Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/243

 A mixed marriage,  it  has  been  most  truly  said,  begins  by  a spiritual divorce; for, from  the  beginning,  those  who  are  married  are  separated on the  most  important  point,  namely  religion.

God governs  the  world.  God  gave  the  Israelites  into  the  hands  of the  Madianites,  for  these  could  never  have  overcome  them  except  by His  permission;  and  when  in  their  misery  they  turned  to  Him,  He delivered  them  through  Gedeon  and  gave  them  peace  for  many  years. But that  Israel  might  know  that  it  was  to  God  it  owed  the  victory,  He told  them  that  if  32,000  men  went  out  to  fight,  they  would  not  conquer the enemy,  but  that  if  only  three  hundred  fought,  then  the  victory would be  theirs. God directs  the  lives  of  nations,  as  of  individuals, with power,  wisdom,  and  mercy. He is  Lord  also  over  nature,  and turns its  powers  which  way  soever  He  will,  as  He  showed  by  the  twofold miracle of  the  fleece.

Prayer obtains  help  in  time  of  need.  When  neither  life  nor  property was safe,  and  the  Israelites  were  hunted  from  their  homes,  they  turned to God  and  cried  for  help. And God  heard  their  prayer  and  raised up Gedeon  to  be  the  saviour  of  his  people.

Humility. Gedeon  was  humble  of  heart. He considered  himself  to be  the  lowest  of  the  low,  and  did  not  trust  to  his  own  skill  or  strength, but only  in  God’s  help. As soon  as  the  twofold  miracle  of  the  fleece had convinced  him  that  God  was  favourable  to  the  Israelites,  and  had chosen him  to  save  them,  he  confidently  attacked  the  overwhelming host of  the  enemy  with  a mere  handful  of  fighting  men,  and  put  it  to flight. God exalteth  the  humble. “He that  exalteth  himself  shall  be humbled,  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted”,  says  our  Lord. Gedeon considered  himself  to  be  small  and  weak,  but  he  did  great things by  the  help  of  God. “The weak  things  of  the  world  hath  God chosen that  He  may  confound  the  strong,  that  no  flesh  should  glory  in His  sight”  (1  Cor.  1,  27).

The confidence  in  God  shown  by  the  three  hundred.  They  might easily have  felt  disheartened,  and  might  have  said: “How  can  we  conquer an  enemy  who  outnumbers  us  by  four  hundred  and  fifty  to  one!” But they  trusted  in  God’s  help,  followed  the  example  of  their  valiant leader, and  thus  gained  a glorious  victory,  in  spite  of  overwhelming odds against  them. We too,  in  our  fight  against  the  enemies  of  our salvation, ought  not  to  lose  courage,  but  should  trust  in  God  and  say with the  holy  apostle:  “I  can  do  all  things  in  Him,  who  strengthened me” (Phil.  4,  13).

Temperance. Gedeon  was  to  know  those  whom  God  had  chosen for the  battle  by  their  self-control  and  temperance. For the  service  of God  temperance  and  self-denial  are  absolutely  necessary,  since  without these there  can  be  no  true  virtue. He who  does  not  govern  himself  is a slave  to  his  evil  inclinations  and  passions:  “Better  is  he  that  ruleth his spirit  than  he  that  taketh  cities.”