Idolatry & Justice in the Valley of Decision By Tim Taylor August 15, 2021 - It seems as if Satan's unfolding plans have fallen on the nations of this world and brought us into the valley of decision. On one hand we have Satan's evil ones who seek to fool the apathetic and unwitting, and on the other side we have the ones they accuse of being fools for Christ. Oh, that my actions would qualify me for such an insult from the enemies of our Lord.
Joel 3:14 declares, "multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision. The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision."
My friends, a decision is a judgment. It is a judgment YOU MAKE. God's mind is already made up. He told what His mind was in advance. It is in His word. You can choose to make your decision based upon the truth of God's word or, you can choose to make your decision based upon the narrative that the father of lies (John 8:44), Satan, presents through his minions.
There is also a third position or should I say decision. That is indecision. Some because of ignorance or apathy choose to make no decision. Whether you acknowledge it or not, that in and of itself is a decision.
If I use the analogy of war. In war there have often been three groups. There are the volunteers and the anti-war protestors. They are easy to spot. The third group takes no stance. As we saw in the Vietnam war, the group that decided to take no stance, their indecision, was actually a decision for the opposition.
It's the same here. No decision is a decision, based on apathy or ignorance, whom we learned the other day, the Bible declares these are fools, is a decision for Satan's will.
In Gideon's time the idolatry of the day brought oppression to his nation and him to his own valley of decision. It's the same for us today.
The Gideon Effect
Joel 3:14 declares, "multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision. The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision."
My friends, a decision is a judgment. It is a judgment YOU MAKE. God's mind is already made up. He told what His mind was in advance. It is in His word. You can choose to make your decision based upon the truth of God's word or, you can choose to make your decision based upon the narrative that the father of lies (John 8:44), Satan, presents through his minions.
There is also a third position or should I say decision. That is indecision. Some because of ignorance or apathy choose to make no decision. Whether you acknowledge it or not, that in and of itself is a decision.
If I use the analogy of war. In war there have often been three groups. There are the volunteers and the anti-war protestors. They are easy to spot. The third group takes no stance. As we saw in the Vietnam war, the group that decided to take no stance, their indecision, was actually a decision for the opposition.
It's the same here. No decision is a decision, based on apathy or ignorance, whom we learned the other day, the Bible declares these are fools, is a decision for Satan's will.
In Gideon's time the idolatry of the day brought oppression to his nation and him to his own valley of decision. It's the same for us today.
The Gideon Effect
Gideon & the Valley of Decision Judges 6 describes the oppression in Gideon's day and his encounter with the angel of the Lord. He comes out of hiding to destroy the altar of Baal in the dark. But to do that, the first thing he did was, he decided to build the altar of the Lord first. Then he tore down the altar of Baal that his father set up.
Gideon dealt with his own family first. That was his first decision.
The second decision Gideon made was he called the people together and he continued to consult with, commune with, and talk to our Lord. The Lord revealed there were to many people, so He brought them to their own valley of decision.
The Lord then gave him some criteria. Gideon asked the question, who is fearful and afraid? Please leave immediately. Twenty-two thousand departed immediately. Why? Speaking as a veteran I can tell you that fear is contagious. It can spread as fast or faster than any virus. When you understand this in light of 1 John 4:18 then you will also understand that this revealed those who loved God more than they loved this world. Perfect love which I might add is impossible without God, casts out all fear.
When we come to the valley of decision, we discover who or what we love. It reveals our heart.
That left Gideon with ten thousand people remaining. Praise God! But the Lord decided there were still too many. So, He told Gideon to take them to the river which revealed who had disciplined themselves to watch. Only three hundred were left.
The second thing discovered in the valley of decision was who was observant of what was going on around them. These were the same ones who were disciplined and courageous enough to obey the word of the Lord. As we continue to read through Judges 8. We find in verse 10 that thus far 120,000 soldiers have fallen and only 15,000 remained. Then Gideon' led their attack on the 15,000.
Behold the Gideon effect. When a people have been so impacted that they love God more than this world and they love God enough to discipline themselves to be watchful and finally, they are willing to obey the voice of the Lord. Nothing is impossible. Even when the odds are overwhelming.
We have been brought to a valley of decision. When they came to their valley of decision, God had already decided whom He would choose. God chose the fearless who were watchful. Everyone's own choice put them in one camp or another. In Matthew 20 and 22 we find Jesus making the statement, many are called by few are chosen.
Here's the question, will you prepare for the choosing? Do you want to be chosen? I do. How about you?
Gideon dealt with his own family first. That was his first decision.
The second decision Gideon made was he called the people together and he continued to consult with, commune with, and talk to our Lord. The Lord revealed there were to many people, so He brought them to their own valley of decision.
The Lord then gave him some criteria. Gideon asked the question, who is fearful and afraid? Please leave immediately. Twenty-two thousand departed immediately. Why? Speaking as a veteran I can tell you that fear is contagious. It can spread as fast or faster than any virus. When you understand this in light of 1 John 4:18 then you will also understand that this revealed those who loved God more than they loved this world. Perfect love which I might add is impossible without God, casts out all fear.
When we come to the valley of decision, we discover who or what we love. It reveals our heart.
That left Gideon with ten thousand people remaining. Praise God! But the Lord decided there were still too many. So, He told Gideon to take them to the river which revealed who had disciplined themselves to watch. Only three hundred were left.
The second thing discovered in the valley of decision was who was observant of what was going on around them. These were the same ones who were disciplined and courageous enough to obey the word of the Lord. As we continue to read through Judges 8. We find in verse 10 that thus far 120,000 soldiers have fallen and only 15,000 remained. Then Gideon' led their attack on the 15,000.
Behold the Gideon effect. When a people have been so impacted that they love God more than this world and they love God enough to discipline themselves to be watchful and finally, they are willing to obey the voice of the Lord. Nothing is impossible. Even when the odds are overwhelming.
We have been brought to a valley of decision. When they came to their valley of decision, God had already decided whom He would choose. God chose the fearless who were watchful. Everyone's own choice put them in one camp or another. In Matthew 20 and 22 we find Jesus making the statement, many are called by few are chosen.
Here's the question, will you prepare for the choosing? Do you want to be chosen? I do. How about you?
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