The Detroit times., 1915-01-14
In the Religious World
What the Church Folk Are Thinking About and Dong

f, had been attending a meeting where
in experts had fearlessly and thor
oughly discussed the problems OF un-
employment and poverty The I'M
mensity OF the problem, and ITS ap.
4 parent hopelessness, under present
conditions, was so weighing upon his
spirit that he was crying, with Gid
! con, III Jehovah is with us, why then
! has all this befallen usP" Belgium
and the other countries at war might
well ask the same question.
I Everywhere and always this ques-
ition has perplexed thinking people.
I Il is the problem Of evil In Eden.
why should the godly suffer? The
! Book OF Job deals with IL. the Psalms,
| the prophets and the New Testament
recur 10 it<-At least this much I'VE
may learn from the present story;
! God does not want US TO sit supine
and effortless. like Moslems, in the
presence OF evils that oppress US. Not
Resignation under the ills OF life. but
heroic efforl 10 master them, Is His
lprogram. Gideon was not hidden
! by Jehovahs messenger 10 be con-
tent with his lot; he was melted 10
rise up and throw of the Midianite
yoke.
Equally, a Just God never meant
that His children should be crushed
into inaction by the weight OF social
injustices and expressions that bow
them down. The SNUG rich man, who
believes that the function OF religion
IS. TO teach poor men 10 be content
with their lot and To be docile under
the actions OF their industrial and
III nf Enn
enough about the WAYS OF God with
man TO realize that he himself Is ex-
coriated with some OF the most Bills
tering words In Holy Writ. The word
of God is clearly on the side OF the
social reformer. Jehovah plans bet
ter things for the human race than
II yet has found. His summons Is still
to Gideons to rise UP and deliver the
people. This lesson may quite proper
ly be considered as one upon social
Justice.
Cautious, But Not cowardly.
In several respects, Gideon is
good example for all reformers. Par
ticularly suggestive is his caution.
He did not rush rashly into great
tasks, nor accept the conclusions OF
the first radical he heard. A modest
man and cautious. he made sure OF
his commission and his call. recall
a certain rich young woman who de-
cided that she must go into charity
work, abandoning her aged father.
who sorely needed her care. He could
not understand why she deserted him.
saying that he would willingly have
brought all the sick and poor that
she could attend out to their estate.
II only she would stay by her father.
That rash young woman was more
sentimental than sensible because
her friend was called TO live in the
slums, Was no sign that she herself
should forsake clear duty for
problematical mission"
Gideon asked three signs OF Jeho-
vah, one. the acceptance by fire Of his
offering, and the other the wetting
OF bunch Of fleece by dew on dry
floor one night, and the keeping dry
OF the fleece on wet floor the next
night. The signs were given. God
Is always willing to make His will
clear to a sincere soul that seeks TO
know 1t. He never sends forth His
servants without credentials.
Assured OF his call, Gideon dared
incur the wrath OF his family and
neighbors, by destroying the heathen
symbols that had been set up under
the sacred tree. For Canaanitish
idolatry had become mixed with the
pure worship Of Jehovah. This was
lsraels besetting sin. God used the
Midianites and Canaanites for the
backs of his disobedient and rebel
lious children. He was ever insisting
that he and he alone, must have the
place of worship In the life Of his chos-
en- People
So Gideon, as commanded, destroy
ed the altar OF Baal and the Asherah,
using them to make fire for an Of
fering to Jehovah. The neighbors
threatened the young mans life for
this; but the soldier on service for
God counts his life not a prize to be
retained, IL It's possession comes be-
tween him and duty The very forti-
tude and nobility with which Gideon
came through this ordeal. proved
him a leader to whom his lesser
brethren would rally. The man who
heeds the voice of God is the one
whose voice other men follow. Next
week We shall study the story OF
Gideon's great victory over the
Midianites.