Gideon and his servant
Gideon and his servantThis nugget of revelation came from the Holy Spirit as I continued reading the story of Gideon and how the Lord promised Gideon that he is the judge that the Lord has appointed to save Israel.
A bit of background first, in Judges Chapter 6, we are introduced to this character Gideon, who was the son of Joash the Abiezrite, the smallest clan in the tribe of Manasseh.
At that time, Israel was constantly under attack from the tribes in Canaan because the children of Israel failed to drive these tribes from the land as God had instructed them.
By the time we see this story, the children of Israel were in a sorry state. They are like refugees, “dwelling in caves and strongholds in the mountains” (Judges 6:2), much like where Osama and his roomies are hiding right now.
Israel was under constant attack from “the Midianites, the Amalekites and the people of the East.” (Judges 6:3-4).
So Gideon was called to save Israel in a time like this.
Now we heard Pastor preach about how Gideon twice asked the Lord for confirmation that he was the one that the Lord had chosen indeed, and the Lord had given him the confirmation.
We also heard Pastor share the beautiful story of Jesus that is hidden in this small episode of Gideon seeking confirmation, how the fleece of wool was a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ who absorbed the sins of the world in His body in the first instance, and in turn unleash all the blessings and was dried up in the second instance.
So after that Gideon went to gather his army but the Lord was not pleased. He told Gideon that “the people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands” (Judges 7:2).
From a 32,000-strong army, the Lord reduced Gideon’s army to a mere 300 – how the Lord led Gideon to set apart the 300 is another amazing story of grace versus self-effort or works.
If you suspect that Gideon must be scared shit in his pants that the Lord has left him with only 300 men to deliver Israel from the Medianites, you are right!
I think it doesn’t take you to be an army general to figure out that this seem like a lost cause. What can 300 men do against the mighty army of Medianites numbering in the thousands???
That’s where we see the hand of God prevail and how He worked.
So it was, the Bible told us, that Gideon was scared because “on the same night that the Lord said to him,” Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand (Judges 7:9).
Then strangely, God seemed to know that Gideon was afraid for He added this:” But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant.” (Judges 7:10)
Now what about Purah? Who is he? What is he? Is he Gideon’s general? Is he Gideon’s mighty man of valor, trusted side-kick, Robin to Batman?
Nope, the Bible doesn’t say anything about Purah. His name just appeared out of nowhere and all we know is that Purah is Gideon’s servant.
The Lord continued and said in Judges 7: 11 that “you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp”, that is, the Midianites, the Amalekites and the people of the East.
The Bible records that “the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts, and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.” (Judges 7:12).
So it was, we’re told in the following verses how Gideon was told of a dream and its interpretation that one of these Midianites encamped there had during his recce trip with Purah.
Now while reading this, I was led to look up the meaning of the word Purah in Hebrew. Fresh from what Pastor had taught during mid-week about the meanings of Sarah, blessing, and birthright, I believe the Holy Spirit can teach m
Purahe too.
פרה
heh-resh-pei
Pastor taught us that Hebrew is read from right to left, like Chinese characters. And each Hebrew alphabet has a picture associated with it, except for ה, which in modern terms, has a picture of “window” because Hebrew scholars and rabbis cannot find an appropriate picture for it.
Sarah
שרה
heh-resh–sheen
Do you recognise the Hebrew word above? Notice the similarity between Sarah and Purah?
Remember Pastor taught us the reason why the Lord changed Sarai’s name to Sarah because the “Sar” in Sarai means “prince, leader, ruler or chief” while ”resh” means “head or highest person”.
And we know that the ה, Pastor taught us, refers to God, Jehovah, grace. In the Hebrew language, it means “to behold or to reveal”. That’s why the Lord’s name is יהוה or Yah-weh, Jehovah.
If you look up the picture associated with the Hebrew alphabet פ, you will get a “mouth” and its associated meaning is “to speak, or word”
So put them together, פרה or “heh-resh-pei” means “to speak of the Lord in the highest” or “to proclaim the grace of God as the highest”
Later in the story, we are told of the dream that Gideon heard – about a loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp of Median, striking it and overturning it.
We know that the loaf of barley bread is none other than a picture of Christ, so the Lord has delievered the victory of Israel into Gideon’s hands.
All he needs to do, is to believe it, AND proclaim it!
Today, the Holy Spirit is our servant, to serve us and be our Helper, as how the servant accompanied Gideon. And we are to proclaim the victory of the Lord, to speak of His grace and His Highness, His majesty!
When you encounter a situation, speak of His goodness, proclaim His victory over that sitaution and watch the mighty army of God move!
By the way, it’s interesting to note how the Lord punishes the enemy. He made Gideon and his 300 men sound trumpets and shout “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!” Remember the story of Jericho? The men just blew their trumpets and shouted!
Then what happens? The Lord made the army of Midianites, the Amalekites and all the people of the East start killing one another. “When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set eevry man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp, and the army fled to Beth Acacia…” (Judges 7:22).
You see, the Lord has a distinctive pattern in the way He works, and He is to repeat this pattern again when He delivered King Jehoshaphat in the same manner from the hands of the Ammonites and Moabites. (2 Chronicles 20: 1-30)
Rejoice my friends! Proclaim the victory of the Lord! Worship Him always and speak of His grace and goodness!
Because He is good, and His mercies endure forever!!!
Shalom.
posted by weiwen @ 9:58 AM
3 Comments:
Thanks for sharing that little nugget! Beautiful story isn't it?
God bless you.
God bless you.
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