Is the Victor God or Trickery?

So Gideon and the hundred who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. So the three companies blew the trumpets and bloke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in camp ran; they cried out and fled. Judges 7:19-21 NRSV

Gideon really gives the enemies a good scare that ultimately leads to their victory.

Imagine the scene: It is in the middle of the night. The sentries have just changed places. Gideon separates his troops into three groups. Every man carries a torch covered with a jar in their left hand and a trumpet in their right. Quietly, they sneak up on the enemy. The three groups surround the enemy camp. Suddenly, at Gideon's signal, everyone breaks their jar and blows their trumpet, following this with a cry of war.

Can you imagine what the enemy must have thought? They are asleep in their tents, trusting their night watch to keep them safe. Suddenly they are surrounded by lights, the sound of trumpets pierces their ear and war cries are sung out close by. No wonder they fled in panic - right into the arms of Gideon's men.

I guess the question might remain with us: is God the victor here or is trickery?

I am not a real trickery kind of gal. I am more disposed to confront someone head-on (usually with a good bit of anger and not much forethought). I guess that trickery does involve complex understanding of the situation, planning and strategy. I would not make a good general. I also would make a lousy Gideon.

Probably also a good thing I'm not God.

Good thing that, whether by trickery or miracles, God is going to come out the winner.

God, all the glory and praise belongs to you! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question of the day: When have you used complex means or trickery to resolve a conflict?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims

Turn aside and have no fear!

Now Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael wife of Heber the Kenite; for these was peace between King Jabin of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite . Jael came out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; have no fear." So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. Then he said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty." So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. He said to her, "Stand at the entrance of the tent, and if anybody comes and asks you, 'Is anyone here?' say, 'No.' " But Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, until it went down into the ground- he was lying fast asleep from weariness- and he died. Then, as Barak came in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to meet him, and said to him, "Come and I will show you the man whom you are seeking." So he went into her tent; there was Sisera lying dead, with the tent peg in his temple. Judges 4:17-22 NRSV

Deborah has already informed Barak that General Sisera is going to be given into the hands of a woman, yet Jael does end up surprising us and having us wonder at her motivations for what she does.

To begin with, she invites the General into her tent. This almost seems like an invitation to a seduction - maybe that is why Sisera doesn't think twice. I have a feeling that few men would be invited into a woman's own tent.

In addition, there is peace between their two clans but Jael's actions really do seem to be premeditated. Sure she is the hand of God in this story but what has made her willing to commit murder in a fight that isn't her own?

Jael acts like she is protecting Sisera. But in reality she is actually keeping him blind and captive. She brings him in the tent, then covers him with a rug. He can't see what she is doing and he can't really go anywhere without being exposed.

Then Sisera asks for some water. Jael gives him a "skin of milk" - really this would be like buttermilk. Surely he would have been clued in that something is up! I know I wouldn't want buttermilk when I was thirsty!

But Jael must know what she is doing: the milk has made him sleepy. He is not only blind but now helpless. Jael takes a hammer and a tent peg and murders Sisera. Maybe she is a bit squeamish as she leaves the rug over him during the murder.

The final act is to call Barak to come see the body, obviously killed by Jael. Not only has God placed the general into the hands of a woman, but it isn't even an act of war. Sisera has been killed by trickery by someone who is not even known to be his enemy.

As much as I like to see the woman winning, I don't like the way in which it was done. I don't think anyone wins in this situation.

God, sometimes we are faced with situations in which the outcome is great but the means make us uncomfortable. We are left confused, uncertain and sad. Just be with us and sustain us during these times. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question of the day: When have you had to resort to trickery in order to do what you feel God calling you to do?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims

The Real Throne Room

Ehud came to him, while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, "I have a message from God for you." So he rose from his seat. Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon's belly; the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt came out. Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them. After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, "He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber." So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor. Judges 3: 20-25 NRSV

Okay, this is a pretty gross bible passage so why not stick with the theme?

We tend to think of "doing our business" in the bathroom as a private time. Just you and the commode. However, in ancient times, privacy was really not known.* In fact, in Greek society, the commodes were places of socializing, sharing gossip and spending time with your friends. The picture for today is actually one such social commode in Ephesus.

Perhaps if you were king, what better place to speak to a messenger alone?

Ehud has snuck in a sword where no one will suspect - under his clothes on the "wrong" side of his body (left-handed swordsmen were virtually unaccepted). And he claims to have a message from God. Now he gets his chance while the Moabite king is on his throne (ha ha ha). This also gives him some time to make his get-away as the servants wait for the king until they are embarrassed.

God's people are freed from the bathroom.

Okay, God, this is pretty gross!

God, you don't mind being gross, funny or even unusual to save your loved ones. Thank you for saving us! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question for the day: Have you ever tried to trick someone in order to help someone else?

*Thanks to my son for thinking of this! He also took the picture.

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims

Unexpected Means of Salvation

But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. Judges 3: 15 NRSV

Let's get a realistic picture of these people in the book of judges. These judges are not the best-looking, most popular and respected people. They will not be following the rules. They will be quite devious and tricky. They will be attempting things with labels that say: "Do not try these things at home." In fact, it soon will become evident that these judges really are not the nicest people. You will wonder what God saw in them in the first place. Then you will be in awe that these victories even happened.

It will eventually become obvious that this is all about God not the judges.

God seems to be trying to get the Israelites to be impressed by God's power and might. But they really don't seem to get it because they keep on back-sliding.

Makes me wonder about things that are happening in our lives right now. Is God at work and we don't see it because it isn't being done through celebrities? Is God making wondrous things happen in the world outside of the church and we are blind to it? Does God still use tricksters and devious means to save us?

God, we are often crying out to you. Are you using the least-obvious means to save us? Give us eyes to see so that we will turn and worship you! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question of the day: Looking back on the last month, where do you see God at work using unexpected means?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims