I Surrender All

As Paul Harvey used to say--"and that's the rest of the story. Good day!" This morning as I read through Judges 6, 7, and 8 I kept thinking of the times I have taught/preached "the story of Gideon." I would always emphasize (and still think it true) the necessity of every man standing in his place and faithfully following God, with the result being God gives the victory. However, the rest of the story reveals MUCH more!

"Then the Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us, you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you delivered us from the power of Midian." Judges 8:22, HCSB

How quickly they forgot---how quickly we forget! It was not Gideon, it was God that delivered the victory! They advocated making Gideon king, when they should have bowed down to the King of Kings.   In fact, this was just another time they rejected God to be more like the unfaithful men around them who did have kings. Why are we so willing to reject God and His ways for the ways of man?

Gideon must have really struggled with his crises.  First, he had to send 31,700 soldiers home and keep only 300.  Then after victory he had to send the people home without the king they wanted.  Gideon's love relationship with God was so firm that he followed God's ways even when human ways were far more attractive.  What human glory do you surrender to do it God's way?

There was 40 years of peace, BUT in Judges 8: 32 - 35, we see that "as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god." (8:33). They "forgot" the deliverance God had given them--they did not show kindness to the household of Gideon.  Before I am too critical of them, I must examine my own life.  How quickly I forget.  How quickly I "play the harlot."  I (we) are guilty of spiritual adultery when we fail to surrender all and FOLLOW Christ daily.

That hymn at the end of the service, "I surrender ALL," (have you noticed) is generally sung quietly and mumbled through.  Our hearts are literally singing--"I surrender SOME----."  May we surrender ALL to Him this day and experience the JOY and fulfillment that only comes through faithful and COMPLETE obedience/following of the LIVING Lord Jesus Christ!