Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-19

born disobedience. He had to do
that; He wanted to deliver them,
but in order to do that they must
not only cry out In their distress;
they must realize that their sin
was the cause of their distress, so
they could repent and forsake it.
Then God began preparations to
deliver them. The angel of Jehovah
appeared to Gideon, the son of a
farmer, while he was beating out a
bit of wheat in a secret place so that
he and his family might have some
food to eat. THE Lord Is with thee
thou mighty man OF valor,' said the
angel. But Gideon didn't seem to
think Of the apparent sarcasm OF
being called mighty man of valor
when he was even then hiding out
for fear OF the Midianites; he just
answered, o my Lord if the Lord
be with us why Is all this befallen
us? Where are all the miracles we
heard about His doing in Egypt? He
has forsaken lis.
And the Lord looked on him and
said. Go in this thy night. and thou
shalt save Israel from the hand of
the Midianltes; have not I sent
thee?" Read the story for yourself
and see how Gideon-humble, abso-
lutely distrustful Of self, careful,
obedient, dependent upon God-won
a great victory for Israel, and then
won a greater victory for himself
These are some Of the steps in mis-
progress
First, he worshipped. Poor as any.
one could be, yet he was not willing
to come into Gods presence without
an offering. so he took Whit he had,
a kid and a ephah Of flour, and pre-
scented it to God in worship.
Then he broke down the evidences
of heather worship-put away sin
out of their life. 1t was a bold thing
to do; it endangered his life, but it
was necessary and he did it.
Then he made sure of the fact
that God was leading him. He might
have accepted the fact without ques-
ton; but one mustn't judge Gideon
by the light that we have. 1t would
not be right for us to ask for signs
because the full light Of God in
Jesus Christ has been given us; they
were dwelling only in the dim gray
light of the approaching morning.
Then God began the process of
elimination. Thirty-two thousand
men responded to the call; twenty.
thousands were faint.hearted and
went home when the chance was
given. But ten thousand were too
many for God, for 300 Of chem
were not alive to the danger of the
strength and the alterness of the
enemy. Only 800, or about one
per cent of those who originally
came, were fit for God to USE
These were men who trusted God,
who obeyed him, who were willing
to dare any danger, and who were
keenly alive to the power and the
presence of their foe.
The only weapons were a pitch
err, a lamp, and a trumpet. Each
was equipped with this armamenta-
rum. But these were Gods weapons
and they were therefore sufficient
even though the Midianites and the
Amalekites and the children of the
east were fully armed and like
grasshoppers for multitude.
The attack was in the night, sud
den and circular. The sleeping enemy
was aroused by the blowing of the
trumpets on every side and by a
sudden burst of light on every side.
He naturally though that he was
surrounded by overwhelming mum.
bers and in his efforts to escape ran
and cried and fled, while every man
of Gideon's band simply stood in his
place round about the camp. In
their confusion the Midianites slew
each other, thinking they were fight
ing their pursuers. One hundred and
twenty thousand men We're slain
that drew sword. Israel was deliv-
cred out of the hands of their op.
pressors! And all because they cried
unto God in their distress.
Married to the Backslider
In later years God send a prophet
named Hosea to the people. Neither
Israel nor God had changed. Israel
was still a people who forgot easily
God was still the God who could not
forget His covenant with Abraham.
Israel would turn away from their
God, and join themselves to sin; God
would still love them and long for
them, and wait for them to return
to Him when Satan proved too hard
a task-master.
This prophet, Hosea had some per-
sonal experiences with his wife, who
would be untrue to him, which made
his message peculiarly tender to a
disobedient and unfaithful raople.
Hosea could not foraet that he was
married to this woman, and loved
her even though she was unfaith'
full. So God spoke through him
this message of love and forgive
ness: II am married to the back
slider: I will heal their backAS'
ing; I will love them freely" And
oh! how infinitely greater Gods love
and forgiveness was than Hosea's.
There Is no reason why anyone
should leave the fathers house and
home; why anyone should ever be
untrue to the heavenly husband; why
anyone should forsake the wonderful
and mighty God for the various
things the devil offers as substitutes.
There is only one result when one
does-suffering and slavery to sin,
But remember-if you have been
so foolish-God still loves you; He
is married to you; He will heal your
backsliding; He will love you freely.
If you will cry to Him, he will hear
you. The Fathers arms are still
stretched out to receive you; the
Husbands home is still open to well
come you; Gods love hasn't been
changed bit by your disobedience
and unfaithfulness. Won't you come
back?