Cutter Downer, Lifter Upper…
Part 7: The Second Bull
Up until this point Gideon, and the people, have been on the back foot. They’ve been playing defense. But now comes the moment for them to start the fight back. Time for them to take some ground.
“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.”
Judges 6:25 NIV
You may remember from my last post that Gideon had made an offering to God. And when we offer everything to God that’s when things begin to turnaround.
“And when we offer everything to God that’s when things begin to turnaround.”
I don’t know about you but I get excited about that prospect.
Perhaps spend a few moments considering if you’ve actually offered everything to God? Or is there something you’re still holding back?
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So Judges 6 tells us, that after Gideon had offered everything to God it was… that same night… that God then called Gideon to TAKE and to TEAR.
TAKE
Gideon was to TAKE the second bull. I love this. Have you ever been offered a second chance? Wow, in that moment you want to grab the opportunity with both hands. Maybe you made a huge mistake the first time around. But now God wants you to TAKE hold of the second bull. And look at how old this bull is. He’s seven years old. It’s been seven years that Gideon and the people have been in the hands of the Midianites. Yet God is faithful. This bull was born seven years ago for this very day. TAKE hold of all this today.
TEAR
Now Gideon was to TEAR down his father’s altar to Baal. Remember this is the time to take back control from the hands of the Midianites. But the problem was never the Midianites, it was idolatry. Their worship was mixed. Their allegiance was split. This fight, and our fight, must be centred on TEARING down the altars we’ve set up to all but God. We can’t TEAR control back from the hands of the Midianites if our own hands are still laying bulls on the altar to Baal. TEAR down the false gods and God will take away the plagues.
“Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.””
Judges 6:26 NIV
THEN
It’s only after you’ve torn down every other altar can you THEN build a proper kind of altar to God. Sometimes we wonder why we’re not seeing victory but we’re trying to build before we’ve broken down. Gideon was born for this moment. Remember he’s the Cutter Downer. Christ in you and I the hope of glory. To cut down and THEN to build up.
TOP
Things get cut down so they can be built up. These new things are built on TOP of what was cut down. Don’t see your mistakes as failures but see them as foundations.
“Don’t see your mistakes as failures but see them as foundations.”
When Christ is lifted up he draws everyone to himself. Here we see these two parts working together. Cutter Downer and Lifter Upper. The sacrifice isn’t a surrender… it’s a sign of victory. The altar was built on TOP and the sacrifice was lifted up.
“The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.”
Numbers 21:8-9 NIV
The man on the cross wasn’t lifted up as a sign of death but for all who look upon him they receive life!
“So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.”
Judges 6:27 NIV
TOOK
I’ve raised this idea in a previous post but I think it’s time to stop hiding and to start TAKING some risks. God’s whisper to me is, 'Do you Dare?’ And I don’t know what you need to do but TAKE a deep breath, TAKE in some courage, TAKE some people with you and start this thing!
“In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar! They asked each other, “Who did this?” When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.” The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.””
Judges 6:28-30 NIV
Some people act and some people wake up when it’s done.
“Some people act and some people wake up when it’s done.”
Which person will you be?
The cutter downer did it! He was born for this. He was named for this. Maybe this is your moment? What might God be asking you to do? What might God have been preparing for you to do?
“But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.””
Judges 6:31-32 NIV
Did you ever used to watch Gladiator’s? If you did, you’ll recall the Scottish referee… “Contender, are you ready?” The famous saying says, “You’ve got to be in it to win it…” On that day, Gideon became a contender.
Is this the day you become one too?
Go on, take the second bull by the horns!
I dare you!
