This post is Day 13 in a series of studies about “Gideon”, I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Gideon – Day 13

Tear down your father’s altar dedicated to the god Baal and cut down the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah that is next to it. Idols have real authority, there is a spirit behind them that is not of God and does not seek to glorify Him in any way.

Judges 6:25

Tear down your father’s altar dedicated to the god Baal and cut down the pole dedicated to the goddess Asherah that is next to it.

The Thought

The first thing Gideon had to do was to destroy the false gods of his family. Idols have real authority, even though they cannot speak or move, there is a spirit behind them that is not of God and does not seek to glorify Him in any way. God had been very clear from the beginning of the wilderness wanderings that idol worship would have serious results:

Never make your own carved idols or statues … because I, the Lord your God, am a God who does not tolerate rivals. I punish children for their parents’ sins to the third and fourth generation … (Exodus 20:4-5)

The demonic spirits behind idols lead us (and consequently our children) away from all that is good and they take the honour due to Jesus and give it to Satan whose aim is to destroy believers.

In John 1:12-13 we read that believers have the right to become children of God. Just being a believer is the first stage, putting ourselves under God’s inheritance is so much more. Claim your rights today.

Action

Ask the Lord to show you anything in your family tree which is an offence to Him. Has there been consultation with mediums? Have your forefathers been to satanist meetings? Is there anything in your home or in your life that is more important than to you than Him (family, job, TV or computer screen)? Pray for His help to be disciplined in giving Him first place.

Step into God’s family tree today and ask Him to banish all effects of inherited sin.

Praise Him for His glorious inheritance available for you, and thank Him that His spirit of adoption is there to make you His son or daughter today (Romans 8:14-15).