Season 3 Is Live!
Episode 1 unveiled, plus Cape Town pics and a possible alien invasion
Hello! Hope you’re well. Here’s the latest:
Welcome to Season 3✨
First and foremost, I’m thrilled to let you know that the first episode of Holy Ghost Stories Season 3 has dropped.
And whose story is up first? Gideon.
If you’re a patron of the show, you know the story of Gideon was one of the most popular options in the poll a few weeks back—and so I’ve made it the season premiere, and I’m telling it in two parts.
Part one covers the events related to us in the first 32 verses of Judges 6. We begin with an unfaithful Israel under Midian’s thumb, begging for Yahweh’s help; we end with Gideon tearing down his father’s idol altars at Yahweh’s command. Next time, we’ll conclude with that famously outmatched battle in the Jezreel Valley and some of its lesser-know aftermath.
The story of Gideon is a favorite of so many, and it’s no secret why. There’s surprise and setup and payoff galore, there’s against-all-odds action and the ages-old interplay beween faith and doubt. But most of all, Gideon is someone who’s easy to relate to. He’s not too brave, not too cowardly, not too righteous, not too evil. In terms of being who he needs to be, Gideon—like so many of us—is on a journey …and he hasn’t arrived yet.
A few things of interest about this episode/story/text:
This story seems to be especially important to God—the narrative in Judges slows way down, and we get some luxuriously detailed descriptions of what happened. Those sections of Scripture always intrigue me and make me want to spend some time to figure out what God wants to show us. This may, by the way, mean that there’s something for us to learn and do. It may, however, simply be (in the language of Inside Out) one of Yahweh’s “core memories”—something He wants to share with us because it made an especially deep impact on Him.
The Midianites, you may remember, are actually relatives of the Hebrews. Descendents of Abraham himself, by way of his wife Keturah. Family drama, man—it’s the worst kind of drama.
You can disagree, but during the winepress interaction, I can’t help being reminded of how playful Yahweh is at times. Considering the relentless provocation He’s endured, and Gideon’s current unabashed idolatry, it’s fascinating (and honestly, to me, delightful) the way Yahweh chooses to interact with Gideon in this scene.
Hot take: Gideon is a person of great faith. I know, I know—he insists on sign after sign as he seeks to make sure he’s hearing from Yahweh before he acts. (Are you that different?) But he acts. Impressively. I throw no stones at Gideon in this episode, and I make no apologies for that.
A HGS first, I chose to begin this episode with an epigraph. Two, in fact. I think the whole of the Gideon story can be summed up in these two promises:
“You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it.” Deuteronomy 28:38
“I will stay until you return.” Judges 6:18
The juxtaposition of what Yahweh says through the prophet (which is entirely true, of course) and what Yahweh does in coming close to Gideon and charting the course for their undeserved deliverance………….remarkable.
If it’s been a minute since you’ve laid eyes on an ancient near eastern winepress, here you go:
“2,600-year-Old Wine Press Discovered in Lebanon” Wine Spectator Who, exactly, appears to Gideon? This is a very interesting question and brings us into a centuries-old discussion about various appearances of the “Angel of the Lord” (or “Malach Yahweh” in Hebrew). For an excellent overview of this mysterious theophany, check out this episode of the Bible Project Podcast.
When Gideon prepares the offering he’ll bring back to the oak tree, he uses “an ephah” of flour. That’s a lot of flour. I love Gideon’s enthusiasm and sacrificial heart here.
Gideon’s father, Joash, makes quite a turn at the end of the episode and does not respond to his son’s vandalism the way we’d expect him to. It’s fascinating to think about what must have happened to change his heart.
Okay—it’s time to give it a listen, don’t you think? I hope this story blesses you. Can’t wait to share the dramatic conclusion next time.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Google | Listen at HGS.org
We Made It 🌍
Last time I wrote to you, it was from the breakfast area of a Holiday Inn in New Jersey. We’d just gotten refused at the United gate for having the wrong Covid tests (in spite of having checked both governments’ websites) and were living in the same clothes we’d been in for days. It wasn’t that bad, really, but we were certainly itching to get to South Africa already.
Today, I’m very happy and grateful to tell you that we made it! We’ve been in Cape Town almost two weeks, and it’s been wonderful so far. So much to be grateful for.
First, this setting…
And then, these people. We’ve met and dined with neighbors, been invited into the homes of three families, and twice now we’ve run into friends while out and about in this city of 4.5 million—friends who happily offered to give us car-less Gerhardts a ride home. So much grace. So much care. So much presence, in all of these creations of His.
A Quick Story
Had to share this with you guys—this weekend I heard from a listener who teaches a kids’ Bible class at her church. While teaching about Israel’s judges, she began relating the story of Ehud but was quickly interrupted by one of the boys in the class. He proceeded to tell her and the entire class the story in great detail. Impressed and taken aback, she asked him how he knows the story so well.
He said, “Oh—my parents listen to this podcast called ‘Holy Ghost Stories.’”
Love that. :)
5 Cool Things
Long Before Transformers - Did you know, speaking of “the Angel of the Lord,” that the Jewish Talmud names Yahweh’s chief angel……..Metatron? Yup.
Oumuamua! - Yeah, yeah—Tom Brady might retire. But have you been following this? We can’t figure out if it’s a comet or an asteroid, but we do know is that Oumuamua is the first known interstellar object to visit our solar system. It’s totally not aliens.
My 90’s TV - Ever wish you had a TV time machine that could whisk you back to the 90’s (or 80’s, etc)? Well now you do. Big fan of the commercials, myself.
Binge the National Parks - Yessss. These folks put together stunning 3-4 minute videos of each of the US National Parks. Spectacular.
Listen to Season 3 in Style - Grab something from the official HGS merch store.
That’s the latest! Give a listen to “The Commissioner and the Axe Man” and share it with somebody who’d like it.
Gratefully,
Justin
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