Life Choices
Your Father’s Altar

Scripture Reading: Judges 6:20-27

Key Verse: Judges 6:25

That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

Gideon was a young man who was asked by God to lead the army of Israel for freedom from the slavery of the Midianites. If you have time to read the entire sixth chapter of Judges, it’s a great story. The part of the story I want to focus on is when God asked Gideon to tear down his father’s altar. Gideon’s father had built an altar to a foreign god called Baal. God needed Gideon to be pure and loyal, ready to serve only the true God of Israel. This was a tough choice for Gideon to make. He knew it would upset the family and the neighbors. Gideon was so fearful that he tore the altar down during the night. Because Gideon obeyed the Word of the Lord, God blessed him and, as it turned out, his father did stick up for Gideon when the town’s people were ready to lynch him.

Maybe this lesson is just for you. You have a parent that is not walking with God. Possibly your family ridicules you for your faith and standards. It’s not easy to face them and stick to your beliefs. I hope that Gideon’s life will encourage you to continue making Godly choices, even when your family won’t support you! We are all responsible for our choices and will be held accountable before God. Maybe because of your bold stance, like Gideon’s father your family will reconsider their choices.

Father, the people closest to me are often the hardest ones to witness to about your love and grace. Use my life and my choices to impact them. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, amen.