Hello John and Doves

The state of being the bride of Christ is on my mind, and also reading about Gideon, perhaps it holds a lesson for the second half of Jacob's trouble, a foreshadow to future events, and for us about the power of our God. Our bridegroom is a Savior, a Deliverer, a faithful Shepherd.

No kidding, having my cat missing for a couple weeks REALLY got me thinking about how much God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit must want lost sheep brought home, must want the wheat and fruit gathered and not spoiled.
Today, thinking about the state of being the bride of Christ, what does a bride want, how does she behave anyhow? Well for one thing, a bride wants to be with the groom, to have time together. A bride if she loves her groom, will want to be kind to the grooms family, will care about them for his sake and not just her own family. Lord can I keep You company or work with You while You gather the lost sheep?

So Lord Jesus, I ask You for the bride that we could please be with You in what You are doing now, please guide us in our prayers and actions to be about what You are about in these days. I pray for Your family that You were born into, that the Jewish people would be rounded up back to faithful walk with God. Though they were slaves in Egypt in the past under powerful pharoahs, yet You delivered them and rounded them up and made Yourself known. Please make Yourself known again to them and preserve them that the nations do not destroy them. I pray for forgiveness for Your family so that they can be in heaven with us. Your blood be upon them and cover their sins.

I pray for those who are saved now and will be saved, that we be brought safely home, to the sheepfold where You our Shepherd dwell. I pray for our spiritual family to be preserved and our natural families to be drawn by God the Father to You.

And what of Gideon? With fresh eyes, look at this in Judges 6 ; KJV quoted "Fair Use for Information and Discussion Purposes
For Your Discernment"; Bold added by me

Midian Oppresses Israel

1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
My comment, might the children of Israel flee here to these historic dens rather than Petra? The bride will be in heaven then, but this story of Gideon may guide Israel when they flee at the time of AOD.

3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
My comment, notice Gaza was spared, Israel was impoverished by those who hated Jacob and did not want to dwell in peace and security as neighbors.

7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, 8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; 9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
My comment, Oh wouldn’t it be something to hear what the two witnesses will say to Israel when they appear? I think modern Israel will hear a history lesson.

The Call of Gideon

11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
My comment, the angel called Gideon a mighty man of valor, but Gideon had been threshing in hiding, fearful of the Midianites. God viewed Gideon different than he viewed himself. God had a plan for Gideon much greater than Gideon had for himself. God had a plan of salvation. When Israel flees mid-time of Jacob’s trouble, they will be in fear. Yet God views them differently than they see themself and has a plan of salvation. Thanks be to God Almighty. He is able to accomplish His plan without our money, without our army, without our smarts. God is so wonderful.
I love our Maker.

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

Gideon’s Offering Consumed with Fire

17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. 18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. 20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
My comment, see what the angel did? It will be no problem for God to care for the hidden away, sheltered Jewish people who flee mid-trib.
In our quest to figure things out, it is easy to forget that it is God who has figured things out. The One who made heaven and earth, can supply and care for people as long as He wants. Glory to God. It will be the time of Jacob’s trouble but God will save him out of it.

Maranatha
Come quickly Lord Jesus

God's blessing on You,

Regina