The Cultivation of Gideon

"Throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it." — Judges 6:25



Before Gideon could ever lead an army against the Midianites, God had a work to do *within* Gideon’s own household. We often want the public victory without the private purging, but the "Cultivation of Gideon" teaches us that God’s champions are grown in the soil of uncompromising obedience and the destruction of idols.

 The Mandate of Separation

In Judges 6:25-32, the Lord’s first command to Gideon was not to strike the enemy, but to strike the sin in his own family. Gideon’s father had an altar to Baal and an Asherah pole—symbols of a compromised nation that had forgotten the Law of Moses.

True cultivation begins with **separation**. You cannot build an altar to the Most High God until you have dismantled the altars of the world. Fundamental to the Christian walk is the understanding that God will not share His glory with another. If there is a "grove" in your life—a secret sin or a worldly compromise—it must be cut down before God can use you.

Obedience Under the Cover of Night

The Scripture records that Gideon performed this task by night because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city. While we strive for boldness, notice that God did not disqualify Gideon for his fear; He qualified him through his **action**.

Gideon took ten men and did exactly as the Lord commanded. He offered the "second bullock" as a burnt sacrifice, using the very wood of the pagan Asherah pole for the fire. This is a picture of total reclamation. We are to take those things once used for the world and surrender them entirely to the service of King Jesus.

 The Testimony of "Jerubbaal"

When the morning came and the townspeople rose to demand Gideon’s life, a remarkable thing happened. Joash, his father, was moved to defend his son, saying, *"If he [Baal] be a god, let him plead for himself."* Gideon was renamed **Jerubbaal**, meaning "Let Baal plead." His act of defiance proved the impotence of the false god. When a believer stands firmly on the Word of God and refuses to bow to modern idols, the world’s "gods" are revealed for the empty shells they are.

Lessons for Today

 * **Clean Your Own House First:** Are you praying for national revival while harboring an altar to the world in your own home?

 * **Expect Opposition:** When you tear down idols, the world will notice and the "men of the city" will be angry.

 * **Trust the Results to God:** Gideon’s obedience didn't just change him; it changed his father and eventually saved his nation.

The cultivation of a servant is often a painful pruning process. But if we are to be used in the Great Harvest, we must first be willing to take the axe to the groves of our day.


Location: Peru, IN 46970, USA

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