10th.: Gideon’s Peace
After God's messenger departed, Gideon exclaimed,
“Alas, O Lord God! For because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.” (Judg. 6:22).
Gideon expressed what many others have thought, namely that ‘he, a sinner, would physically die real soon, because he saw a divine being.’
But the Lord reassured Gideon, “Peace be unto thee. Fear not. Thou shalt not die.” (Judg. 6:2),
Gideon then built the altar called Jehovahshalom, or ‘The Lord send peace’ (see Judg. 6:24).
Because we all need peace with God, God had the apostle Paul write the following passages:
1. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1).
2. “For he [Jesus] is our peace. … having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments. … that he might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God, … and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were near. For through him [Jesus] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph. 2:14-18).
Our faith must not be in ourselves, or even in ‘our faith’.
Our faith must be in the faithfulness of Jesus. Jesus took the punishment accrued for our offenses against God.
If we call to Jesus, He will give us the peace that comes with being reconciled to God.
“And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phili. 4:7)