You Mean I'm Not Going to Die? Yahweh Shalom.
by Eric Engelmann
All content © 2023 Static Force, LLC
WHEN are we?
In the time of Gideon, one of the judges. I'll say it's about 1170 BC. After Moses and Joshua, before King David and way before Jesus.
Where are we?
The place is called Ophrah of the Abiezrites. It's in or near the territory of Manasseh in North Central Israel. Its exact location can be a matter of debate.
Why are we here now?
Before Gideon faced a famous battle, he built an altar -- probably out of rocks -- and named the altar "Yahweh Shalom" -- "The Lord is Peace". We're here to look at the conversation between the Lord and Gideon that led up to the building of the altar.
Some History
The Midianite army is swarming over Israel every summer and destroying it. Eating everything and leaving very little. The Angel of the Lord talks with Gideon about how to fix the situation.
The Scripture
Judges 6:17-24
Verse 17 (Gideon is talking...)
He said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me. 18 Please don’t go away until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you.”
He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
19 Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
Note: Gideon presented a sacrifice. The meat sacrifice is small -- a young goat. Gideon has asked for a sign, and he's going to get an important one. Now the angel is going to start telling Gideon what to do with the sacrifice.
Verse 20 The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.”
He did so. 21 Then Yahweh’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then Yahweh’s angel departed out of his sight.
22 Gideon saw that he was Yahweh’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh! Because I have seen Yahweh’s angel face to face!”
23 Yahweh said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”
Note: The angel has departed out of Gideon's sight, but Gideon is still hearing someone talk. Not only is there a voice, but the voice is saying, "Peace"!
Verse 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh, and called it “Yahweh is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
That’s the end of the passage.
What riddles were being asked?
Years before this, Moses struck a rock at Massah with a staff and water came out to satisfy the people.
In the passage we just read, fire came out of a rock.
In the Future
In the future, Gideon will start a growing rebellion against the occupying Midianites. Instead of offering a goat, he'll tear down an altar dedicated to the idol Baal and offer an ox.
Gideon will ask for more signs from the Most High and get them. He'll lay fleeces; he'll go down to the enemy camp and hear the soldiers talk about their dreams.
Gideon will lead 300 men at night armed only with trumpets, torches and pitchers to confuse an army many times larger.
Further in the future, near the end of a drought, the prophet Elijah will build a stone altar. He will slaughter an ox and have precious water poured on it three times. With no staff in sight, fire will come down and consume the animal. And the stones of the altar.
1 Kings 18
We may look at fire falling from heaven in episodes to come.
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