Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-13

And the angel of the Lord appearea unto
MN. ana said unto him. The Lord is with
me- 'hou mighty man OF valor. And Gdcor
SAID unto him, Oh. my Lord II tho Lord be
with us. why then ia all this bofoIien ns-.
Judges vi. 1918.
After the 1sraelites had com. into posses
SION Oh me Promised Land which the Lord has
Sworn 10 give them as everlasting heri-
TANGO. they did evil In the sight nj thu lori
mus separating Themselves from the source
""ehee had come the strength that enabled
'hem In the past to overthrow every enemy
they had faced, md In their fallen estate
they became easy prey TO their po,yerful
ehe'ies the Mdnntcs For seven long
years did the hand OF indian prevail against
'heih' reducing them to such a state OF terror
that thcy fed to and lived in dcns and caves
"n'h 'heE were left almost wholly without
substance After seven gears OF such pitt
'oie existence. In their despair they rcmcm-
bcrcd the promises and cried unto the Lord
LOT relief The sending OF the angel OF
the LORD with commission to Gideon to
throw on the oppression on tho MidIanites
ana save Israel from destruction, follow cd
~ 'he manner described In the text. and in
the collateral reading.
Tho lesson furnishes IA rorciblc md mprcs
sive illustration of the value OF faith and OF
the destructiveness OF unbellef In the life OF
people individually and collectively
The one brings the strength necessary
10 win every conflict in life while the other
paralyzes the heart with fear and renders
the arm OF the once mighty imputent In the
face OF danger.
Why had doubt and unbelier gained such
strong hold upon tho chosen people of
co., VINO less than quarter of century
back. had heard this parting message from
that valiant soldier OF the faith. Joshua who
mad swept their enemies before them: "And,
behold this day ann going the way OF all
the Garth: and We know in all your hearts
and In ali your souls that not ono thing
hath failed of all the good things which the
Lord your God spake concerning you; all are
come to pass unto you. and not one thing hath
failed thereof" The same blightipE influence
that has made the progress upward Of the
human race toward its destined harmonious
relation with God in Whom Is all pcrfec-
ton. throughout all succeeding generations
a toilsome groping 1n the dnrk-Sn Tho
children of Israel chose to do evil. and thus
they threw away both their courage and
their strength.
The Lord. who n scarchcr of the hearts
OF men. saw in Gideon who had In
him the elements of all-conquering faith
when 1t should be builded up. and He chose
him to lead tho 1sraeites from under the
yoke Of oppression. despite his protest that
my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am
the least In my fathers house" oh. IL men
when they go forth to discharge the duties
OF life would always remember the Lords
assurance: Not by might nor by power
but by My Spirit said the Lord of Hosts.
how easy would be the victory over every
obstacle!
While Gideon had in him elementary faith.
1t was not the strong. healthy faith that i'm
mcdiately commands the promisca-i- had
to grow Even after the angel OF the Lord
had assured him. "tho Lord IL with thee.
thou mighty man OF valor" Gideon yet pro-
tested. "ff the Lord DO with u.s. why then Is
all this befallen us? and where be all His
miracles which our fathers told us Off" And
the Lord has to helm, him Into a higher faith
by performing miracle before he could
fully grasp the truth Of His abiding pres
encc. 1t is the same old feeling OF doubt
and disbelief that has como on down the
ages-we all demand miracle to convince
us that God really means and do for us
what He has promised. And this. In spite
OF the fact that there Is n miracle In every
existence, In the lovely flower that ladens
the air with its delicate perfume. in the or
derby movement of the planets, in Nature In
all it's multiplied forms and manifesto lions
wherever we look we may miracles II
we darken not vision by resistance 10
the Eliminating light OF truth.
Let us then seek the truth, for IL Is tho
truth that makes US free. EVIL befsll the
IsraeIitcs not because God had deserted them
but because they had deserted God.