Gideon
From Judges 6-8
Does anyone know who Gideon is?
(Pause and let them answer).
Gideon started out as a farmer, and he lived during a difficult time when the Israelite people had forgotten about God and were worshiping other gods instead. The Midianite army kept invading their land and stealing their food over and over again. It was kind of like the grasshoppers in Disney’s “A Bug’s Life” movie.
One day, Gideon was visited by the angel of the Lord who told him:
“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12, NIV)
The angel of the Lord told Gideon he would defeat the Midianite army and save his people. Well, Gideon had a hard time believing this, so he kept asking God for proof. God gave him a sign by having an offering burst into flames. Gideon still wasn’t sure, so he asked God for two more signs involving sheep’s wool and the ground; and God gave him those signs too! Finally, he was convinced.
Before Gideon could defeat the Midianites, God asked him to make his army much smaller. In fact, He asked Gideon to reduce his army from 32,000 men to only 300!
Does anyone know why?
(Pause and let them answer.)
God wanted His people to know that it was by His strength the Midianites were being defeated, not their own. He wanted to remind them how much they need Him!
God told Gideon and his 300 soldiers to attack the Midianites during the night. All the soldiers held torches hidden under clay jars. Then, all at once they smashed the jars, raised their torches, and blew trumpets. God caused the Midianites to be confused, and they started fighting and killing each other. Gideon and his army won, because God was on their side. After that, Gideon’s land had peace for 40 years.
Did you know that just like God gave Gideon strength, the Bible says He gives us strength too?
Psalm 18 says, “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
(Psalms 18:32-34 NIV)
Are there ever times in your life when you feel weak or afraid? Like you don’t have what it takes?
What can you do?
(Pause and let them answer).
You can pray! Ask God for His strength. Ask him for courage and to help you be brave. The same God who helped Gideon is the same God who is with us today. He never changes. God loves you, and wants a relationship with you. Just like Gideon and the Israelites, God wants you to trust and depend on Him. When you need strength, just ask Him. You can talk to Him anytime. Even on the baseball field!
Most importantly, God wants you to believe and trust in Jesus. The Bible says we all have sinned and fall short of His Glory (Romans 3:23)- that includes Gideon too. No one has lived a perfect life except for Jesus. But Jesus took the punishment for our sins on the cross, and was resurrected three days later. Through Him we can have eternal life! There is nothing we can do to earn this. It’s a gift from God- the BEST gift ever! We can trust in Him for eternal salvation, and we can go to Him in prayer to ask for strength while we are still here on earth.
“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12, NIV)
Lord,
Thank you that you are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thank you that even when we feel like we don’t have what it takes, we can trust in You. You are our strength when we feel weak. Lord, help us to remember that we can talk to you any time, and that you are always with us. Thank you for loving us.
In Jesus’s Mighty Name,
Amen
Pinestraw Mountain 