Scripture Focus (Judges 6:28-32) – “When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. [29] And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” [30] Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” [31] But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” [32] Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.”
I. Gideon Could Not Hide (28-29) – “When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. [29] And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
1. The men were wicked and dedicated – “When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down…”
2. The men were offended and motivated – “And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired…”
3. The men were informed and activated – “…they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
II. Gideon Became a Target (30) – “Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.”
1. The enemies – “the men of the town” – Baal worshipers, earthly, majority, unified in wickedness
2. The determination – “Bring out your son, that he may die…”
3. The motivation – “…he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.”
III. Gideon Was Defended (31) – “But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.”
1. A reasonable question – “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him?”
2. An unapologetic stance – “Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning.”
3. A changed man – “if he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.”
The enemy had to get through the father to get to Gideon!
Maybe Baal wasn’t a god worth serving if he could not defend himself!
IV. Gideon Was Rebranded (32) – “Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.”
Everywhere Gideon went moving forward, he would be associated with
his stand for righteousness against the gods of his culture