Judges 6:25

Judges 6:25 says, And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:  That same night, the LORD came to Gideon telling nim to take a a young bullock and a second one seven years old to be used as sacrifices.  Matthew Henry says the first was likely to be used as a sacrifice for Gideon and the second for the other people of Israel.  Before he could sacrifice them though, Gideon was to tear down his father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the grove around it.  Before we can truly worship God, we must tear down any other altars in our life.  Verse twenty-six adds, And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.  Gideon was told that after he tore down the altar to Baal that he was to build an altar to God on the rock that was specified.  We today need to build our altar to God on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-seven continues, Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.  Gideon took ten men of his own servants by night and did as God had told him to do, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city.  We may have fear when we are called by God to do something, but we cannot allow that fear to keep us from doing it.  Faith must always override fear.  Verse twenty-eight states, And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.  When the people of the city arose, they found what Gideon under God's guidance and empowerment had done.  When we are doing what God tells us to do, the people of the world should be able to see the results.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.  They asked who had done this, and got the answer that it was Gideon.  Gideon may have feared the people of the city, and probably even his father as well, but he still did as God commanded, and now it would be up to God to protect him.  When we are doing what God calls us to do, even in the face of great opposition, we need to simply rely on God to protect us.  Verse thirty continues, Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.  The men of the city came to Joash, Gideon's father and demanded that he send Gideon out to die because he had destroyed the altar of Baal and cut down the grove around it.  As we stand with God today, we as followers of Christ will face opposition from the world, and some may even die for their faith, but we must remain faithful to God.  Verse thirty-one declares, And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.  Gideon's father actually defended him, telling the men of the city that if Baal were offended, then let him take Gideon's life.  These were Israelites who were ready to kill one of their own to be faithful to Baal, a false god.  Verse thirty-two adds, Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.  Joash said that Gideon should be called Jerubbaal, or let Baal plead his case.  If Baal was a real and powerful god, he could certainly destroy one who had defied and dishonored him.