He said, “They were my brothers,
the sons of my mother.
I swear, as surely as the Lord
is alive, if you had let them live,
I would not kill you.”
Judges 8:19
Finished fulfilling his promises, Gideon stands toe to toe with captured Kings. He questions them about their actions, that prompted his reaction. Their response throws unneeded fuel on his fire, prompting him to passionately respond, “They were my brothers…”
While Cain responded, “Am I my brothers keeper” to God, Gideon responds, “They were my brothers….” I love that Gideon responds with such passion, and that Gideon is not detached from those whom were slain by these kings. He calls them brother. He is and will be forever connected with them because they are of same community and kingdom!
If only we had a similar view towards our brothers! This passionate view towards his view aided in driving him to defend and to take revenge for their death. Most of us don’t feel a sense of responsibility towards our neighbors. This disconnect presses against an important Kingdom principle in that we laugh together, and morn together…. We are bound together by the Love of our Lord, the Grace of our God and the Mercy we receive that ties us together.
As we look at the interaction and reactions today, we see such a disconnect. Even as a church, people seem to be in their own bunkers, hunkered down, and protecting their own interest. Everyone clinging to their rations, unwilling to share with others, and or caring for those who are without. We watch the suffering of others, as though we are scrolling through Instagram pictures, and invest in the struggles of others like we Subscribe to YouTube channels. This is a major challenge for the church, in that the God we serve and model, is invested in the community. We see Jesus caring for children, blind, deceased, hungry……. and so are we to genuinely care for others.
Caring for others is relative to how we see others. While it might be second nature to some, sole nature for others, the remaining people must choose to place the needs and concerns of others. Society, more specifically, American Society, does not promote or caring for others. Sadly, the noted and recognized Evangelical Church communicates a similar message with its political affiliations and worse, Sunday morning sermon content.
As we continue striving to get closer to our Lord and Savior, we accept more than salvation and love for us, but follow Him in showing the love given to us to others.
They looked at Gideon, they one who had their lives in his hand, and spoke “They were like you….” They looked just like you, telling Gideon that they had taken the lives of people that bore his image. What a disrespect this was. Had Gideon been present at the foot of the mountain, Zebah and Zalmunna would have taken his life without a second thought. This had to have fueled Gideon even more. Pouring un-needed fuel on the fire of a man that was consumed in the moment by the pain.
Furthermore, from the “each one”, the equated them to the likeness of “king’s son.” It is as though they were acknowledging they considered the very potential and future of each soldier, and erased their potential. A kings son is one that is valued in the community as one that carries the gene, future, image, substance of his predecessor. He will continue the legacy of the father, protecting and expanding the kingdom into future generations. As a child of God, he will make sure the image of God is replicated in those that are born and those they encounter. They were people who were cared for, pillars of their community, bridges to future endeavors, and they looked each one in the eye and individually removed them from their communities.
What is interesting as I read the passage is that Gideon is going to take the lives of Zebah and Zalmunna for doing a similar act that he just performed. He placed himself in the position as judge and jury, and sentences them to eternity. Gideon took to heart what and Eye for an Eye meant. He, like many of us are able to feel completely justified in our actions, while finding complete disgust for those who carry out the same actions we commit. Gideon had slain innocent men in two cities because they refused to help him, and is punishing two men who fought nobly to expand their kingdoms (did I say nobly?).
Gideon tore down the tower. I love how simple God has this stated. Though we can be sure Gideon didn’t tear the tower down with his bare hands, but the scripture lets us know that the tearing down of the tower was at the hands of and the responsibility of Gideon. He chose to act out on his feelings of anger, and lead his men not just into victory, but to punish the men of Succoth and tear down the tower of Peneul. Some of us hide behind the chain of command. We give the order, and then see ourselves as innocent and refuse to bare the responsibility. Hear this: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE! If you gave the order you made the decision to carry out the pain and suffering.
up, facing the sword. Gathering their last moments and attempting to live them with dignity and honor, as Gideon imposes his will on them through torture.
I am sure they heard the cascading message of the battle, and braced themselves for the encounter with Gideon. While they hoped the moment would pass, they were ready to face it, and prepared to embrace it. And true to form, a leader will always have to answer for his decisions. Many of us have been chosen to bear the scars that come along with leadership. Leaders make decision knowing that they receive the full showering of the victory, and the terrible lashing that come along with defeat. Yet, we lead.
Leaders must stay balanced, accepting the good with the bad, focused on the people, not on the potential pain. And while they might learn and choose differently in the future, they remain at peace with their decision, because it took into account the information of yesterday, not the data of today. The reality is, everyone is correct after the fact! Leaders know this, and don’t waiver with criticism or failings.
those that they admired and respected. And truly they did. They watched as their leaders were punished for the decision they made with them in mind. And while some of them feared Gideon, I am willing to bet some gained more respect for the ones that bore stripes from the thorns and briers.
Yes, he made them put some respect on his name. Where they might have spoken his name causally, he wanted to insure that it was spoken from this point on with reverence, fear and trembling.
He has the men gathered, and has one of the greatest “Your not going to believe this…” moments in history! They gather in front of him to see one of their newest and greatest fears and are about to live out their latest regret; a revengeful Gideon. Gideon full of frustration and anger, holds up his trophies in front of the his doubters. His audience stood polarized, watching Zebah and Zalmunna stand helplessly before them. While confronting them, no doubt, he had revenge and making the doubters respect him.
And so do we! We accept the call from God. Chase down the goals, conquering feats, surviving battles, overcoming obstacles and somehow, we forget that it is He working through us that allows us to defeat armies of 50 to 1. God protects us through times of lack; keeping us while we are starving, and still allowing us to excel, and yet the words that come from our mouth don’t honor Him. I thought about Gideon, and gave praise because God protected Him,though he lost his focus as to why he was fighting and how he was going to win.
I thank God that as we follow Him, He gives us moments where we are validated. Times where those who doubted, feel foolish for not believing in the God we serve, and in some cases are inspired to follow the God we serve or even gain faith in us and our abilities.
The young man protects His life and writes on the paper. My heart goes out to this young man, as his efforts to steer clear place him as a cog in the effort to severely punish 77 people. In this “snitches get stitches” culture, we should acknowledge that his safety with the community once Gideon leaves. 
Not were they just 77 people, but 77 Elders, which were leaders in the community. I’m sure as he wrote, he knew his part in this effort, would remove much wisdom and some resources from the community. This small community would be challenged, but the injury and loss caused to its leaders. Remember, Gideon’s plan is to gather thorns and briers and to tear their flesh. He want’s to make them suffer by shedding their blood. Lord forbid that this young man could potentially watch his country deteriorate.
Though they had the numbers, the text tells us that they fled. Here two kings are, previously victorious in battle, now retreating, and fleeing to save their lives. Their encounter with Gideon and God has taught them that God can make your advantage a disadvantage.
Gideon was representing the King of Kings, and though he had to fight two kings, he knew that the true battle was the Lords. He knew that God would go before him, and where he needed to fight, God would prepare his path, provide a plan, power his people, and prove him victorious.
I envisioned a chess board with all the pawns, horsemen, bishops and castles, set aside with the queen with nothing protecting it. I see the king laying on its side, surrendering to an eventual death, because it has nothing to cover or deflect from putting it into check. We must remain confident that God will do what He said. We must look at our circumstances as unfolding stories with many chapters. The text says that Gideon was able to win “…routing their entire army”.