Today’s reading: Judges 7:1-8:35
My selection: Judges 8:1-3
Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight with Midian?” And they accused him fiercely. And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.
My reflections: Gideon had won a great victory. The men of Ephraim were probably jealous. Gideon did not react to them but wisely remained patient and even complimented them.
What a great example of Proverbs 15:1a, “A soft answer turns away wrath.”
A similar incident occurs in ch. 12:1ff with a totally different outcome: war and death. What a great example of Proverbs 15:1b, “a harsh word stirs up anger.”
My challenge: Who needs a soft answer from you today? Watch for ways to turn away wrath.
Tomorrow’s reading: Judges 9:1-10:5
Comments