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clarations. His promises shall never fail. Let us only enjoy satisfactory evidence that we have a right to apply them to ourselves, by ascertaining that we are the true disciples of his Son, and we should never yield to doubt, to fear, or to despondency. If the Lord is with us, we have no. thing to fear. Our faith should always be ready "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

to say,

CHAPTER X.

Gideon's faith confirmed by miracles. He throws down the altar of Baal.

Faith rests on evidence, and is strong in proportion to the clearness and force of that evidence. Gideon desired to be fully assured that what he saw and heard was not an illusion of his senses, that it was, indeed, a divine messenger who held this intercourse with him. "If now," said he, addressing the glorious form that was before him,-" If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest

with me. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee." On the angel's replying that he would remain, Gideon went and cooked a kid, and unleavened cakes of flour; and putting the flesh in a basket, and the broth in a pot, brought them to him under the oak.

Some suppose that this was done by Gideon merely to provide a hospitable meal, according to the custom of the country, for the refreshment of a stranger. Others consider it an oblation, or thank-offering to the angel himself, whom Gideon regarded as the manifestation of Jehovah. This seems altogether the more probable, as he made no allusion, in proposing to bring it, to its being presented as food to be eaten, which it will be recollected Abraham did when he entertained his heavenly guests in the plains of Mamre. The Hebrew word, too, which is rendered "present," as referring to what Gideon was to bring forth to the angel, is the same that is used to denote the mcat-offering, (or rather meal-offering,) which, by the Mosaic law, was prescribed as a religious oblation to the Lord.

Gideon, on presenting his offering, was directed to take the flesh and the unleavened cakes and lay them upon a rock which was near the oak, and to pour out the broth upon it. This being done, the angel of the Lord put forth the end of

the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock and consumed them, while at the same time, and not improbably in the flame which he had himself kindled, he vanished out of sight.

A miracle so clear and wonderful was the seal of Gideon's faith. He had no doubt or hesitancy left. Indeed, a sudden consternation seems to have overwhelmed him, lest having been admitted to the sight of this glorious manifestation of Jehovah, death must be the consequence; a sentiment which was common at the time, and which Jacob had at Penuel, when he exclaimed that he had seen God, and yet his life was preserved.

"Alas," cried Gideon, "O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face."

The voice of Jehovah allayed his fears. "Peace be unto thee; fear not thou shalt not die." Calmed and encouraged, Gideon then erected there an altar unto the Lord, as a memorial of what had happened, and called it Jehovahshalom, which signifies the Lord, peace.

He was now fitted, by the confirmation of his faith, and the assurance that Jehovah would be with him, for the discharge of a difficult and dangerous duty. Idolatry prevailed among his townsmen and kinsfolks, and even in his father's

house. The altar of the idol whom they worshiped must be destroyed, and that of the true God erected, and Gideon must perform the work as preparatory to his greater one of becoming the deliverer of his countrymen.

He received the divine direction to this effect, and the ensuing night, because he would thus be less exposed to interruption by the assaults of those who would be ready to oppose him, he proceeded to obey it.

He took ten of his servants, men who, like himself, as we have reason to believe, had not "bowed the knee to Baal," and demolished the altar of that idol, which belonged to his father, and on which, in common with many others, the latter had been in the practice of offering up sacrifices. He cut down the grove, too, that surrounded it, and with the wood built an altar on the top of the rock where the angel disappeared from his sight, and offered upon it, in sacrifice, a young bullock of his father's, as he had been expressly ordered to do. It was seven years old; and some suppose that it had been kept till that time, and fattened for an oblation to Baal.

The early dawn revealed the work of destruction, and the sacrifice of the favorite bullock on the newly erected altar. Immediate and eager search was made for the perpetrator of what was considered such an outrage. On ascertaining

that it was Gideon, the men of Ophrah demanded of his father Joash, that he should be given up to them, that he might be put to death. This was a daring requisition for the life of one who had maintained his allegiance to Jehovah, by those who had themselves committed a capital offence in disobeying his commands. It shows the height of impiety to which they had arrived, and the spirit of persecution which the devotees of a false and degrading idolatry could manifest towards him who would restore the worship of the true God.

Joash resisted the demand, and strange as it may seem, defended the conduct of his son. He had unquestionably been a follower of Baal. But now a sudden change came over him. The bold step of Gideon may have brought him to reflection. The thought of giving up his son to death under such circumstances, may have awakened his parental feelings and his conscience at the same time. Or, what is not at all improbable, Gideon may have told him of the glorious vision which he saw, and of the divine communication, and that in obedience to it, he did that which thus exposed him to the fury of those who sought his life.

"Will ye plead for Baal?" said Joash to his townsmen; will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is

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