1st Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Favoritism can become a problem if and when it is allowed to change God’s message into one that savors of smooth words, such as are currently used by the myriad of Sooth-Sayers in our day. At this juncture, it is in order that we rehearse the words of Paul, because, as the scripture rightly says knowledge increases sorrow. Thus, the method which God commanded Gideon to employ should be of grave concern to us because Gideon would be dealing with his family, especially his father who is the head of the household.
Question: Couldn’t entreaty be used? Couldn’t persuasion, or reasoning be employed, as when, in times past, Gideon would sit, and talk and deliberate with his father over some pressing issue? Why would The Lord choose such a seemingly harsh method, that could potentially ignite a firestorm in Gideon’s family? The fact is that all of the previously mentioned ways and means had been used by God in times past with Gideon’s father but none of them worked.
God had used entreaty, He had used loving-kindness, He had employed long-suffering, and He had used grace for grace but for some unknown reason, idolatry wasn’t purged from Israel. And thus, after none of those measures had worked God is left no choice but to use a blunt method that will bring the issue to a head. This method, chosen by God, as a last resort, to bring about reform, leads us to a fundamental problem with human nature.
2nd Chronicles 36:15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!