General News
15 June, 2025
In good faith
During the week, I had the opportunity to watch a documentary about the invasion of the island of Peleliu by the Americans during World War 2.
During the week, I had the opportunity to watch a documentary about the invasion of the island of Peleliu by the Americans during World War 2.
Apparently, the invading marines believed it would be a quick and easy job and over in just a few days.
They could not have been more wrong.
The Japanese defenders had dug themselves in well and defended the island furiously during the battle which lasted almost 10 weeks and proved extremely costly for both sides.
One of the things that never ceases to amaze about such events is the sheer courage exhibited by troops on both sides.
The American invaders exhibited unbelievable courage, charging into gun and cannon fire without flinching, testament to their belief in the cause that they were fighting for.
The Japanese on the other hand, also firm in the beliefs that they held, were determined to defend the island to the last person standing.
This was the recipe for a bloodbath.
Courage is a strange quality.
Everyone wants to think that they can be courageous when circumstances become difficult, but the truth is that one never quite knows how one will respond until one finds themselves in a difficult situation.
We read in the Bible in the book of judges, chapter 6, the story of Gideon.
Yes, this is the same Gideon after whom the Gideon Bible society was named.
The background to the story is that the Israelites had again turned their backs on God and turned to worshipping foreign gods and idols, invoking God' displeasure and his abandonment of them for a time to the Midianites.
The Midianites had been causing them a huge amount of trouble, including destroying their crops and livestock, effectively depriving them of the food which they needed to survive.
God had sent an angel to Gideon to tell him that he was appointed to be the one who would lead the Israelites to victory over their Midianite oppressors.
The book teaches that at the time when the angel delivered the message, Gideon was busy threshing wheat in a winepress.
In effect, he was hiding.
It says, “The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.
which Gideon replies, “Who, me?” Well, not quite, but the answer that he gave was certainly one of huge hesitancy.
In effect he was afraid and lacked courage.
This became evident with the very first task that he was given, when he was ordered to break down the idols of Baal.
He completed his task but did so at night so that he wouldn't be caught.
Gideon needed encouragement. Because of this, we see that the story has multiple examples of God giving him signs that assured him that he was following His will.
Midianites.
There are many places in which the Bible emphasizes having courage in facing life’s situations, both great and small.
Such verses include Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and courageous...", and Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you..." which encourage believers to rely on God's strength and presence when facing adversity.
Contributed by DAVID YOUNG