Daily Manna 27 March
MEMORY VERSE: “God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.” – (Judges 8:3)
READ: Judges 8:1-3 (KJV)
1. And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
2. And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
3. God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
It is always a difficult task to manage those who will not attempt or do anything in the kingdom of God but will always want to fight the more enterprising and zealous brethren who do the work.
In our text, the success of Gideon’s work embarrassed the pride of Ephraim, as the chief tribe. They discovered that they had played a subordinate role. These were a proud people, puffed up with a conceit of their number and strength. They had been enjoying a vantage position, courtesy of the preference which Jacob gave them above Manasseh, of which tribe Gideon was. They had thought that Gideon was performing this act to advance and project his own tribe, and to subdue theirs. What a misunderstanding! Rather than celebrate the victory of the Lord with Gideon, they were picking a quarrel with him.
Those who are the idlest in God’s service are most angry for not being recognised or appreciated. Gideon was now faced with the task of pacifying the Ephraimites who felt left out because he had not called them to join in the battle. Gideon however displayed the rare qualities of humility, self-denial and magnanimity. Through this, he showed that the antidote to envy is humility. He wisely, showed how important the victory gained by the Ephraimites was in comparison to his.
The Ephraimites had come fully armed for war but a soft answer from Gideon was enough to pacify them. May God teach us humility and wisdom in tackling difficult people we relate with in life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Humility and wisdom freeze anger.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 21-24
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Humility Pacifies Anger – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 27 March 2021
