Judges, 8
16. Therefore, he took the elders of the city, and, using the thorns and briers of the desert, he threshed them with these, and he cut the men of Succoth to pieces.
16. Therefore, he took the elders of the city, and, using the thorns and briers of the desert, he threshed them with these, and he cut the men of Succoth to pieces.
Judges 8 continues Gideon's story after his victory over the Midianites. However, instead of celebrating the victory, Gideon gets involved in conflicts with the tribes of Ephraim and Supote and King Zeba and Salmuna. Gideon eventually dies, but peace is temporarily kept in Israel. Here are five verses related to the topics addressed in Judges 8, excluding verses from the chapter itself:
Numbers 32:23: "But if you do not do it, you will be sinning against the Lord, and you can be sure that your sin will find them." This verse talks about the consequences of sin and how it can affect people over time. Gideon's actions in judges 8 led to conflicts that can be considered sinful, and the verse of numbers shows how sin can have lasting consequences.
1 Samuel 8:6-7: "But when they asked a king, it displeased them to Samuel, and he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Attend their request, but solemnly come them and show them and show them how the king will rule '". This verse shows how the desire for an earthly leader can be tempting to God's people, even if it means moving away from God. Gideon was a leader chosen by God, but the tribes of Ephraim and Supote wanted an earthly leader and questioned Gideon's leadership.
Proverbs 16:18: "Pride precedes ruin; arrogance, the fall." This verse talks about how pride can lead to fall. Gideon, in Judges 8, can be considered arrogant in his victory over the Midianites, which led to conflicts with the tribes of Ephraim and Supote.
Colossians 3:12: "Therefore, as chosen from God, holy and beloved, they revisit compassion, goodness, humility, meekness and patience." This verse talks about how we should behave as God's chosen, demonstrating compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Gideon, in Judges 8, may have missed some of these qualities in their conflicts with the tribes of Ephraim and Supote.
2 Timothy 2:3-4: "Join me in the same mind as suffering as a soldier of Christ Jesus. No service soldier is involved in business of this life, because his goal is to satisfy the one who enlisted him." This verse talks about the importance of maintaining focus on God and his mission rather than getting involved in worldly affairs. Gideon was called by God to lead Israel, but his conflicts with the tribes of Ephraim and Suke can be considered distractions of his divine mission.
“A prática das bem-aventuranças não requer atos de heroísmo, mas a aceitação simples e humilde das várias provações pelas quais a pessoa passa.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
