Gideon – the 5^th Judge of Israel… (5 things)

• 1^st – The 5^th time around… vs. 1- Read: Judges 6:1-6
  • 1^st – Israel rebelled against the Lord – so God let Midian conquer them for 7 years…vs. 1-6
    • In the first 4 rebellions – Israel had been in captivity anywhere from 8 to 20 years…
      • Each time they rebelled the term of the captivity had increased – until now…
      • Yet even though this was the shortest of the captivities – it was by far the worst…
    • The Midianites were so cruel – Israel resorted to hiding in the mountains and in caves…
      • And whenever they planted – raiding parties would come and steal their harvest…
      • They would swarm in like locusts and devour all the food in the land!
      • Starving to death – Israel finally cried out to the Lord to save them…
    • Trials can come in many different shapes and sizes…
      • The worst trials of life – may not necessarily be the longest trials…
      • Going a day without food can be much worse than a cold that lasts for a week…
      • But no matter what the shape or size – every trial always has only one purpose…
      • To get our attention – and get us to turn our lives back to Jesus!
  • 2^nd – God sent a prophet to Israel… vs. 7-10
    • He spoke to them for God – showing them why they were starving…
      • God had brought Israel out of Egypt – and conquered the people in the Promised Land…
      • But God warned them not to bow down to the pagan gods – and they did not listen…
      • Just as God had promised in Leviticus 26 – they were suffering the consequences…
      • Haggai 1:6 – “Wages disappear as though putting them in pockets filled with holes.”
    • When things go wrong in life – we are quick to blame others…
      • When the consequences of our sin find us – we often look to blame others…
      • If we are unfriendly – find we have no friends – we blame others for not liking us…
      • If we are not being blessed – we think it is God’s fault for not giving us more…
      • It is far easier to see the faults in others – then to look at our own shortcomings…
      • If the problem is with others – than we do not have to change / repent…
      • But until we admit we are the problem – there is nothing God can do to save us!
        
        
• 2^nd – The making of a mighty warrior… vs. 11-24 Read: Judges 6:11-16
  • 1^st – An Israelite named Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press… vs. 11-13
    • The only reason to ‘thresh’ in a ‘wine press’ – is to hide because you are scared…
      • You thresh wheat on top of a hill to catch the wind – separate wheat from chaff…
      • A wine press is at the bottom of a hill – so that it can catch the grape juice…
    • God sent an angel to this terrified man and said – ‘Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!’
      • He replied – ‘My family is the least in my tribe / I am the least of my family!’
      • Often when the Lord calls us to serve Him – we wonder ‘why choose me’…
      • We look at ourselves and think we have nothing to offer the Lord – we are ‘nobody’…
      • But God does not see us as we are – He sees us in light of what He can do through us!
    • Gideon added – ‘If they Lord is with us – why has all this happened to us’…
      • When we face the consequences of our actions – it can feel like God has left us…
      • I remember when I did something bad when I was a child – my Dad would spank me…
      • I thought for sure he did it because he hated me – in anger I would even tell him so…
      • The truth was he punished me because he loved me – wanted me to learn to be good…
      • We are ‘punished’ by the Lord – because we are His kids – Hebrews 12:5-6
      • God desires to teach us – His kids – how to live a pure and holy life!
  • 2^nd – Then the Lord turned to Gideon and said… vs. 14-16
    • Notice it is no longer ‘an angel’ who is talking – this is Jesus talking to Gideon…
      • The Lord was not only ‘with’ him – He was right there talking to him!
      • God never leaves us – we do not see God because we are to focused on our problems
      • Even in the darkest hour – if we look up – we will find Jesus is right there beside us!
    • Go with the strength you have – you will rescue Israel – because I am sending you!
      • Most people assume before God can use you – you have to be perfect (or close to it)…
      • Before I teach a Bible study – I need to be doing everything I am teaching…
      • But God does not look for a perfect person to use for His purposes…
      • Like Gideon – God just looks for someone who is willing to go…
      • God is more than able to do the work He wants through us – in spite of us…
      • The only thing that can stop God – is us being unwilling to step out in faith!
  • 3^rd – Seeking a sign… vs. 17-24
    • Gideon wanted a ‘sign’ to prove what the Lord was telling him…
      • He asked the angel to stay while he went and prepared a meal for him…
      • The angel waited while Gideon cooked a goat / soup / and bread without leaven…
      • Gideon placed them on a rock – the angel touched it with his staff – burnt it all up!
      • The angel disappeared – Gideon realized then it was an angel of the Lord!
    • Gideon built an altar there called – Yahweh shalom – God is our peace…
      • If we are not sure of our calling – want to find out what purpose God has given to us…
      • You could try cooking and placing it on a rock – but my guess is it will not burn up…
      • A better option is to step out and try – try to teach / try to evangelize / try to help…
      • If it does not work – if there is no fruit – no problem just try something else!
      • But keep in mind it takes time to grow in any calling – you are not perfect in a day…
      • When we are doing what God has called us to do – it will be obvious!

• 3^rd – Standing up for God… vs. 25-40 Read: Judges 6:25-26, 36-39
  • 1^st – The Lord told Gideon to tear down his father’ pagan altars… vs. 15-32
    • The Canaanite religion centered on 3 gods – El / Asherah / and Baal…
      • El was the ‘father’ / Asherah was the ‘mother’ / and Baal was their son…
      • There were the false gods Israel had begun to worship instead of the Lord…
      • Gideon was to replace the pagan altar with one to the Lord – offer a sacrifice…
      • The wood for the fire was to come from the pagan Asherah poles…
      • Gideon did as the Lord commanded – but at night – for fear of his family…
    • Before Gideon could free a nation – he first had to free his family…
      • We look around and see a world caught up in sin – and wonder what we can do…
      • The answer is often – start at home – reach out to those who are closest to you…
      • Acts 1:8 – “Be witnesses [of Jesus] in Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria, to the end of the earth.”
      • We start in our backyard – and go out from there – till the whole world knows!
    • When the people of the town found out – they wanted to kill Gideon…
      • But the father of Gideon – Joash – defended his son (remember they were his idols)…
      • ‘Why are you defending Baal – let him defend himself if he can…’
      • From then on Gideon was know as ‘Jerub-baal’ – let Baal defend himself…
      • It can be scary to stand up for Jesus before family – they will not like it at first…
      • They WILL make accusations – attack us – try to convince us WE are wrong…
      • But as God is with us – there will be some (maybe just one) who will stand with us!
  • 2^nd – Having reached his family – it was time for Gideon to save a nation… vs. 33-40
    • Midian an the children of the east gathered in the Jezreel valley (Armageddon)…
      • The spirit of the Lord came on Gideon and he called Israel to gather for war…
      • But Gideon still doubted – and he asked the Lord to prove Himself…
      • He put out a fleece – ‘he wanted it to be wet in the morning but the ground dry’…
      • The next night he put out the fleece – ‘he wanted it to be dry but the ground was wet’…
    • The Lord did as Gideon asked – then he had the confidence the Lord was with him!
      • I like that Gideon – full of the spirit – still had doubts and needed to be reassured…
      • No matter how long you have been walking with the Lord – there are always bad days…
      • And God is always willing to meet us where we are – and build us up in our faith!
    • But – the Lord makes it clear – as a rule we are not to ‘test’ the Lord…
      • Matthew 4:7 / Deuteronomy 6:16 – “Do not test the Lord your God.”
      • The only reason why we would test God – is because we doubt God / His Word…
      • When we find ourselves questioning our calling – we do not need to ‘lay out a fleece’…
      • We go back to the Lord – back to His Word – to get our faith strengthened!
        
• 4^th – Choosing an amry…vs. 1-7 Read: Judges 7:2-6
  • 1^st – Gideon gathered with 32,000 men at Mt. Gilboa – at the spring of Ein Harod…
    • The spring overlooks the plains of Jezreel – also called the Megiddo valley….
    • The Lord told Gideon there were too many men- some had to go home…
    • If God gave the victory – they would take the credit and think they won the battle…
    • Gideon gave the order for anyone who was scared to go home – 22,000 left…
    • This is understandable – they were facing an army like ‘the sands of the sea’…
    • If they entered into the battle and in fear ran – it would mean defeat for Israel…
      
  • 2^nd – God said – ‘there were still too many men’ (I am sure Gideon disagreed)…
    • Gideon had all the men take a drink from the spring…
      • Those who lapped the water – went home / those who scooped the water – stayed…
      • Two possibilities – those who scooped kept a watchful eye – better soldiers…
      • Or those who scooped were too old to bend down – they were the least of the men!
      • God does not pick the youngest / strongest – He chose the old guys!  I Corinthians 1:26
      • There is a common misconception that God only uses the ‘elite’…
      • In order to be used by God you have to have a 4-year degree – PhD in theology…
      • That is the wisdom of men – a worldly idea that has crept into the church…
      • You do not see any Bible colleges or seminaries in the Bible – you just see sinners…
      • Sinner are exactly who God chooses to go and preach the message of the cross!
    • In the end there were only 300 men left to fight an army of hundreds of thousands…
      • God will often allow a situation we are facing to look impossible…
      • That way when He gives us the victory – there is no doubt it was all God!

God does not need an army to accomplish His work – He just needs those who are willing…

5^th – Victory for Israel… vs. 8-25 Read: Judges 7:16-21

1^st – Dreaming of the victory… vs. 8-15

That night Gideon snuck down into the enemies camp – overheard a conversation….

A soldier had a dream – a loaf of bread rolling down the hill knocking over his tent…

His friend interpreted his dream – ‘this can only mean God has given Gideon the victory!’

When Gideon heard the interpretation – he worshiped the Lord…

The dream was not important – ‘dreams about rolling bread’ – do not mean much…

What was important was the interpretation – it showed the fear of the enemy!

God can speak through dreams…

Joseph – Had two dreams that he would rule over his brothers and family…

Daniel – Interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2

And it is not just limited to the men of the Bible – God says He will give us dreams…

Joel 2:28 – “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.”

So I suppose that means if you admit to having dream from the Lord – you are old…

For myself – I only have ‘visions’ – though sometimes with my eyes closed…

In truth – I cannot say I have ever personally been directed by visions or dreams

But we need to be careful of dreams…

God speak to us through dreams – but that does not mean all dreams are from God…

Ecclesiastes 5:7 – “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.”

Your dream from last night might be from the Lord – or from pancit canton…

If the dream contradicts the Word of God in any way – reject it – it is not from the Lord…

Before you make any rash decision based on dreams – make sure they are from God!

2^nd – Winning the battle without a fight… vs. 16-25

Gideon divided the 300 men – giving each horn and a jar with a torch inside…

They encircled the enemies camp – and just after midnight / at the signal…

They all broke their jars – blew their horns – and shouted ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’

The enemy assumed they were surrounded – and in confusion turned on each other…

And God conquered an army like the sand of the sea – with just 300 men!