Standing up for the next generation in your family business

Gideon’s first act as a judge was to tear down his community’s altar to Baal, which he did at night because he knew they would be upset. Sure enough, the next morning the whole town is fired up:

When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” (Judges 6:28-31)

Gideon is in hot water. He has offended his own community by attacking their god, and now they want to kill him. But Gideon’s father Joash protects Gideon with three quick points. First, he questions them — perhaps rhetorically — asking them whether they will go to the mat for a false god. Then, he threatens them with death. Finally, he asks, if their false deity is really a god, why doesn’t he fight for himself? His points quickly shut down the community’s attempt to kill Gideon and demonstrate Joash was on Gideon’s (and thus God’s) side. He stepped up to protect his family member.

When members of a family business are frustrated with each other or fighting among themselves, it might be hard to conceive of them actually protecting one another. I can imagine Gideon’s father being alarmed at his son’s behavior and the position it put him in among his peers. But Joash doesn’t turn on his son; he steps between his son and the angry mob. He chooses to protect his son. His act brings to mind G.K. Chesterton’s quote, “The family is the test of freedom; because the family is the only thing that the free man makes for himself and by himself.”

Have you ever defended a family member’s difficult choice, or has an older family member ever stood up for you? How do you determine when to support a family member, or when to challenge them, for the choices they make?