Scissors never beats scissors

As these 2 tribes square up to each other on the brink of civil war, Gideon does what any good leader / judge / politician would do. He difuses the hostile situation by grinning like the cheshire cat exlaiming the greatness that is Ephraim.

"What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren't the gleamings of Ephraims grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer?"

Gideon was humbling himself and playing down his own victory.

How far Gideon has come.

Back in the winepress Gideon would never have stepped down from that sort of arguement or insult. In Proverbs 15:1 it says . . . 'A gentle answer burns away wrath'.

Gideon shows us how a leader should be, he resists the temptation to bite back with arrogance or be on the defensive. Gideon quickly and calmly difused a situation that had the makings of an epic, but tragic, civil war.

Gideon refused to answer anger with anger, because (lets be honset) scissors NEVER beats scissors.

Love you X