Daily Manna 11 March
MEMORY VERSE: “And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city” – Judges 8:16,17
READ: JUDGES 8:4-21 (KJV)
4 When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. 5 Then he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.”
6 And the leaders of Succoth said, “Are[a] the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?”
7 So Gideon said, “For this cause, when the Lord has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!” 8 Then he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 So he also spoke to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower!”
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the army of the people of the East; for one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword had fallen. 11 Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah; and he [b]attacked the army while the camp felt secure. 12 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army.
13 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle, from the Ascent of Heres. 14 And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men. 15 Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you ridiculed me, saying, ‘Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?’ ” 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he [c]taught the men of Succoth. 17 Then he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?”
So they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.”
19 Then he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20 And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was still a youth.
21 So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself, and kill us; for as a man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
Succoth and Penuel allowed the fear of man to prevent them from participating in a just and reasonable cause. God appointed Gideon to fight the Midianites – the common enemy of His people. However, the people of Succoth and Penuel were too concerned about their safety and welfare that they refused to join forces with God’s chosen vessel to do His work. They had to suffer the consequences of their self-love and faithlessness.
It was right, moral and ethical to help Gideon but they refused because they did not see any personal benefits in doing so. More so, they showed no faith in God’s cause and disrespected the man He had appointed to do His work. They knew how to do good but did it not and were punished for their callous behaviour. No one is excused from the work of the Lord.
When we deliberately refuse to contribute our quota – time, money and talent – to help in the work of the Lord, we cannot escape God’s punishment. “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes” (Luke 12:47). All who know what to do to be saved but refuse to repent shall be punished.
Those who have the privileges to be warned often through the gospel, but do not repent and believe, cannot escape severe punishment. All the believers who know about the Great Commission but refuse to warn sinners by calling them to repentance shall not escape divine punishment. We will fail to recognise God’s call to duty if we are blinded by selfish ambitions and interests.
But certainly, we must face bitter consequences and receive severe punishment for failing to respond to the call of God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Those preoccupied with self-will miss God’s call.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: NUMBERS 11 – 13
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – When God Refuses to Listen – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 11 March 2021
