.
When word of these things reach.
ed the Midianites they were wroth,
and swore that Baal their god should
be avenged with mighty slaughter.
and they sent word to the Amalakites
and to all the neighboring peoples ON
the east Of the rebellion which had
broken out among the Isiaelites. In
response thereto a great army was
gathered together. and 1t came and
encamped in the valley of Jezreel,
which when the men of the army of
Israel saw many OF them began to be
afraid, which thing troubled Gideon
greatly. Surely" he said to himself,
II God would give Israel the victory
there must be other spirits In the
hearts of our people"
And that night Gideon sought the
Lord and said:
IF thou wilt save Israel by mine
. hand, as thou hast said, behold, will
put a fleece Of wool In the floor; and
II the dew be upon the fleece only,
and II 1t be dry upon all the earth be.
side, then shall know that thou wilt
save Israel nv mine hand aa fhou ha st