seen from China
seen from Malaysia

seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Japan
seen from South Korea
seen from United Kingdom

seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Italy

seen from United Kingdom
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
seen from Sweden
Conquest of the Midianites
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “On behalf of the people of Israel, take revenge on the Midianites for leading them into idolatry. After that, you will die and join your ancestors.”
3 So Moses said to the people, “Choose some men, and arm them to fight the Lord’s war of revenge against Midian. 4 From each tribe of Israel, send 1,000 men into battle.” 5 So they chose 1,000 men from each tribe of Israel, a total of 12,000 men armed for battle. 6 Then Moses sent them out, 1,000 men from each tribe, and Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest led them into battle. They carried along the holy objects of the sanctuary and the trumpets for sounding the charge. 7 They attacked Midian as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they killed all the men. 8 All five of the Midianite kings—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—died in the battle. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
9 Then the Israelite army captured the Midianite women and children and seized their cattle and flocks and all their wealth as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns and villages where the Midianites had lived. 11 After they had gathered the plunder and captives, both people and animals, 12 they brought them all to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and to the whole community of Israel, which was camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho. 13 Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 But Moses was furious with all the generals and captains who had returned from the battle.
15 “Why have you let all the women live?” he demanded. 16 “These are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the Lord at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the Lord’s people. 17 So kill all the boys and all the women who have had intercourse with a man. 18 Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves. 19 And all of you who have killed anyone or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp for seven days. You must purify yourselves and your captives on the third and seventh days. 20 Purify all your clothing, too, and everything made of leather, goat hair, or wood.” — Numbers 31:1-20 | New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 25:16; Leviticus 4:22; Leviticus 26:25; Numbers 10:8-9; Numbers 14:44; Numbers 19:11-12; Numbers 19:16; Numbers 20:24; Numbers 20:26; Numbers 22:4; Numbers 24:14; Numbers 25:17; Numbers 31:21; Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 20:14; Deuteronomy 20:16; Joshua 6:19; Joshua 11:14; Joshua 13:21; Judges 21:11; 1 Samuel 8:12; 2 Samuel 18:1; 1 Kings 11:15; Jude 1:11; Revelation 2:14
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Exodus 3:1 NRSV
GIDEON -- a poem and song by Bill Kochman #BibleStories #BibleStory #Poem To see other poems related to this one, and to listen to the actual song, go to: https://www.billkochman.com/Poetry/index.html#Bible-Stories You will find the story of Gideon in the Book of Judges, chapters 6 to 8. "God Chooses Weak Things" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse487.html Article: "The Battle is Not Yours Alone!": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/battle-1.html Article: "The Lord Will Lift You Up": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/liftup-1.html "Our Spiritual Warfare" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse080.html "Be Steadfast in the Faith" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse158.html "Be Strong in the Lord" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse330.html "Don't Faint in Your Minds" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse360.html "Resist the Devil" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse362.html "Stand Fast in the Faith" KJV Bible Verse List: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse120.html Article: "He Who Fights and Runs Away: Choose Your Battles Wisely": https://www.billkochman.com/Articles/He-Who-Fights-And-Runs-Away-1.html https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/gideon-a-poem-by-bill-kochman/?GIDEON%20--%20a%20poem%20and%20song%20by%20Bill%20Kochman
Gideon’s Journey: From Doubt to Deliverance
In a time long ago, the Israelites found themselves in a tough spot. They felt helpless and mistreated by the Midianites. Their struggles pushed them to stray from their faith and turn away from God. However, one man’s journey from doubt to action changed everything for the Israelites. This is the story of Gideon, a reluctant hero who discovered that even in the darkest times, faith and obedience can lead to remarkable victories.
The oppression by the Midianites was severe, causing the Israelites to live in fear and misery. As they faced constant raids and destruction, instead of seeking God, they chose to abandon their faith. This decision put them in a cycle of sin, which only deepened their challenges. They cried out for help, yearning for someone to lead them back to safety and faith. It was during this tumultuous time that God chose Gideon, an ordinary man who was hesitant and unsure about his abilities.
Gideon's initial response to God's call was characterized by uncertainty. He questioned why he was chosen and whether he could succeed against such powerful foes. These feelings of insecurity are relatable for many of us. We often find ourselves in situations that feel overwhelming, and it's easy to question our capabilities. But instead of judging Gideon, we can learn from his story. God showed great patience and reassurance, letting Gideon know that he was not alone in this battle. Through signs and encouragement, God revealed His presence, proving that faith can emerge even when we feel lost.
As Gideon began to trust God, his obedience led to incredible victories. God instructed him to gather an army, but in a surprising twist, He told Gideon to reduce its size dramatically. This was to show the Israelites that the victory was not due to their numbers but because of God’s power. When the time came, Gideon and his small band of warriors followed God’s instructions faithfully. Their actions resulted in a stunning defeat of the Midianites and restored peace to the land.
Gideon’s story highlights a crucial lesson: faith combined with action can drastically change a person’s life. It’s not enough to simply believe; we must also take steps that align with our convictions. When we realign ourselves with God’s faithfulness, we can break free from destructive cycles that hold us back. Just like the Israelites, we can find ourselves caught in patterns of doubt and sin, but through faith and obedience, we can experience renewal.
In conclusion, Gideon’s journey reminds us that no matter our circumstances, we can find strength in faith. Even when we feel unworthy or incapable, God can use us for great purposes. His patience shines through our moments of doubt, encouraging us to take that leap of faith. As a challenge, consider what areas of your life need realignment with God’s will. How can you step out in faith this week? Remember, the path to victory often begins with trusting God, even amidst our uncertainties.
=======================
The Scripture Collection Playlist A compilation of 20 uplifting music videos inspired by a different Bible scripture. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoBTz-QtgDhox4diwLqHBjD4W-CtzM-8v
=======================
Website: https://bwpub.net/
I wrote the song "Round and Round (The Gideon Song)"
Guitar-driven creating a distinctive, rootsy tone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av6jGebOhz0 drum and bass playing a strong base https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W33dFKVOIY techno, drumline, tight groove https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR2WJxfY4ks
When Yahweh Tests People
When Yahweh Tests People
Moses Kills the Egyptianby James Tissot In an excellent article, “When YHWH Tests People: General Considerations and Particular Observations Regarding the Books of Chronicles and Job,” published in The Philip R. Davies Festschrift, Ehud Ben Zvi deals with the issue of divine testing. He wrote that in many societies kings were concerned with assessing whether their servants were loyal and…
View On WordPress
GIDEON -- a poem by Bill Kochman is on Bill's Bible Basics Blog at https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/gideon-a-poem-by-bill-kochman/
Midianites Defeated
Judges 7:1-8:21 7 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. 2 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself…
View On WordPress