How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #4
So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel; and he said, "Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their ancestors, and have not obeyed my voice, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died." In order to test Israel, whether or not they would take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their ancestors did, (NRSV 2:20-22)
And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. (KJV 2:20-22)
Is God unfairly comparing the Israel of the past to the present Israel? Because each generation dies and is replaced by their descendants, could God's jealousy be a function of the fact that he, being immortal, constantly outlives his covenant people, and is thus constantly forced to forge new relationships with new partners?
Quote #5
The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior." Gideon answered him, "But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian." (NRSV 6:12-13)
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 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. (KJV 6:12-13)
Are Gideon's feelings justified at all? He assumes that God has abandoned them because there don't seem to be any miracles occurring. If we asked God, though, he would say that it was Israel that abandoned him. If this were a modern relationship, who would the angel represent?
Quote #6
That night the Lord said to him, "Take your father's bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the sacred pole* that is beside it; and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, in proper order; then take the second bull, and offer it as a burnt-offering with the wood of the sacred pole* that you shall cut down." (NRSV 6:25-26)
And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. (KJV 6:25-26)
God seems to want Gideon to destroy the altar not only to prevent it from being used, but also as a symbolic gesture that Gideon will be faithful to him. Do lovers ever require or desire similar gestures from their partners?