Gideon stumbles; Part 5

Part 1 2 3 4 5 I, Elkanah, am exhausted and thrilled, along with the other two hundred and ninety-nine in Gideon’s band of men. Surely it is time to go home and rest. Those who have oppressed Israel have destroyed each other, and the few survivors of the...

Gideon’s victory; Part 4

Part 1 2 3 4 5 I am a neighbor of Gideon. They call me Elkanah. I was with the three brothers of Gideon when they were ambushed by the kings of the great army of Midian, who roamed the hillsides with 30 men looking for sport a few weeks ago. I rolled under a bush, but...

Gideon, mighty warrior; Part 3

Part 1 2 3 4 5 Alas, the enemies of Israel have come to teach us a lesson. The desert kings of Midian and of the peoples around us have joined together and brought a mighty army moving right into the Jezreel Valley below our hillside caves.  We harvested the crops we...

Gideon, man of God? Part 2

Part 1 2 3 4 5 Lying on my blanket in the family cave in the night, I, Gideon, marvel. Today I met the Lord and lived. A god, someone who could work a miracle: consuming the offering I gave him. What else can this tribal god do? Is he stronger than Baal and Asherah? I...

Gideon’s journey begins; Part 1

Part   1   2   3   4   5 I am Gideon. I’m afraid the Midianites will catch me threshing this little bit of wheat that my family was able to grow and harvest. I hate those Midianites, who  like locusts descend on Israel at harvest time and take away the crops,...

Is Katniss a hero?

Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games is put in a terrible situation, that’s for sure. You probably at least know the story line.  She takes her sister’s place and heads for an arena where children must duel to the death. One writer, N.D. Wilson,...