April 16, 2025 • 39 mins
# 129 - Gideon Part I: The Weakling - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, Gideon hides from his enemies—and from his calling—when God meets him with an unexpected name: "mighty warrior." In this episode, we follow Gideon's journey from fear to obedience as he begins to realize that God's strength is made perfect in his weakness.
Episode 129 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
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Show Notes:
(01:24) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:24) Gideon Part I: The Weakling
(32:48) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen People. Before the breaker of chains came,
the Lord would send lesser heroes, fractured and broken images
of the Deliverer to come.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You all call me the Lord's Man. You praised me
for my courage, and you have responded to my corn.
Make no mistake, brothers, we are all the Lord's men.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Brothers, people of Israel, hear me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies,
the Mobiites, into your head.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Do not fear. Have I not commended you? These strong,
be courgeous, for the Lord is with me. Rise you,
men of Israel, up, Arise for this civil day in
which the.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Lord has given Ciserah into your hand.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Do not fear them.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Does not the go for you.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Fight not for victory, but from it. You are the
Chosen People. Step into your destiny.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
They would be imperfect vessels in God's hands, crafted to
lead Israel out of itself inflicted destruction.
Speaker 6 (01:27):
Faith begins with one trembling yes, a whisper that defies
the fear within shell. Oh, my friends, from here in
the Holy Land of Israel, i'm l Extein with International
Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen people,
the Chosen people have fallen. They have scattered in fear,
(01:47):
shrinking before the Midianites. They came like swarms, sweeping through fields,
stripping the land bear, leaving us hungry and hollow. And
now in the dark, deep in a hollowed out pit,
one Israelite high hiding from the world, hiding from the
call that he hears within him. This story from Judges six,
This episode in our long, unsteady history. It begins here
(02:12):
with fear, with doubt, with a man too small for
the name that he'll be given. It begins with God's
voice calling out to one lost heart.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
The chris breeze of autumn swept through the fields of Israel.
It was the season of harvest, and the air hummed
with the sounds of rejoicing Men and women toiled with gladness,
their songs rising in harmony with the rustle of the stalks.
Children laughed as they darted about the threshing floor, while
(02:49):
young men bent their backs to lift sheaves of wheat,
and women sifted the chat from the grain. For a
fleeting moment, there was unity, a glimpse of Eden's peace
in a manned long scarred by strife, but peace is
a fragile thing. The earth began to tremble beneath their feet,
(03:11):
faint at first, but growing with an ominous rhythm. The
songs faltered, replaced by the low rumble of dread. Over
the southern hills, dark shapes emerged, a seething, writhing mass
of swift and unrelenting Medianite marauders. Like a plague of locusts,
(03:33):
they descended upon the harvesters. Their war cries tore through
the air, a sound that chilled the blood and quickened
the feet. The joy of the harvest turned to chaos. Men,
women and children fled, their cries lost amid the thunder
of hoofs and the clash of iron. Livestock were stolen,
(03:55):
homes were raised, and the fruits of a year's labour
were devoured in monas. The fields were band the threshing
floor empty, and the once bountiful land lay in ruins.
Yet there was no choice but to rebuild. With trembling hands,
they planted new seeds, raised what live stock they could salvage,
(04:17):
and began the long, agonizing journey back to normalcy. But
their torment was far from over. The Medianites returned the
earth quaked anew as the marauders swept in like wolves
among lambs. The defenders were no match for the savage Horde,
and the defenses crumbled. Grain, live stock, and labor were stolen,
(04:41):
and the orchards were set Aflame.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
Keep planting, islaou, raise your live stock, place your grapes,
and harvest your grain. Tend to your orchards as you
have always done. But all this, what you saw is ours.
(05:06):
Refuse and we will kill you. Obey, and perhaps we
will leave you just enough to survive.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
The people had no choice. Work meant survival, though survival
came without freedom. For seven years, the Medianites ravaged the land,
leaving Israel in ashes. Each season, the people toiled for
their oppressors, their lives reduced to slavery. They retreated to
(05:38):
caves in the hills, dwelling in darkness to escape the
relentless violence. Hunger, g nor died their bellies, and despair
weighed heavy on their hearts. When at last they could
bear no more, they turned their faces to the heavens.
Collectively they prayed for deliverance. It was then that a
(05:58):
man emerged from the shadows. He said nothing at first,
weaving through the crowd until he stood at the center,
facing the elders. His presence commanded silence. Then his voice
rose deep and sorrowful.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
I have come with a message from the Lord, the
God of Israel. I brought you up out of slavery
in Egypt. You are captives, oppressed by evil men, and
I delivered you.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
I drove out your enemies. I gave you this land,
rich and fertile to dwelling. I am your God, and
you are my people. I told you to worship only me,
to turn away from the gods of this land. But
you have not listened.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
You have sold your hearts to gods that cannot satisfy you.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
The crowd stood frozen, the prophet's words cutting deeper than
any sword. He said no more. There was no call
to repentance, no promise of deliverance, only the echo of
their guilt and the weight of their rebellion. Without another word,
the prophet turned and walked away, leaving them to wrestle
(07:13):
with their shame. The question hung heavy in the air,
unspoken but pressing upon every heart. Will God deliver us
once more? Or has he finally turned away from his
wayward people In the clan of Abby Easer, Joash and
his sons sat huddled around a fire, savoring a hard
(07:36):
won meal, bread rough and dark, and a thin broth
that barely masked the bitterness of herves. It was a
feast only in the sense that it existed at all.
To farm under the shadow of Medianite marauders was an
act of defiance, and Joash and his sons had risked
much to scrape together this meager fare. Each bite was
(07:59):
a signlan triumph, and they ate with the reverence of
men clutching gold in their hands. Gideon lingered in the shadows,
peering around the corner to watch the meat. The scent
of freshly baked bread teased him, its aroma, stirring a
sharp pang of hunger that gnawed at his insides. He
(08:19):
was no older than twenty five, but his wiry frame
and hesitant demeanor made him seem younger. His hands trembled
as he stepped forward. Unlike his brothers, Gideon had not
braved the fields. He stayed behind, tending the animals that
remained after the last raid. His thin shoulders sagged under
(08:41):
the mantle of his constant anxiety. He approached the fire
and sat hesitantly, his movements careful, as if each drew judgment.
The silence of the group grew heavier. As he ladled
broth into his bowl and reached for a piece of bread,
a hand shot out, slapping the bread from his fingers.
(09:02):
One of his brothers glared at him.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
What do you think you're doing? A runt? Please? Eh,
I'm hungry? Will you not share just one else of
bread with me?
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Joe Ash's fist slammed against the stump he sat on,
making the younger son's flinch. His voice was stern, laced
with disappointment.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
The bread those to those who have the courage to
earn it.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
If you refuse to farm, you refuse to eat, Tend
to your animals and leave us to our meal.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Gideon lowered his gaze. His father's scowl burned into him,
and without another word, he said the brother aside and
walked away. Tears broked the corners of his eyes, but
he refused to let them fall. He had long grown
weary of proving his brother's right. Gideon wandered the edges
(09:58):
of his father's property, his thoughts consumed by a gnawing
hunger and self loathing. He hated his fear, hated the
way it clung to him like a second skin, But
the idea of stepping into the fields of standing, even
a chance of being seen by a Medianite patrol, was
enough to make his knees buckle. Yet his hunger was
(10:21):
louder than his fear. Wrapping himself in a beige cloak,
Gideon took the back roads to the fields, avoiding the
well worn paths. He crouched low in the brush, his
wide eyes scanning for the telltale shapes of Medianite soldiers.
Near the well, he saw two men harassing a young woman,
(10:41):
shoving her as she tried to retrieve water. Gideon's heart froze,
but not with courage. The thought of intervention didn't cross
his mind, only that the distraction gave him the opportunity
he needed. He darted from the brush, his movements quick
but clumsy, and rolled into the grain fields. Hidden among
(11:02):
the stalks, he stuffed handfuls of wheat into a burlap sack,
glancing nervously over his shoulder with each handful. When the
men left and the woman disappeared, Gideon seized his chance,
sprinting back towards his father's wine press, with the stolen
grain clutched to his chest. The wine press had not
seen use in months, its basin dry and forgotten, overshadowed
(11:26):
by the great tree of Offra. Its braided trunk cast
a long, thick shadow over Gideon. He saw it as
further covering for his cowardly attempt to make bread. Gideon
poured the grain into the press and began threshing, his hands,
moving frantically as he sifted and worked, glancing over his
(11:46):
shoulder every few moments. A movement near the tree caught
his eye, and his breath hitched. He froze, his voice trembling.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
As he called out, Father is Jahabin?
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Silence answered. Gideon crept toward the tree, peering around its
massive trunk. There was nothing there. He sighed in relief,
but his respite was short lived.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Mighty hero, the Lord is with you.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Hah. Gideon yelped, jumping back and nearly tumbling into the
wine press. His heart hammered in his chest as he
looked around wildly. Oh what were He poked his head
out to see the man sitting under the tree. He
wasn't there. Gideon shifted his eyes desperately, looking for the man.
Gideon shouted into the air.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I've done nothing wrong. Please we please got away.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
The man appeared again, this time leaning casually on the
edge of the wine press.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
The Lord is with you, o mighty man of valor.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Good almighty? Who are you? Why do you mock me
with such a tight.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
The Lord is beside you, and before you. Gideon's out
of jewesh he is he?
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Now? Then, explain why we're starving. Where are the miracles
we've been told about since we were children. Where's this
deliverance from slavey? The Lord has abandoned us.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Gideon turned around and went back to his work. He
had no clue who he was talking to. The man
before him was the Lord himself. The man tilted his
head and looked ponderously at Gideon. Gideon looked back to
see the man still there.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
What why are you still here? Let me be crazy,
old goat.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
The Midianites have indeed been a problem.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
That is why I'm sending you.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Go with strength and rescue Israel from the Midianites. Be
courageous and take back the land.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Who do you think you are? The Lord?
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I laughed for a long while, but then there was
a long drawn out pause. The man before him simply nodded.
Gideon shook his head.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Nobody in the right mind would send me rescue anyone.
If you were the Lord, you'd know that I'm somewhat
of a professional coward.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
Has not the Lord used frail men to show historyth before?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I can't believe on having this conversation. Sure, yes, but
out of all the frail men and weaklings and cowards,
I certainly tower above them all, and the weakest son
in my entire family. They see Bendal making me weaker,
mind you way, refusing to share their foods. Yeah, and
(14:46):
while we're on the subject of my family, they're the
most feeble of all the clans. That's saying something since
we're in the tribe of Manassa, the runt of all
Israel's twelve tribes. Are you catching on yet? I'm the
flee that sits on the rat, that cowers from the cat.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
The stranger took a step closer to Gideon, eyes reflecting
a deep knowledge of who Gideon was.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
I know your frame.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Gideon an earthen vessel, fragile and vulnerable.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
The man placed a hand on Gideon's shoulders and leaned
in earnestly.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
And yet greatness can be held in such places.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Greatness never be a part of my lessie.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
I will be with you.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
You will destroy the midianize as if you were only
fighting against one man.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
See that's the funny thing. Let's say that we're true,
and it would truly only seem like I was fighting
against one man, and I still lose. I never want
to fight in my life. When I was child, a
goose chased me all the way down the road, and
I didn't return till the next day because I was
too scared to face it.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
The man shook his head, still smiling with a genuine
love for the cowards standing before him. Gideon couldn't help
but feel close to this stranger. He wore a knowing
smile that he wished his father had given him.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I have already said of it with you. What else
do you need from me to answer the call? Proof? Proof? Yes, proof.
If you're who you claim to be, then I need
proof very well.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
I will remain here as long as it takes. Gideon
went to the wine press where his grain was. He
prepared it swiftly and best he could. He retrieved one
of the goats and killed it as an offering. It
was a hideous waste of resources. If this man wasn't
God Most High. Gideon carried it out with the bread
(16:49):
and a pot of broth. It was the meal he
had dreamed of eating all week, and he placed it
at the feet of the man who claimed to be God.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
If you are who you say you are, then burn
the offering yourself. Good. Now pour the broth over all
of it.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Gideon poured the broth over the meat and bread, soaking
it completely on the stone. He stepped back and waited.
The man looked up at Gideon with a piercing gaze.
Without breaking his stare, he gently tapped the end of
his staff on the offering, and the entire altar set ablaze.
The stone began to crack with the heat. Gideon recoiled
(17:29):
in fear. He covered his eyes as the heat radiated
all around. As the flames howled in front of him,
he saw that the man was gone. The flames disappeared,
leaving Gideon alone in silence, save but for the whistling
of smoke rising from cracks in the stone. Gideon's eyes
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widened and he fell to his knees.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Soft warm, doom dem doom, the dooms. I have seen
the Angel of the Lord, face of facer. Thank God,
the crazy old coats. Please don't kill me, Please don't
kill me.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Gideon was trembling in fear, afraid that the Lord would
punish him for not believing. Gideon jumped when he felt
her hand on his shoulder. He looked up and it
was the Angel of the Lord again.
Speaker 7 (18:20):
Do not be.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Afraid, Gideon.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
I'm not going to kill you.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
I'm here with you.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Do you understand.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Gideon couldn't understand fully. His anxiety drowned out every word
of reassurance. Yet the Lord continued relaying his chosen hero
the first steps of the plan.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
Before we take Midian, we have work to do in
your own household.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
A chill clung to the air, creeping into every crack
and crevice of the village. The homes and tents of
the clan of Abbyeza were quiet, their inhabitants deep and slumber.
But Gideon was awake, prepared to enact the plan God
had laid out for him. The cold air bit at
(19:08):
his skin. His thin frame shook with the cold. The
faint glow of the torch illuminated his path as he
approached the center of the village. There, standing in grotesque
mockery of the true God, was the altar to Bow.
Its towering form loomed over the square, its lean, animal
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like visage casting twisted shadows in the torchlight. Beside it
rose the ashera pole, a smooth and polished pillar that
stretched high into the sky, its presence a monument to
the sinful practices of the people. Gideon stopped before the altar,
his gaze fixed on the hollow eyes of Baal's statue.
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He gulped and gripped the torch tighter, the flames flickering
with the unsteady rhythm of his breath. Fear gnawed did
his resis, but the words of the Lord echoed in
his mind tear it down. He turned and hurried to
the stables, retrieving the second born bull of his father's herd.
(20:12):
The bull, seven years old, had been born in the
shadow of the first Mediannite raid, its life as silent
witness to the years of oppression. Gideon led the beast
to the altar. With trembling hands, Gideon tied a rope
around the base of Baal's altar and secured the other
end to the bull. He gave the animal a sharp slap,
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and it bellowed, pulling against the ropes with all its might.
The altar groaned, the stones shifting and grinding, until with
a thunderous crash, it crumbled to the ground. Gideon froze,
his heart hammering as he scanned the darkened windows and
tents around him. No one stirred despite the cold sweat
(20:57):
beaded on his brow. He turned to the asherar pole
and raised an axe. He swung with all his strength.
The first blow rang out like a hammer striking an anvil,
and splinters flew. He struck again and again, his arms
burning with the effort. Finally, the poles shuddered and toppled
(21:17):
to the ground. Gideon leaned on the axe, panting, his
chest heaving, but his task was not yet finished. He
tied the remains of the idols to the bull and
led it up the hill to the place of sacrifice.
Beneath the great Tree of Offra. He built an altar
to the Lord. The stones were heavy, and his muscles
(21:39):
ached as he lifted and stacked them, but he worked
with the urgency of a man about to get caught.
Once the altar was complete, he chopped the asherar pole
into kindling and laid it atop the stones. The bull
snorted in the cold as Gideon approached it with a dagger.
The animal's breath puffed in the night air. As he
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recited the ceremonial prayers and made a sin offering and
a consecration offering to the Lord, blood spilled, seething into
the earth. As the flames roared to life, consuming the offering.
Gideon watched his body trembling with exhaustion, but his spirit steady.
The idols of his people had been reduced to ash,
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and the Lord's altar stood in their place. The valley
of Jezrael stretched wide and ominous beneath the shadow of
the mountains. The Medianites, Amalakites, and their allies from the
east had gathered in an alliance so vast that the
(22:44):
earth seemed to groan beneath the weight of their encampment.
Fires burned as far as the eye could see, their
globe flickering against the night like a sea of malevolent stars.
The sheer number of ten soldiers and beasts of war
sprawled across the land was unlike anything Israel had ever known.
(23:05):
Their enemy was not just an army. It was a horde,
an unrelenting tide, poised to obliterate Israel from the face
of the earth. Gideon stood on the mountain's edge, staring
down at the encampment. His hands trembled as he gripped
the Ram's horn in his palm. The enormity of the
(23:26):
tasks set before him crushed his spirit, and his voice
was barely more than a whisper.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Oh, Earth, is this queen?
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (23:36):
I defeat them?
Speaker 1 (23:38):
The wind whistled through the canyons, and the Lord stirred
up Gideon's heart to be courageous. It was an unfamiliar feeling.
His fear was dissipating, like the fog under the dawn.
Gideon could feel the strength of God coming upon him.
For the first time. Gideon had a Ram's horn in
his hand. He looked down at him.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
For a moment, set.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Not turning back below. The clan of Abbyeza stirred their hearts,
already moved by the hand of the Lord. They were waiting,
ready to fight for their God, their people, and their land.
Gideon raised the horn to his lips and blew. The
sound tore through the mountain air, sharp and commanding. It
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echoed off the cliffs and rang out into the valley
like a cry of defiance. Men emerged from their tents,
armed and ready. Gideon watched in amazement as hundreds of
warriors from his clan gathered at the base of the mountain.
Their swords gleamed faintly in the torchlight, their faces set
with grim determination. Gideon sent messengers to the surrounding tribes
(24:57):
of Manassah zebulun Naftali, and to his shock, they too responded.
Thousands came rallying to his call. The mountain trembled with
their arrival, their collective presence like a wave poised to crash.
Yet Gideon, clad in armor that felt far too large
(25:17):
for his scrawny frame, felt no triumph. He looked down
at the gathering and prayed they would not see him
for what he truly was, a weak and trembling coward
pretending to be a leader. He hurried away for a
moment to collect his thoughts. He entered a ravine in
between two sides of the mountain. It was quiet and shaded,
(25:41):
a perfect place to rest and gather himself. He sat
on a stone and leaned over He placed his head
in his hands and groaned.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Are you there. You showed yourself once, will you show
yourself again?
Speaker 1 (25:54):
There was no answer.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
If you are truly going to rescue me and Israel,
I need another sign. I'm terrified, Lord. I need you
to reassure me again that you're with me. I know,
my frailty wife, I weepness. I know that if I
(26:18):
enter that battlefield and you're not there with me, I
shall surely perish. So please grant me this one request.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Gideon took a wool fleece out of his bag and
placed it on the grassy ground.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
I'll put this here for tonight. If the fleece is
wet with dew in the morning, but the surrounding ground
is dry, I'll know that you're here and you're faithful
to protect me.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Gideon stood to his feet and left the fleece. He
knew that testing the Lord was risky, but his fear
was that palpable, so he left with an anxious heart
and tucked in for the night. Gideon and the whole
army of the Lord rested for the night. He walked
among the soldiers, watching them sharpen their blades and prepare
(27:13):
for battle. They seemed more confident than he was. They
saluted him as he passed. Gideon was unsure how to respond.
He was not used to such respect. He laid awake
that night, tossing and turning in his tent. When he
closed his eyes, he imagined the Mediannites tying him up
to their camels and dragging him on the jagged ground.
(27:36):
He imagined his village burning and his family perishing. He
imagined the final look of disappointment in his father's eyes
before they chopped off his head. Gideon shivered in fear
and almost hoped that the lord would not respond to
his plea. That way, he wouldn't have to battle. He
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could just run away and never return. As the soldiers
prepared below, Gideon slipped away. He needed to escape their gazes,
their confidence, their expectation. He found himself in a narrow ravine,
the walls of the canyon rising steep and jagged on
(28:17):
either side. Here the world was quiet, the chaos of
war muffled. He collapsed onto a stone and buried his
face in his hands, his voice breaking into a desperate prayer.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Are you there? You showed yourself once? Will you show
yourself again?
Speaker 1 (28:37):
The stillness pressed in around him. There was no voice,
no vision, no reassurance.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
If you are truly going to rescue me and Israel,
I need another sign. I'm terrified. Lord, I need you
to reassure me. If I step in the battle and
you're not with me, I will surely perish.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
From his bag, he pulled a wool fleece, its texture
course beneath his trembling fingers. He placed it carefully on
the ground, smoothing it over the grass.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
I'll leave this here tonight. If in the morning the
fleece is soaked with them, but the ground around it
is dry, I will know you are with me.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
He rose and walked away, his heart heavy with the
weight of his doubt. Among the soldiers, the air buzzed
with anticipation. They sharpened their swords and secured their armor,
speaking in hushed tones of the battle to come. Their
confidence was unshaken, their faith in Gideon unwavering. Gideon, however,
(29:42):
lay awake in his tent, tossing and turning. His mind
conjured horrors, the Medianites dragging him behind their camels, his
village consumed in flames, his family slaughtered before his eyes.
He shivered sweat pooling on his brow. Deep down, he
almost hoped the Lord would not respond, that he would
(30:03):
release him from this impossible burden so he could flee
to the hills. Morning broke over the mountains, the sunlight
filtering through a thick fog that clung to the valley
like a shroud. Gideon rose with trembling legs and made
his way to the ravine. The fleece lay where he
(30:24):
had placed it, glistening faintly in the pale light. He
bent down, his heart pounding, and touched it. The fleece
was drenched. Water dripped from his fingers as he wrung
it out, filling an entire bowl. The ground around it, however,
was dry as bone. Gideon staggered backward, his knees giving way.
(30:47):
The conformation did not embolden him, it crushed him. His
fear swelled, pressing against his ribs until he could scarcely Breathe.
Tears spilled down his face as he clutched the fleece,
his voice breaking in a sob.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please don't be angry with me.
I want to believe, but I can't.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
His hands shook as he placed the fleece back on
the grass.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
One more sign. If the ground is wet tomorrow, but
the fleece is dry, I will believe he.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Left his head hanging in shame. That night, as he
lay in his tent, he thought of the heroes of
old othnil A, Hood, Shamgar, Deborah. Their bravery felt like
a distant legend, something unattainable. He was nothing like them.
(31:43):
He was consumed by his weakness, crippled by his fear.
But this, Gideon did not yet realize, was precisely why
God had chosen him. The Lord's strength is made perfect
in weakness. It would be his victory and his alone.
(32:04):
The next morning, Gideon returned to the ravine. The ground
sparkled with dew, wet blades of grass catching the morning light.
He stooped and picked up the fleece, his heart racing.
It was dry, completely utterly dry. Gideon squeezed it, not
(32:24):
a single drop falling. His eyes lifted to the sky,
his breath catching in his throat. He stood there for
a long moment, the fleece clutched in his hands. Is
this time the Lord had spoken, and there would be
no more testing. The battle awaited.
Speaker 6 (32:50):
What a story, A story of trembling courage of a
man caught in his own darkness, yet drawn to the
light of God's voice. There's nothing about him, no lie
in hearted courage, only hesitation and a voice that's weighed
down by fear. And yet God calls him mighty, not once,
(33:11):
not twice, but until the truth of God's word draws
him in. To think that God saw what this man
could be even before he started to see it himself,
is amazing. It's encouraging to us. Just as God sees
in each one of us what we cannot see at all,
(33:35):
God believes in us. He's calling us to be the
best we could be. And now from this Bible story
we have this man, Gideon, a fearful man cowering in
a wine press, clinging to survival. He is no hero,
well not yet, but he's about to be, because he's
(33:55):
about to be called by God himself. Now, Gideon was
extremely humble to a fault. We see it when God
appoints this man, unknown to the people of Israel, to
save them from the oppression of Midian. Gideon says, heard
of me, my Lord, But how can I save Israel?
My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am
(34:17):
the least in my family. God answers Gideon with what
could be the key to the entire existence of the
Chosen people. God says, I will be with you, and
you will strike down all the Midian nights, leaving none alive.
You see, the Jewish people have had many enemies through
the ages, many formidable enemies, and we still do today.
(34:42):
They are strong, they are big, they are big in
numbers and big in strength. But we have survived as
the people of Israel. We've even flourished, and it's only
for one reason. It's because of God's simple statement to
get I will be with you. How many names do
(35:05):
you have? Most of us have more than one, even
though my name is Yael. To my children, I'm Ema
Hebrew for mom Our. Titles and names are descriptions of
our relationships to others, and the same is true of God.
God has many different names in the Bible. He's called
the Lord or God or Lord of Hosts. He's called
(35:29):
the Rock, he's called our Father in Heaven, and.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Many other names.
Speaker 6 (35:33):
The Jewish ages teach us that none of the names
we have for God is an accurate expression of who
he truly is. Rather, God's names describe the many different
ways that we experience Him. In this Bible story, we
read Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and
(35:54):
called it the Lord is Peace. Jewish tradition teaches us
something very important about this verse. It teaches us that
shalom peace is actually one of God's names. Think about
what I just said about our names being descriptions of
our relationships to other. God gave us the Bible that
(36:17):
we've been studying together, and it is through everything written
in the Bible that we know who God is and
what He wants from us. When we live according to
what God teaches us in the Bible, we bring the
world one step closer to what He wants the world
to look like. A world where everyone recognizes him and
(36:37):
lives according to His will and his values. That is
the most complete expression of who God is, of how
He revealed himself to us in the Bible, and how
He reveals to himself to us still today. A world
where everyone recognizes and serves God as a world of peace,
(37:01):
of true piece of shalom, a perfection and wholeness, where
everything in creation is aligned with the will of God.
That is the goal of everything God tells us in
the Bible, everything he tells us about who he is,
because peace is God's name. So before we continue Gideon's story,
(37:22):
let us all pray for peace.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
Now.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
Gideon's story is for anyone who's ever questioned if they
are enough. It's by anyone who's felt like God is
far away. We'll see this again and again through the
story of the Chosen People. God doesn't call the obvious,
the strong, or the fearless. He calls those who know
their own weaknesses, and because of that, He can reveal
(37:47):
his own strength through them. So what do we do
when God calls us to something so much greater than
our own strength. Well, if you're like Gideon, if you're
hiding in some corner of your life, afraid, unprepared, then
this story is for you. Because God doesn't just call
the mighty, he calls the willing.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot
Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents, Steve Katina,
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producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
(38:32):
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Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening
prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith,
(38:53):
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(39:15):
Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
Previously on the Chosen People. Before the breaker of chains came,
the Lord would send lesser heroes, fractured and broken images
of the Deliverer to come.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You all call me the Lord's Man. You praised me
for my courage, and you have responded to my corn.
Make no mistake, brothers, we are all the Lord's men.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Brothers, people of Israel, hear me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies,
the Mobiites, into your head.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Do not fear. Have I not commended you? These strong,
be courgeous, for the Lord is with me. Rise you,
men of Israel, up, Arise for this civil day in
which the.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Lord has given Ciserah into your hand.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Do not fear them.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Does not the go for you.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Fight not for victory, but from it. You are the
Chosen People. Step into your destiny.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
They would be imperfect vessels in God's hands, crafted to
lead Israel out of itself inflicted destruction.
Speaker 6 (01:27):
Faith begins with one trembling yes, a whisper that defies
the fear within shell. Oh, my friends, from here in
the Holy Land of Israel, i'm l Extein with International
Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen people,
the Chosen people have fallen. They have scattered in fear,
(01:47):
shrinking before the Midianites. They came like swarms, sweeping through fields,
stripping the land bear, leaving us hungry and hollow. And
now in the dark, deep in a hollowed out pit,
one Israelite high hiding from the world, hiding from the
call that he hears within him. This story from Judges six,
This episode in our long, unsteady history. It begins here
(02:12):
with fear, with doubt, with a man too small for
the name that he'll be given. It begins with God's
voice calling out to one lost heart.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
The chris breeze of autumn swept through the fields of Israel.
It was the season of harvest, and the air hummed
with the sounds of rejoicing Men and women toiled with gladness,
their songs rising in harmony with the rustle of the stalks.
Children laughed as they darted about the threshing floor, while
(02:49):
young men bent their backs to lift sheaves of wheat,
and women sifted the chat from the grain. For a
fleeting moment, there was unity, a glimpse of Eden's peace
in a manned long scarred by strife, but peace is
a fragile thing. The earth began to tremble beneath their feet,
(03:11):
faint at first, but growing with an ominous rhythm. The
songs faltered, replaced by the low rumble of dread. Over
the southern hills, dark shapes emerged, a seething, writhing mass
of swift and unrelenting Medianite marauders. Like a plague of locusts,
(03:33):
they descended upon the harvesters. Their war cries tore through
the air, a sound that chilled the blood and quickened
the feet. The joy of the harvest turned to chaos. Men,
women and children fled, their cries lost amid the thunder
of hoofs and the clash of iron. Livestock were stolen,
(03:55):
homes were raised, and the fruits of a year's labour
were devoured in monas. The fields were band the threshing
floor empty, and the once bountiful land lay in ruins.
Yet there was no choice but to rebuild. With trembling hands,
they planted new seeds, raised what live stock they could salvage,
(04:17):
and began the long, agonizing journey back to normalcy. But
their torment was far from over. The Medianites returned the
earth quaked anew as the marauders swept in like wolves
among lambs. The defenders were no match for the savage Horde,
and the defenses crumbled. Grain, live stock, and labor were stolen,
(04:41):
and the orchards were set Aflame.
Speaker 7 (04:44):
Keep planting, islaou, raise your live stock, place your grapes,
and harvest your grain. Tend to your orchards as you
have always done. But all this, what you saw is ours.
(05:06):
Refuse and we will kill you. Obey, and perhaps we
will leave you just enough to survive.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
The people had no choice. Work meant survival, though survival
came without freedom. For seven years, the Medianites ravaged the land,
leaving Israel in ashes. Each season, the people toiled for
their oppressors, their lives reduced to slavery. They retreated to
(05:38):
caves in the hills, dwelling in darkness to escape the
relentless violence. Hunger, g nor died their bellies, and despair
weighed heavy on their hearts. When at last they could
bear no more, they turned their faces to the heavens.
Collectively they prayed for deliverance. It was then that a
(05:58):
man emerged from the shadows. He said nothing at first,
weaving through the crowd until he stood at the center,
facing the elders. His presence commanded silence. Then his voice
rose deep and sorrowful.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
I have come with a message from the Lord, the
God of Israel. I brought you up out of slavery
in Egypt. You are captives, oppressed by evil men, and
I delivered you.
Speaker 5 (06:28):
I drove out your enemies. I gave you this land,
rich and fertile to dwelling. I am your God, and
you are my people. I told you to worship only me,
to turn away from the gods of this land. But
you have not listened.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
You have sold your hearts to gods that cannot satisfy you.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
The crowd stood frozen, the prophet's words cutting deeper than
any sword. He said no more. There was no call
to repentance, no promise of deliverance, only the echo of
their guilt and the weight of their rebellion. Without another word,
the prophet turned and walked away, leaving them to wrestle
(07:13):
with their shame. The question hung heavy in the air,
unspoken but pressing upon every heart. Will God deliver us
once more? Or has he finally turned away from his
wayward people In the clan of Abby Easer, Joash and
his sons sat huddled around a fire, savoring a hard
(07:36):
won meal, bread rough and dark, and a thin broth
that barely masked the bitterness of herves. It was a
feast only in the sense that it existed at all.
To farm under the shadow of Medianite marauders was an
act of defiance, and Joash and his sons had risked
much to scrape together this meager fare. Each bite was
(07:59):
a signlan triumph, and they ate with the reverence of
men clutching gold in their hands. Gideon lingered in the shadows,
peering around the corner to watch the meat. The scent
of freshly baked bread teased him, its aroma, stirring a
sharp pang of hunger that gnawed at his insides. He
(08:19):
was no older than twenty five, but his wiry frame
and hesitant demeanor made him seem younger. His hands trembled
as he stepped forward. Unlike his brothers, Gideon had not
braved the fields. He stayed behind, tending the animals that
remained after the last raid. His thin shoulders sagged under
(08:41):
the mantle of his constant anxiety. He approached the fire
and sat hesitantly, his movements careful, as if each drew judgment.
The silence of the group grew heavier. As he ladled
broth into his bowl and reached for a piece of bread,
a hand shot out, slapping the bread from his fingers.
(09:02):
One of his brothers glared at him.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
What do you think you're doing? A runt? Please? Eh,
I'm hungry? Will you not share just one else of
bread with me?
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Joe Ash's fist slammed against the stump he sat on,
making the younger son's flinch. His voice was stern, laced
with disappointment.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
The bread those to those who have the courage to
earn it.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
If you refuse to farm, you refuse to eat, Tend
to your animals and leave us to our meal.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Gideon lowered his gaze. His father's scowl burned into him,
and without another word, he said the brother aside and
walked away. Tears broked the corners of his eyes, but
he refused to let them fall. He had long grown
weary of proving his brother's right. Gideon wandered the edges
(09:58):
of his father's property, his thoughts consumed by a gnawing
hunger and self loathing. He hated his fear, hated the
way it clung to him like a second skin, But
the idea of stepping into the fields of standing, even
a chance of being seen by a Medianite patrol, was
enough to make his knees buckle. Yet his hunger was
(10:21):
louder than his fear. Wrapping himself in a beige cloak,
Gideon took the back roads to the fields, avoiding the
well worn paths. He crouched low in the brush, his
wide eyes scanning for the telltale shapes of Medianite soldiers.
Near the well, he saw two men harassing a young woman,
(10:41):
shoving her as she tried to retrieve water. Gideon's heart froze,
but not with courage. The thought of intervention didn't cross
his mind, only that the distraction gave him the opportunity
he needed. He darted from the brush, his movements quick
but clumsy, and rolled into the grain fields. Hidden among
(11:02):
the stalks, he stuffed handfuls of wheat into a burlap sack,
glancing nervously over his shoulder with each handful. When the
men left and the woman disappeared, Gideon seized his chance,
sprinting back towards his father's wine press, with the stolen
grain clutched to his chest. The wine press had not
seen use in months, its basin dry and forgotten, overshadowed
(11:26):
by the great tree of Offra. Its braided trunk cast
a long, thick shadow over Gideon. He saw it as
further covering for his cowardly attempt to make bread. Gideon
poured the grain into the press and began threshing, his hands,
moving frantically as he sifted and worked, glancing over his
(11:46):
shoulder every few moments. A movement near the tree caught
his eye, and his breath hitched. He froze, his voice trembling.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
As he called out, Father is Jahabin?
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Silence answered. Gideon crept toward the tree, peering around its
massive trunk. There was nothing there. He sighed in relief,
but his respite was short lived.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Mighty hero, the Lord is with you.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Hah. Gideon yelped, jumping back and nearly tumbling into the
wine press. His heart hammered in his chest as he
looked around wildly. Oh what were He poked his head
out to see the man sitting under the tree. He
wasn't there. Gideon shifted his eyes desperately, looking for the man.
Gideon shouted into the air.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I've done nothing wrong. Please we please got away.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
The man appeared again, this time leaning casually on the
edge of the wine press.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
The Lord is with you, o mighty man of valor.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Good almighty? Who are you? Why do you mock me
with such a tight.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
The Lord is beside you, and before you. Gideon's out
of jewesh he is he?
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Now? Then, explain why we're starving. Where are the miracles
we've been told about since we were children. Where's this
deliverance from slavey? The Lord has abandoned us.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Gideon turned around and went back to his work. He
had no clue who he was talking to. The man
before him was the Lord himself. The man tilted his
head and looked ponderously at Gideon. Gideon looked back to
see the man still there.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
What why are you still here? Let me be crazy,
old goat.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
The Midianites have indeed been a problem.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
That is why I'm sending you.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
Go with strength and rescue Israel from the Midianites. Be
courageous and take back the land.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Who do you think you are? The Lord?
Speaker 1 (14:00):
I laughed for a long while, but then there was
a long drawn out pause. The man before him simply nodded.
Gideon shook his head.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Nobody in the right mind would send me rescue anyone.
If you were the Lord, you'd know that I'm somewhat
of a professional coward.
Speaker 5 (14:20):
Has not the Lord used frail men to show historyth before?
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I can't believe on having this conversation. Sure, yes, but
out of all the frail men and weaklings and cowards,
I certainly tower above them all, and the weakest son
in my entire family. They see Bendal making me weaker,
mind you way, refusing to share their foods. Yeah, and
(14:46):
while we're on the subject of my family, they're the
most feeble of all the clans. That's saying something since
we're in the tribe of Manassa, the runt of all
Israel's twelve tribes. Are you catching on yet? I'm the
flee that sits on the rat, that cowers from the cat.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
The stranger took a step closer to Gideon, eyes reflecting
a deep knowledge of who Gideon was.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
I know your frame.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Gideon an earthen vessel, fragile and vulnerable.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
The man placed a hand on Gideon's shoulders and leaned
in earnestly.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
And yet greatness can be held in such places.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Greatness never be a part of my lessie.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
I will be with you.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
You will destroy the midianize as if you were only
fighting against one man.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
See that's the funny thing. Let's say that we're true,
and it would truly only seem like I was fighting
against one man, and I still lose. I never want
to fight in my life. When I was child, a
goose chased me all the way down the road, and
I didn't return till the next day because I was
too scared to face it.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
The man shook his head, still smiling with a genuine
love for the cowards standing before him. Gideon couldn't help
but feel close to this stranger. He wore a knowing
smile that he wished his father had given him.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I have already said of it with you. What else
do you need from me to answer the call? Proof? Proof? Yes, proof.
If you're who you claim to be, then I need
proof very well.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
I will remain here as long as it takes. Gideon
went to the wine press where his grain was. He
prepared it swiftly and best he could. He retrieved one
of the goats and killed it as an offering. It
was a hideous waste of resources. If this man wasn't
God Most High. Gideon carried it out with the bread
(16:49):
and a pot of broth. It was the meal he
had dreamed of eating all week, and he placed it
at the feet of the man who claimed to be God.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
If you are who you say you are, then burn
the offering yourself. Good. Now pour the broth over all
of it.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Gideon poured the broth over the meat and bread, soaking
it completely on the stone. He stepped back and waited.
The man looked up at Gideon with a piercing gaze.
Without breaking his stare, he gently tapped the end of
his staff on the offering, and the entire altar set ablaze.
The stone began to crack with the heat. Gideon recoiled
(17:29):
in fear. He covered his eyes as the heat radiated
all around. As the flames howled in front of him,
he saw that the man was gone. The flames disappeared,
leaving Gideon alone in silence, save but for the whistling
of smoke rising from cracks in the stone. Gideon's eyes
(17:49):
widened and he fell to his knees.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
Soft warm, doom dem doom, the dooms. I have seen
the Angel of the Lord, face of facer. Thank God,
the crazy old coats. Please don't kill me, Please don't
kill me.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Gideon was trembling in fear, afraid that the Lord would
punish him for not believing. Gideon jumped when he felt
her hand on his shoulder. He looked up and it
was the Angel of the Lord again.
Speaker 7 (18:20):
Do not be.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Afraid, Gideon.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
I'm not going to kill you.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
I'm here with you.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Do you understand.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Gideon couldn't understand fully. His anxiety drowned out every word
of reassurance. Yet the Lord continued relaying his chosen hero
the first steps of the plan.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
Before we take Midian, we have work to do in
your own household.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
A chill clung to the air, creeping into every crack
and crevice of the village. The homes and tents of
the clan of Abbyeza were quiet, their inhabitants deep and slumber.
But Gideon was awake, prepared to enact the plan God
had laid out for him. The cold air bit at
(19:08):
his skin. His thin frame shook with the cold. The
faint glow of the torch illuminated his path as he
approached the center of the village. There, standing in grotesque
mockery of the true God, was the altar to Bow.
Its towering form loomed over the square, its lean, animal
(19:29):
like visage casting twisted shadows in the torchlight. Beside it
rose the ashera pole, a smooth and polished pillar that
stretched high into the sky, its presence a monument to
the sinful practices of the people. Gideon stopped before the altar,
his gaze fixed on the hollow eyes of Baal's statue.
(19:51):
He gulped and gripped the torch tighter, the flames flickering
with the unsteady rhythm of his breath. Fear gnawed did
his resis, but the words of the Lord echoed in
his mind tear it down. He turned and hurried to
the stables, retrieving the second born bull of his father's herd.
(20:12):
The bull, seven years old, had been born in the
shadow of the first Mediannite raid, its life as silent
witness to the years of oppression. Gideon led the beast
to the altar. With trembling hands, Gideon tied a rope
around the base of Baal's altar and secured the other
end to the bull. He gave the animal a sharp slap,
(20:34):
and it bellowed, pulling against the ropes with all its might.
The altar groaned, the stones shifting and grinding, until with
a thunderous crash, it crumbled to the ground. Gideon froze,
his heart hammering as he scanned the darkened windows and
tents around him. No one stirred despite the cold sweat
(20:57):
beaded on his brow. He turned to the asherar pole
and raised an axe. He swung with all his strength.
The first blow rang out like a hammer striking an anvil,
and splinters flew. He struck again and again, his arms
burning with the effort. Finally, the poles shuddered and toppled
(21:17):
to the ground. Gideon leaned on the axe, panting, his
chest heaving, but his task was not yet finished. He
tied the remains of the idols to the bull and
led it up the hill to the place of sacrifice.
Beneath the great Tree of Offra. He built an altar
to the Lord. The stones were heavy, and his muscles
(21:39):
ached as he lifted and stacked them, but he worked
with the urgency of a man about to get caught.
Once the altar was complete, he chopped the asherar pole
into kindling and laid it atop the stones. The bull
snorted in the cold as Gideon approached it with a dagger.
The animal's breath puffed in the night air. As he
(21:59):
recited the ceremonial prayers and made a sin offering and
a consecration offering to the Lord, blood spilled, seething into
the earth. As the flames roared to life, consuming the offering.
Gideon watched his body trembling with exhaustion, but his spirit steady.
The idols of his people had been reduced to ash,
(22:23):
and the Lord's altar stood in their place. The valley
of Jezrael stretched wide and ominous beneath the shadow of
the mountains. The Medianites, Amalakites, and their allies from the
east had gathered in an alliance so vast that the
(22:44):
earth seemed to groan beneath the weight of their encampment.
Fires burned as far as the eye could see, their
globe flickering against the night like a sea of malevolent stars.
The sheer number of ten soldiers and beasts of war
sprawled across the land was unlike anything Israel had ever known.
(23:05):
Their enemy was not just an army. It was a horde,
an unrelenting tide, poised to obliterate Israel from the face
of the earth. Gideon stood on the mountain's edge, staring
down at the encampment. His hands trembled as he gripped
the Ram's horn in his palm. The enormity of the
(23:26):
tasks set before him crushed his spirit, and his voice
was barely more than a whisper.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Oh, Earth, is this queen?
Speaker 4 (23:36):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (23:36):
I defeat them?
Speaker 1 (23:38):
The wind whistled through the canyons, and the Lord stirred
up Gideon's heart to be courageous. It was an unfamiliar feeling.
His fear was dissipating, like the fog under the dawn.
Gideon could feel the strength of God coming upon him.
For the first time. Gideon had a Ram's horn in
his hand. He looked down at him.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
For a moment, set.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Not turning back below. The clan of Abbyeza stirred their hearts,
already moved by the hand of the Lord. They were waiting,
ready to fight for their God, their people, and their land.
Gideon raised the horn to his lips and blew. The
sound tore through the mountain air, sharp and commanding. It
(24:32):
echoed off the cliffs and rang out into the valley
like a cry of defiance. Men emerged from their tents,
armed and ready. Gideon watched in amazement as hundreds of
warriors from his clan gathered at the base of the mountain.
Their swords gleamed faintly in the torchlight, their faces set
with grim determination. Gideon sent messengers to the surrounding tribes
(24:57):
of Manassah zebulun Naftali, and to his shock, they too responded.
Thousands came rallying to his call. The mountain trembled with
their arrival, their collective presence like a wave poised to crash.
Yet Gideon, clad in armor that felt far too large
(25:17):
for his scrawny frame, felt no triumph. He looked down
at the gathering and prayed they would not see him
for what he truly was, a weak and trembling coward
pretending to be a leader. He hurried away for a
moment to collect his thoughts. He entered a ravine in
between two sides of the mountain. It was quiet and shaded,
(25:41):
a perfect place to rest and gather himself. He sat
on a stone and leaned over He placed his head
in his hands and groaned.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Are you there. You showed yourself once, will you show
yourself again?
Speaker 1 (25:54):
There was no answer.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
If you are truly going to rescue me and Israel,
I need another sign. I'm terrified, Lord. I need you
to reassure me again that you're with me. I know,
my frailty wife, I weepness. I know that if I
(26:18):
enter that battlefield and you're not there with me, I
shall surely perish. So please grant me this one request.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Gideon took a wool fleece out of his bag and
placed it on the grassy ground.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
I'll put this here for tonight. If the fleece is
wet with dew in the morning, but the surrounding ground
is dry, I'll know that you're here and you're faithful
to protect me.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Gideon stood to his feet and left the fleece. He
knew that testing the Lord was risky, but his fear
was that palpable, so he left with an anxious heart
and tucked in for the night. Gideon and the whole
army of the Lord rested for the night. He walked
among the soldiers, watching them sharpen their blades and prepare
(27:13):
for battle. They seemed more confident than he was. They
saluted him as he passed. Gideon was unsure how to respond.
He was not used to such respect. He laid awake
that night, tossing and turning in his tent. When he
closed his eyes, he imagined the Mediannites tying him up
to their camels and dragging him on the jagged ground.
(27:36):
He imagined his village burning and his family perishing. He
imagined the final look of disappointment in his father's eyes
before they chopped off his head. Gideon shivered in fear
and almost hoped that the lord would not respond to
his plea. That way, he wouldn't have to battle. He
(27:57):
could just run away and never return. As the soldiers
prepared below, Gideon slipped away. He needed to escape their gazes,
their confidence, their expectation. He found himself in a narrow ravine,
the walls of the canyon rising steep and jagged on
(28:17):
either side. Here the world was quiet, the chaos of
war muffled. He collapsed onto a stone and buried his
face in his hands, his voice breaking into a desperate prayer.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Are you there? You showed yourself once? Will you show
yourself again?
Speaker 1 (28:37):
The stillness pressed in around him. There was no voice,
no vision, no reassurance.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
If you are truly going to rescue me and Israel,
I need another sign. I'm terrified. Lord, I need you
to reassure me. If I step in the battle and
you're not with me, I will surely perish.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
From his bag, he pulled a wool fleece, its texture
course beneath his trembling fingers. He placed it carefully on
the ground, smoothing it over the grass.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
I'll leave this here tonight. If in the morning the
fleece is soaked with them, but the ground around it
is dry, I will know you are with me.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
He rose and walked away, his heart heavy with the
weight of his doubt. Among the soldiers, the air buzzed
with anticipation. They sharpened their swords and secured their armor,
speaking in hushed tones of the battle to come. Their
confidence was unshaken, their faith in Gideon unwavering. Gideon, however,
(29:42):
lay awake in his tent, tossing and turning. His mind
conjured horrors, the Medianites dragging him behind their camels, his
village consumed in flames, his family slaughtered before his eyes.
He shivered sweat pooling on his brow. Deep down, he
almost hoped the Lord would not respond, that he would
(30:03):
release him from this impossible burden so he could flee
to the hills. Morning broke over the mountains, the sunlight
filtering through a thick fog that clung to the valley
like a shroud. Gideon rose with trembling legs and made
his way to the ravine. The fleece lay where he
(30:24):
had placed it, glistening faintly in the pale light. He
bent down, his heart pounding, and touched it. The fleece
was drenched. Water dripped from his fingers as he wrung
it out, filling an entire bowl. The ground around it, however,
was dry as bone. Gideon staggered backward, his knees giving way.
(30:47):
The conformation did not embolden him, it crushed him. His
fear swelled, pressing against his ribs until he could scarcely Breathe.
Tears spilled down his face as he clutched the fleece,
his voice breaking in a sob.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please don't be angry with me.
I want to believe, but I can't.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
His hands shook as he placed the fleece back on
the grass.
Speaker 3 (31:15):
One more sign. If the ground is wet tomorrow, but
the fleece is dry, I will believe he.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Left his head hanging in shame. That night, as he
lay in his tent, he thought of the heroes of
old othnil A, Hood, Shamgar, Deborah. Their bravery felt like
a distant legend, something unattainable. He was nothing like them.
(31:43):
He was consumed by his weakness, crippled by his fear.
But this, Gideon did not yet realize, was precisely why
God had chosen him. The Lord's strength is made perfect
in weakness. It would be his victory and his alone.
(32:04):
The next morning, Gideon returned to the ravine. The ground
sparkled with dew, wet blades of grass catching the morning light.
He stooped and picked up the fleece, his heart racing.
It was dry, completely utterly dry. Gideon squeezed it, not
(32:24):
a single drop falling. His eyes lifted to the sky,
his breath catching in his throat. He stood there for
a long moment, the fleece clutched in his hands. Is
this time the Lord had spoken, and there would be
no more testing. The battle awaited.
Speaker 6 (32:50):
What a story, A story of trembling courage of a
man caught in his own darkness, yet drawn to the
light of God's voice. There's nothing about him, no lie
in hearted courage, only hesitation and a voice that's weighed
down by fear. And yet God calls him mighty, not once,
(33:11):
not twice, but until the truth of God's word draws
him in. To think that God saw what this man
could be even before he started to see it himself,
is amazing. It's encouraging to us. Just as God sees
in each one of us what we cannot see at all,
(33:35):
God believes in us. He's calling us to be the
best we could be. And now from this Bible story
we have this man, Gideon, a fearful man cowering in
a wine press, clinging to survival. He is no hero,
well not yet, but he's about to be, because he's
(33:55):
about to be called by God himself. Now, Gideon was
extremely humble to a fault. We see it when God
appoints this man, unknown to the people of Israel, to
save them from the oppression of Midian. Gideon says, heard
of me, my Lord, But how can I save Israel?
My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am
(34:17):
the least in my family. God answers Gideon with what
could be the key to the entire existence of the
Chosen people. God says, I will be with you, and
you will strike down all the Midian nights, leaving none alive.
You see, the Jewish people have had many enemies through
the ages, many formidable enemies, and we still do today.
(34:42):
They are strong, they are big, they are big in
numbers and big in strength. But we have survived as
the people of Israel. We've even flourished, and it's only
for one reason. It's because of God's simple statement to
get I will be with you. How many names do
(35:05):
you have? Most of us have more than one, even
though my name is Yael. To my children, I'm Ema
Hebrew for mom Our. Titles and names are descriptions of
our relationships to others, and the same is true of God.
God has many different names in the Bible. He's called
the Lord or God or Lord of Hosts. He's called
(35:29):
the Rock, he's called our Father in Heaven, and.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Many other names.
Speaker 6 (35:33):
The Jewish ages teach us that none of the names
we have for God is an accurate expression of who
he truly is. Rather, God's names describe the many different
ways that we experience Him. In this Bible story, we
read Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and
(35:54):
called it the Lord is Peace. Jewish tradition teaches us
something very important about this verse. It teaches us that
shalom peace is actually one of God's names. Think about
what I just said about our names being descriptions of
our relationships to other. God gave us the Bible that
(36:17):
we've been studying together, and it is through everything written
in the Bible that we know who God is and
what He wants from us. When we live according to
what God teaches us in the Bible, we bring the
world one step closer to what He wants the world
to look like. A world where everyone recognizes him and
(36:37):
lives according to His will and his values. That is
the most complete expression of who God is, of how
He revealed himself to us in the Bible, and how
He reveals to himself to us still today. A world
where everyone recognizes and serves God as a world of peace,
(37:01):
of true piece of shalom, a perfection and wholeness, where
everything in creation is aligned with the will of God.
That is the goal of everything God tells us in
the Bible, everything he tells us about who he is,
because peace is God's name. So before we continue Gideon's story,
(37:22):
let us all pray for peace.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
Now.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
Gideon's story is for anyone who's ever questioned if they
are enough. It's by anyone who's felt like God is
far away. We'll see this again and again through the
story of the Chosen People. God doesn't call the obvious,
the strong, or the fearless. He calls those who know
their own weaknesses, and because of that, He can reveal
(37:47):
his own strength through them. So what do we do
when God calls us to something so much greater than
our own strength. Well, if you're like Gideon, if you're
hiding in some corner of your life, afraid, unprepared, then
this story is for you. Because God doesn't just call
the mighty, he calls the willing.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot
Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made
possible by our dedicated team of creative talents, Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger, and Ben Gammon are the executive
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
(38:32):
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening
prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith,
(38:53):
written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special
thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, rob Bin van Ettin, Kayleb Burrows,
Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions
on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple
App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The
(39:15):
Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
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