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Lesson 7

Not Called by God

Judges 8:31-35; 9:1-12:6

As you may have concluded that one of the people I admire is George Washington.  From everything that I have read he was a man of integrity.  When he was a very young man he wrote a code of ethics he called “Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior.” By the time of the Revolutionary War he was a well-respected statesman. The Continental Congress had only one candidate for the general to be in charge of the Revolutionary Army.  That man was George Washington.  In the minds of most Americans he was the best man for the job.  Like the positions he would hold from those early days until he retired from public service it was the call of his nation that he heeded.  Reluctantly, he allowed his name to be placed in nomination as the first president of the United States.  He has been called with great affection, “The Father of our nation.”  Personally, the greatest attribute of a man or woman is to be chosen by their peers for any type of position.  All too often those who decide to become a leader on their own do it for all the wrong reasons.  They are ambitious and self-centered who have only regard for themselves and not others.

 

From the beginning of Judges we have seen that God has called certain people to be leaders and judges of the people.  A person should never enter into any leadership role of the church unless he or she truly senses that they are being led in that direction.  Alexander Whyte, a Scottish minister, once said something like, unless you are totally miserable doing something else you should not enter into the ministry.  Ministry does not call for special people, but it does require those who are totally committed to Christ with their whole lives.  One cannot truly serve the Father in a difficult way of life without that commitment to Him.

 

The two men about whom we are studying today were opposite their predecessors.  Even Gideon, the father of Abimelech had been selected to lead Israel into battle.  Gideon had succeeded then failed miserably by the end of his life.  We will not cover all of the next four chapters but selected verses that fit the title of this lesson.

 

Judges 8:31-35

The writer sets the stage for the next period of time in the history of Israel.    Abimelech, the illegitimate son of Gideon was born. Gideon died. Not only did the Israelites then forget God but did not remember what Gideon had done for them.  They also did not show kindness to his family.

 

1. What does it say about the Israelites that they once again turned to idol worship after the death of Gideon? (He was the stabilizing force in Israel.)
2. Why did they once again forget God? (There was no one to lead them in that direction.)
3. What does it say about the attitude of all men when they did not treat his family with fairness? (They were like us in that our attitude is what can you do for me today.)
4. Why did the writer mention Abimelech specifically?  (He was going to lead part of Israel.)

 

Judges 9:1-6

Rather than being called by God to lead the people, Abimelech seized the position by convincing the people of Schechem that he was the man to guide their future because his mother had come from that city.  They agreed to follow him and gave him seventy pieces of silver.  With it he hired ruthless men who proceeded to kill all of Gideon’s children except one whose name was Jotham.  Abimelech was then crowned king by the men of Schechem and Beth-millo.

 

1. What was the problem with Abimelech’s plan? (He was a man of extreme and ungodly ambition.)
2. Why did the people of Schechem buy into his scheme? (He promoted himself as one of them.)
3. What actions did he take that showed his true character?

 

Judges 9:22-49

After three years the people discovered who Abimelech was and wanted to sever ties with them.  The intrigued that followed showed that Abimelech did not even care about his own people.  When they rejected him, he had the leadership killed by burning down the tower in which they had taken refuge.  Then he went to the city of Thebez and was going to do the same to them.  A woman threw a millstone and ended the plans of Abimeleh.

 

1. What did it mean that God put an evil spirit between the people of Schechem and Abimelech? (They discovered that he was a cruel and ambitious man and did not want him to lead them any longer.)
2. What was his purpose in killing the leadership?
3. Why did he go to the city of Thebez that had not made him king? (He wanted to extend his conquest.)
4. How did God bring humiliation on him? (He was fatally injured by a millstone, thrown down by a woman.)
5. What does this narrative tell about the future of those who set themselves as kings and leaders apart from God?

 

Judges 10:1-9

Two other judges followed Abimeleh.  There is no indication that neither Tola nor Jair were chosen by God to lead the people.  Although the Israelites enjoyed a period of peace from their enemies those men had very little spiritual impact on the people was they drifted further from God.  God seemed to be totally absent from the life of the nation of Israel for those forty five-years. Because they forgot God He became angry with them and allowed them to fall into the hands of the Ammonites and Philistines.  The more those two nations oppressed them the more they began to worship their gods.  It was a natural progression for the people to worship the gods of the countries that enslaved them.

1. What was missing in the rise of Tola and Jair to leadership? (God did not have a hand in their selection.)
2. Where was God during the forty-five years that Tola and Jair judged the people?
3. In what ways were the people impacted spiritually?
4. What happens to a nation that does not have godly leaders?
5. Why did the Isralites  increasingly worship the gods of the nations that conquered them?

 

Judges 10:10-14

The Israelites had suffered enough so it was time to call on God for deliverance.  The answer they received was not the one they expected.  God told them that He had saved them for the last time.  He recounted the times that He had delivered them only to have them fall back into the same pattern of worshipping false gods.  His command to them was to go to the gods they had chosen to worship for answers and relief from their enemies.  He was totally fed up with their actions.

 

1. Why did the Israelites once again call out to God?
2. What did they expect from Him?
3. How did He answer them differently that time?
4. At what point does God say to us that He has had enough of our godless lifestyle?
5. Why was His answer not the solution they needed? (Other things are never the answer for our life.)

 

Judges 10:15-16

God’s message was very clear.  The people realized that they had stepped too far over the line and the way back was not going to be business as usual.  They realized that they had sinned against God.  Unlike other times when they just expected Him to act on their behalf they understood and were willing to accept the consequences for their disobedience.   It is unsure if they were talking about deliverance from their sin or from their oppressors.  Evidently, God understood it as asking for forgiveness.  As proof that they were serious they put away the foreign gods they had been worshipping and began to serve the Lord.  At that point God forgave them.

 

1. What did the people need to understand was to be the consequences of their actions?
2. What would it mean to you if you thought that God had completely taken His hand off of your life?
3. What does it take to have a relationship with the Father? (Confess your sin and seek forgiveness.)
4. How did the people show they were sincere?
5. What is God’s response to true repentance?

 

Judges 10:17-18

As the Ammonites approached the people in Gilead, which was east of the Jordan River, the Israelites began to seek a new deliverer and leader for them.

 

1. What do you think of the question the people asked?
2. What is missing?
3. What could they expect from such an inquiry?

 

Judges 11:1-3

On to the stage of history stepped the next judge of the Israelites east of the Jordan River, which would have included the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh.  The writer provided a short biography of Zephthah.  He was described as:

• A valiant warrior
• The son of a harlot
• The son of Gilead
• An outcast from his father’s house.  His half-brothers did not allow him to remain in his father’s house.
• Leader of unscrupulous men.  At least one commentator indicated he probably became a highwayman.

 

1. How did the writer of the book of Judges describe Jephthah?
2. In what ways do you picture this person as a potential leader?
3. What does it say about each of us that God can use us in His service?
4. What are the qualities that you want in a leader?
5. What are some things that would disqualify a person in your mind?

 

Judges 11:4-11

Interestingly, the Israelites turned to Jephthah to be their leader.  He was pretty skeptical at first because they had rejected him and now were coming to him to get them out of the problem they faced.  They promised that he would be appointed as their head if he stopped the Ammonites.  They promised before God that they would follow through and make him their head.  Only after questioning them about the truthfulness of their statement and hearing them make a vow before God that they would make him their chief did he agree to go with them.  Jephthah believed that what he said was in the presence of God.

 

1. Why did the Israelites turn to Jephthah to lead them? (No one else had the ability to win against the Ammonites.)
2. Why was Jephthah so hesitant?
3. Why did he need the assurance that they were telling the truth? (Because they had rejected him before.)
4. What sealed the deal? (They made a vow before God.)
5. What did the last statement in verse 11 mean? (He knew all that was said was heard by God.)

 

Judges 11:12-26

Before going into battle Jephthah attempted to negotiate with the Ammonites.  He gave them a history lesson concerning how God had been instrumental in giving the territory east of the Jordan to the Israelites.  His main point was to make it clear that the Ammonites had no legitimate claim to any of the land that God had given to His people.

 

1. What do you think of Zephthah’s approach to dealing with the Ammonites?
2. How do you usually handle conflict?
3. What was his powerful argument? (God had given the Israelites the land as an inheritance.)
4. Why is it important that you know what you believe and what God has done in your life?
5. How do you witness to those who might question your faith?

 

Judges 11:27-28

Jephthah concluded his words with appeal to reason.  He made the actions of the Ammonites more personal.  Based on what he had said he and the people were innocent of taking action against them but they were wrong to come against Israel for no valid reason.  God would therefore be the judge between the actions of the two nations.  Sadly, the king of the Ammonites did not listen to what Zephthah had said.

 

1. Why could Jephthah claim innocence before the Ammonites? (He had painted a comprehensive picture of what had taken place almost four hundred years earlier.)
2. In whose hands are we to leave the resolution of conflict?
3. In what ways does God judge between two parties?

 

Judges 11:29-33

Jephthah in the power of the Holy Spirit went about gathering his army.  He then made a fatal mistake. Rather than trusting God for the victory over the Ammonites he found it necessary to make a foolish vow.  He promised to offer whatever came out from his home to greet him when he returned, he would sacrifice to God.  God gave the victory without the need of making the vow.

 

1. What should have been enough for Jephthah to enter into battle?
2. Why did he make the vow?
3. Why was he testing God?
4. What could he not know when he made the vow?
5. What kind of foolish promises have you made to God in your lifetime?
6. What is to be our response when God gives us a task to do?

 

Judges 11:34-40

His daughter met him when he returned.  She agreed to allow him to carry out his vow.

1. Who held Jephthah to his vow?
2. Why did he follow through with the sacrifice? (His misunderstanding of God’s grace and forgiveness of our foolishness?
3. What would God have preferred in Jephthah’s life?
4. What does He want us to do when what we promise affects others?

 

Judges 12:1-6

If it was not enough for him to lose his daughters he was now confronted with representatives from other tribes who felt left out of the war.  They even tried to kill Zephthah which brought about a minor civil war. The result of having their feelings hurt caused the death of forty-two thousand Ephraimites.

 

1. What would you see as a continuing characteristic of the Ephraimites based on what happened during the days of Gideon? (They appeared to have an anger problem.)
2. What results from getting our feelings hurt?
3. Who loses in a conflict?
4. What is the best way to handle a conflict?

 

Judges 12:7

Jephthah judged Israel for six years and then he died.

 

• Honestly evaluate yourself before taking a leadership role to see if God has called you and equipped you to do so.
• Evaluate a person who is being presented as a possible leader.
• Never select a leader solely based on popularity, prominence or visibility.
• Pray before deciding whether a person should become a leader in the church.
• Never make a vow that is either against God’s standards or will cause great harm.
• Do not let a leader be the determining factor in the way you serve God.  They are only human like you.

 

Throughout the book of Judges we have seen all kinds of people become judges in Israel.  Some were provided great leadership and provided Israel with the stability.  During their tenure the people at least gave lip service to God.  There were others that were weak and self-centered. Their legacy was to leave in a spiritual condition that was worse when the passed from the scene than we they began.

 

Churches have all too often made poor decisions in the selection of leaders.  Many times leaders have been chosen because of business acumen or they have charismatic personalities.  When we listen to God He will help us to select those men and women who will guide the church in fulfilling the mandate God has given in His word.  1Timothy 3 gives a very clear picture of the type of man who qualifies to lead others in the body.  Acts 6 called for men to be of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and having great wisdom.  If Israel had just heeded the concept of the words found in these two books they would have saved themselves a great deal of heartache.  Fortunately, we do not have to guess at what God wants to do through those kinds of leaders because we have His word.  We have many opportunities to help people take part in ministry.  Let’s be careful that the person matches the position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 6

Overcoming Impossible Odds

Judges 7:1-25

If one thinks about it, the fact that the 13 colonies of the United States actually won the Revolutionary War is pretty amazing.  At the height of patriotic fervor, George Washington never had an army of more than ten thousand men.  He constantly had to deal with mass desertions, lack of funding and equipment.  The Continental Congress often did not provide enough money to even pay the soldiers who were on the front lines.  More than half of the time Washington was retreating before the most powerful army and navy of the day.  He was outmanned and outgunned every step of the way.  His most famous exploits were the way he handled retreats.  There was an instance in which he was on an island completely surrounded by British troops but was able to escape with losing a single man.  To fool the enemy he had his few men build campfires all around the island thus giving the appearance of a lot of activity.  As a few men kept the fires going the rest of the troops quietly left the island in boats.  By morning all the troops were safely gone leaving the British army scratching their heads.

 

Even the final battle at Yorktown was an example of God working in the circumstance of man.  Although pretty much surrounded the British Army had planned to escape by sea.  Two events stopped them from being successful.  The French fleet had cut off the route to the sea.  More importantly a fog rolled in keeping the ships from being able to get to the army.  The next day seeing the situation hopeless, Cornwallis surrendered to a small army of the United States.  Peter Marshall in his book “ The Light and the Glory” contributes the outcome of the amazing events to the hand of God working on behalf of the colonists.  It is difficult to refute his findings based on the facts.

 

Sadly, today the mindset in every part of our society is to look at what we have accomplished in our own power.  We have always prided ourselves as being the world’s greatest super power and having the most powerful military.  In the eyes of those in government there is no problem that cannot be solved if we throw enough money and manpower into the solution.  There are people today that think they can control the climate by the decisions that they make.

 

The church can also develop this attitude.  We believe that we are only limited by the lack of budget and people to accomplish great things for God.  How short sighted this is when the fact is that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  Our problem is not the lack of those things that are tangible but the intangible.  Throughout the Scriptures what has seemed impossible is only so because we trust in our own abilities and not His.  Over and over He calls His people to prayer and faith.  Because we cannot touch either of those we continue down a futile path and wonder why the lives of those around us are not changed.  Like Gideon we may be better off with less physical means and more of that which is of the Spirit of God.  It is the Spirit that transforms not our position, power or possessions.  How did Gideon handle what he was given?

 

Judges 7:1

Gideon had issued the call and many from the tribes of Manasseh, Zebulun and Naphtali responded.  They came to him at the spring of Harod.  It was a strategic move to camp there.  Gideon and his army would be able to refresh themselves during the battle to come.  The Midianites had taken up a position north of them by the hill of Moreh.

1. Why were the people of the three tribes willing to join up with Gideon? (They were all oppressed by the Midianites and saw this as an opportunity to become free.)
2. What did they see in the actions of Gideon?
3. What is the rallying cry of your own heart that will hopefully draw people to you?
4. Why was it important for Gideon to camp where he did? (His army would need the refreshment that came from the spring during battle.)
5. What may have been Gideon’s thoughts at that time? (God had provided an army sufficient to accomplish the task ahead of them.  He could have been more assured of victory with a large army.)
6. What advantages or disadvantages do you see when God brings a lot of people to a church?

 

Judges 7:2-3

Up to that point God had allowed Gideon to test Him a number of times.  God was now to find out if Gideon truly had the faith to carry through what God had called him to do.  The first command would not have been so demoralizing.  Gideon was ordered to send everyone home who was afraid to go into battle.  God knew the heart of man and with that size army they would claim the victory was due to their strength.  Twenty thousand of the thirty-two thousand men, who had initially responded to Gideon’s call departed.  For a leader like Gideon, it was to his advantage militarily that they had gone.  In battle if those men began to flee, it would have affected all the others. Chaos and defeat would probably have resulted for the Israelites.

 

1. What may have been Gideon’s thoughts when so many came to fight with him?
2. What are things that God saw that Gideon would have missed?  (The egos of men and the fearfulness that many possessed)
3. What happens when those upon whom we rely fail in a given task?
4. Why do we have the tendency to claim successes as our own and failures as someone else’s responsibility?
5. Who do we usually blame if things go terribly wrong?
6. What did the departure of the men mean for Gideon? (He may still have thought the number left was sufficient to fight the enemy since God had told him he was going to win.)

 

Judges 7:4-8

To Gideon’s surprise and possibly consternation God was not through shaping the army that was to go into battle. Once again Gideon heard from God.  He was told that his forces were still too large for God to have the glory He deserved.  God gave them the method by which the final selection would be made.  All the men were to go to the water and get a drink.  Gideon was to separate those who put their faces in the water to drink and those who cupped their hands to bring water to their mouth.  Those who cupped their hands were three hundred.  Nine thousand seven hundred were sent home.  God then promised that he would deliver the people with the three hundred that were left.  Even after the latest test Gideon remained faithful. He then put a plan in place that would require he take the provisions from the men going home for his use against the Midianites.  Among the equipment were three hundred trumpets.  Even though all of the men had departed from Gideon the Midianites had not gone away.

 

1. What was God’s reasoning for the further reduction in troops?
2. What did the way the men drank say about their ability to fight? (Those who put their face in the water would be less prepared to engage the enemy.  Those upright were more alert and ready to do battle.)
3. What was probably going through Gideon’s mind at that point?
4. What does it say about him at that point that he did not give up and go with the thirty-one thousand seven hundred that God had already sent home?
5. In what ways does it seem that the provisions we have are inadequate for the task God has given us?
6. Why are they enough?
7. What is the one thing that will help us stay focused on God? (Prayer)

 

Judges 7:9-12

It was time for battle.  Gideon seemed to do his best work under the cover of darkness.  God commanded him to approach the camp of the Midianites.  Again Gideon received assurance that he would be victorious.  Evidently, God sensed that he was not ready for the fight ahead so to calm his fear God sent him to the camp to hear what the Midianites were talking about.  Gideon was afraid to go alone or he needed a witness to verify what took place so he and his servant Purah approached the camp. God was sure that once he had listened to the enemy he would be ready to attack them.  What Gideon saw was a vast army of men covering the land as thick as locusts?  He could not even count the camels they had which would have given an added advantage to the Midianites.  God wanted him to see the obstacles that he would face first hand.

 

1. Why did God have to tell Gideon when to go into battle?
2. Since God told him that he would be victorious why did he hesitate?
3. Why did God send him down to the camp?
4. What was the sight before him?
5. What did the fact that Gideon took his servant with him indicate about him?
6. How would seeing such a vast army be reassuring to Gideon? (It would not. That is why he would need to hear the words of the soldiers.)

 

Judges 7:13-14

As he approached the camp of the Midianites he heard one man telling another one about a dream he had had.  He spoke of a barley loaf rolling into the camp and overturning a tent causing it to become flat.  It is interesting that the barley loaf was made from the grain used by the poor for baking.  The other man said that the barley loaf represented Gideon who would bring defeat to the Midianites.  The dream and the interpretation came from God to build the faith of Gideon.

 

1. What was the content of the dream?
2. In what way did the use of barley describe Gideon and the Israelites? (They had been brought low by the Midianites and were poor and downtrodden.)
3. What was the significance of the dream? (It was all for the building of Gideon’s faith.)
4. What was the origin of the dream and the interpretation?
5. How does the word of God speak to you in times when you have doubts or are fearful?

 

Judges 7:15

Gideon’s response to the dream was to fall down and worship God.  The testing and building of the altars all culminated in that moment.  Gideon had all the proof he needed of the reality of God in the life of the Israelites. With his newfound faith he returned to his men and gave the order to attack.

 

1. Why did it take so much for Gideon to come to the point of true worship?
2. Looking at the life of Gideon what does true worship look like?
3. What does it take for you to be prepared to worship God?
4. What are the distractions that keep you from putting God at the center of your time with Him?
5. How can we eliminate those distractions?
6. What did his newfound faith help Gideon do? (To overcome his doubt and fear and become the valiant warrior that the angel of the Lord proclaimed him to be.
7. What does true worship prepare you to do?

 

Judges 7:16-18

Gideon did not lead his men into battle without a plan.  It was a clear and simple strategy.  He first divided his forces into three equal groups of three hundred men each and gave each a trumpet and a pitcher containing a torch.  Once they had received those items the instructions for men included:

• Watch me and do what I do.
• Blow the trumpets
• Shouting, “For the Lord and for Gideon.

 

1. What would have brought instant failure to the Israelites?
2. What do you think was the source of the plan that Gideon was to carry out?
3. What causes problems in churches around the world? (We just put programs in place without planning or determining strategies based on a God given vision.)
4. Looking at the items given to the soldiers what do you think could be accomplished with them?
5. How adequately do you feel equipped to face a world controlled by the devil?
6. What weapons do you need to face the enemy?

 

Judges 7:19-22

Gideon and the men arrived at the point when the Midianites were the most vulnerable. At the changing of the guard when there was the greatest movement of men.  There were those heading towards their tents and others picking up their weapons to head for their posts.  It was at that moment Gideon came to the camp. The other factor in his favor was that with all that was taking place he would not have been spotted by the enemy.

 

The plan he had put in place was implemented with success.  The men blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers. The sound in the middle of the night would probably have sounded like a small explosion.  Of course they would not have expected that kind of noise.  When the three hundred began to cry out, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon” the camp was thrown into chaos.  Interestingly enough the swords that the Israelites mentioned were only in the hands of their enemy.  None of the followers of Gideon possessed any offensive weapon. The Lord caused the Midianties and their allies to actually turn on each other.  The result of the battle that took place was the destruction of the massive army that had assembled against Israel. Those who survived fled desperately from the scene of battle and headed toward the Jordan to escape.

 

1. How did the time of Gideon’s small arrival play into his hands?
2. What did the Israelites have to do? (Stand still and watch God at work.)
3. What lesson can be learned from the actions of the small army? (Be patient and wait on the Lord.)
4. Why were the Midianites overcome so easily?  (The unexpected commotion completely confused them?
5. What was ironic about the statement, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon?” (The only weapons were in the hands of the Midianites.)
6. Who brought about the defeat of the Midianites?

 

Judges 7:23-24

Gideon then made a mistake.  God had said that He was going to subdue the enemies of Israel with the three hundred men who were following Gideon.  He first called men from the original tribes of Naphtali, Asher and Manasseh. It was a good possibility that some of the men were those rejected by God previously.  In addition he also sent for men from Ephraim who would be positioned to cut off the retreat back to Midian.  Following Gideon’s orders Ephraim also captured and killed the two leaders of Midian, Oreb meaning Raven and Zeeb meaning Wolf.   They then brought the heads of the two men to Gideon as trophies.

 

Gideon’s story continues into chapter 8 in which is seen the drift from God during the time he acted as judge of Israel.

 

1. Why was the calling of the men from Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh an error on the part of Gideon? (God had promised victory with three hundred men.
2. Who possibly were these men? (Some of the very ones who had been rejected by God previously.)
3. How did he compound his mistake? (Involving the tribe of Ephraim.)
4. When are times we make the same kinds of mistakes?
5. What could possibly be the long-term consequences of disobeying God?

 

• Take all of your doubts to the Lord.
• Learn to trust God with your future and not always testing Him.
• Before taking action pray that God will show you the way that will lead to victory.
• Remember to worship God at all times.
• Go beyond the obvious to see how God may be working behind the scenes in your life.
• Continue to obey God even when it appears that successes have come to you by your own effort.
• Remember that no man is a self-made man.

 

Our primary responsibility as a church is to obey God.  There are two key components that lead to obedience.  One is to understand what His word has to say to us. As we dig into His word we will get a clearer picture of where He is leading the church.  The greatest discovery will be is that all that we do is not to be about us but for His glory. Every ministry and every decision should be for the transformation of those within the body.  Secondly, in order to understand the Bible we need to meditate on each part of it.  That involves praying for clarity and direction as we spend time on our knees.  From the lesson today we see results of two different mindsets.  Gideon, although, reluctantly obeyed God and carried out His commands.  On the other hand the godless Midianites thought they could win by bringing a large army and thus being victorious in its own power.  Although the church may not be as dominant in society as it once was but, it is to be no less obedient to the Father and glory in the victories that He has brought to us than He proclaimed from the beginning of time.  In “It’s a Wonderful Life” the angel Clarence who had saved Jimmy Stewart from committing suicide finally got his wings.  Jimmy Stewart announced to his little girl, that when a angel got his wings a bell would ring.  Our part is to make the angels rejoice as one person after another is brought into eternal life.

 

 

 

 

Lesson 5

Whiner to Reluctant Hero Part One

Judges 6:1-40

One of the characteristics of growing older is that one gets somewhat bolder as the years pass.  I have never been one to put myself in an awkward position if I could help it.  There have been many a time when I would make myself as small as possible hoping that the teacher would not spot me and call on me to answer a question.  I have also not been one to volunteer.  I can remember one time in middle school when the music teacher ask me to sing a solo in an assembly before the whole school.  Before I got up on the stage with the rest of the choral group I was soaking wet from fear.  Even the tops of my hands were sweating.  Fortunately, I made it through that day unscathed.  I have never sung solos without the same feeling.  It is a strange phenomenon that I can speak before people about the Bible but am scared to death to sing.

 

Often there have been things I might have liked to have done but felt that it would appear to be self-promoting to have done so.  Being an introvert will seldom put a person at the front of any group.  We tend to stay in the background.  Having said above what I did about speaking before people, going back to when I began to teach even that was done reluctantly.  After many hours of study I am more comfortable standing before people and sharing what I have learned. I have to remember one thing. God has gifted me and has given me a specific personality.  He expects me to use those qualities within the areas of ministry for which he has gifted me.  We will see how that idea fits what we will be studying for the next two weeks.

 

There are all kinds of books out and articles written that talk about the fact that churches do not want to risk making changes.  This reticence quite often can lead to a body being ineffective in its impact on the community in which it is located.  Even if we look at the congregation as a whole and its unwillingness to venture out into places it has never gone before it all starts with the people who make up the church.  How often have members been asked to participate in a ministry for which they are definitely gifted and have the skill set to perform it use the excuses of I will think about it or let me pray about it.  This quite often is a way of saying that I do not want to pay the price for whatever time and effort it takes to actually do the ministry.  We have become so accustom to being comfortable as a consumer of what we want from the church that it is difficult giving back those things, like time and talent that belong to God. No matter how bad the situation becomes we prefer to maintain the status quo until there is nothing left.  Israel faced a difficult situation and only when things got so bad that they were intolerable did they cry out to God.  Let us watch out for the danger signals that this could happen to us.  Gideon had to step away from the safety of his situation and do what God commanded him to do.

 

Judges 6:1-6

There are a couple of major differences between the previous oppressors and the ones that Israel faced when they once again reverted to their evil ways.  Unlike Eglon and Jabin who just seemed to dominate the people, the new enemies of Midian and the Amalekites did everything to completely devastate the land leaving nothing for the people to eat or feed their animals.  One can only imagine how those actions would destroy the economy of any country. They brought in their livestock to graze on the land leaving no place for the people of Israel to feed their animals.  In many cases the Midianites actually stole the flocks and herds belonging to the Israelites.  The people feared the Midianites to the point that they hid themselves in mountain caves and strongholds.  The writer said, “So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the Lord.  Their cry was not out of repentance but one for relief from their misery.

 

1. How did things get progressively worse for the Israelites?
2. How did their situation in this chapter differ from those previously experienced?
3. Who were the enemies of Israel at that point? (The Midianites who were distant relatives of Moses through Zipporah and the Amalekites who had attacked them as they approached the Promised Land?
4. What does this incident say to us?  (Things will get worse and worse for us the further we get away from God.)
5. What is the ongoing lesson here? (Depend on God not human leadership.)

 

Judges 6:7-10

When the Israelites cried out to God, instead of sending them a judge like Deborah, He sent a prophet.  God had a word for the people that they did not want to hear or had forgotten.  He laid out before the people what He had done previously.  His promise to them had been fulfilled.  They had been given the Promised Land.  He had also defeated their enemies.  After all He had done for them they had broken the command not to worship the false gods of the Amorites.  His last statement to them was a condemnation of all they had done.  He told them that they had disobeyed God.  It is interesting that he did not offer them any hope at that point.  They were left wondering if they were to remain in their dire circumstances from that point on.

 

1. Why did God sent a prophet and not a judge?  (The work of the judges did not last.  They needed to hear a stronger message from God than had been offered before.)
2. In what way could a prophet say the same things to us today?
3. How have your actions sometimes been no better than that of the Israelites?
4. How did the prophet leave the people? (Wondering if God was going to help them.)
5. What actions do we take that are different when we realize that we have been disobedient to God?
6. What was God looking for from the people beyond tears that He was not seeing?

 

Judges 6:11-12

Out of all the people of Israel God sent a messenger to Gideon the son of Joash.  They were of the clan called Abiezrites of the tribe of Manasseh. As has been discussed before the angel of the Lord was probably a theophany, a pre-incarnate visit by Jesus to earth. He found Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress to hide what he was doing from the Midianites.  Normally, the process used to harvest was to break the husk and then to toss it in the air to separate the good grain from the chaff.  His actions showed the desperate measures the Israelites used to provide food for themselves.  If Gideon had used the normal procedure the Midianites would have seen what he was doing and stolen the wheat from him.

 

In His first words to Gideon the messenger from God described him as a valiant warrior.  This would have been a strange greeting observing the way he was going about preparing the grain.

 

1. Why did God send His Son to Gideon? (Possibly the people would listen to a personal messenger from God.)
2. In what has just been presented why would God send His messenger to someone like Gideon? (It is God’s right to use whomever He desires to do His work.)
3. How did Gideon’s actions indicate that the Israelites were a troubled people?
4. Why does it seem strange that the messenger would greet Gideon by calling him a valiant warrior? (God sees what a man can become not what he is.)
5. How do your daily activities represent the way you believe that God might view you?

 

Judges 6:13

Gideon’s response would have been a natural one given the circumstances.  It is interesting that he did not question what the messenger meant but began to give a litany of the problems of the Israelites.  He wanted to know if God was really with them why were all the bad things they were experiencing happening to them.  He had only heard that once upon a time God had worked miracles and how He had brought them out of Egypt.  In his mind things had definitely changed and God had abandoned them and allowed the Midianites to enslave them.

 

1. How much does Gideon’s reaction resemble the way we face difficult circumstances?
2. Why did he not ask the messenger why he had called him a valiant warrior? (When you feel so defeated you cannot see yourself as the victor.)
3. In what ways do we dump on God?
4. When do you feel that God has abandoned you?
5. What is really the truth behind that statement? (God does not leave us but turn our backs on Him all too often.)

 

Judges 6:14-15

Rather than answer Gideon’s complaints the messenger told him what God planned to do. He was to go in the power of God to deliver Israel.  God was the One sending Him.  From his next series of complaints he would not have gone on his own.  In essence he was using the same argument that Moses had tried on God earlier.  He was saying send someone else who is more prepared and qualified to carry out the task for the tribe from which I come is inconsequential and my family is even less important and, finally, I am the youngest in the family.  All that was said to try to convince God to use anybody but Gideon.

 

1. Why did the messenger ignore the complaints of Gideon? (They were not important to the task ahead.)
2. How much do the excuses and complaints of Gideon sound like the way we react when we are asked to do something?
3. How should we respond?
4. What would God ask us to do for which He has not already prepared us?
5. What was the one thing that God was asking Gideon to do? (Go in the strength God was going to provide.)

 

Judges 6:16

Again the objectives of Gideon are ignored. The messenger responds by promising that he will be with him as he went into battle with the enemy.  Not only was he to be victorious because of God’s presence but, the victory was to be an easy one. It was going to be as if the victory was the accomplishment by one person.

 

1. Why did the messenger continue to ignore Gideon’s complaints?
2. How did he handle the objections? (He promised to be with Gideon.)
3. What else did he say to help Gideon work through his doubts? (The battle would not be difficult.)
4. What do you think of the statement you and God are a majority?
5. What doubts do you have that God needs to give you answers?

 

Judges 6:17-24

Here begins the tests that Gideon put before God.  It is almost as if he was saying if all you are saying is true, prove it.  He began by asking Jesus to stay put while he prepared an offering.  The messenger agreed.  The offering was prepared and brought to the angel of the Lord.  Gideon was commanded to place it on a rock and pour the broth over it.  When it was done the messenger touched it and set on fire.  At that point the angel disappeared.

 

Gideon realized that the messenger had truly been sent from God and actually was God.  To comfort and reassure him the Lord spoke and offered him peace. At that point Gideon built an altar and called it the “Lord is Peace.

 

1. Why did the messenger allow Gideon to test him?
2. What did it say about Gideon that he made a demand of the messenger? (He really did not understand who the man was)
3. What does it say about us when we put God to the test?
4. In what ways do you feel that you have put God to the test?
5. What has happened in your life that has shown you that God truly loves you and is walking alongside you?

 

Judges 6:25-27

Now God turned the tables on Gideon.  He did not delay in determining Gideon’s newfound knowledge of Him.  Gideon was commanded to destroy the idols that were located on his father’s land. With His command he was telling him that He would not allow any competition in the life of the Israelites.  Those idols had to go because they were coming between God and His people.  Although fearful Gideon took ten of his father’s servants and accomplished the task.  Of course he did it under the cover of darkness because he knew there would be repercussions fro his actions.

 

He was then commanded to build an altar over the place where the other idols had stood.  Again by doing so the people would see that God is superior to any man made god.

 

1. Why did God act so quickly with Gideon?
2. Why was it important for the Baal and Aserah to be destroyed?
3. Why did Gideon think it necessary to take the ten men with him?
4. What are some things that God requires of you that causes you to be fearful?
5. How do you overcome your fears?

 

Judges 6:28-32

As expected the men of the city were quite upset that their gods were destroyed.  They wanted to kill Gideon.  His father however stood up for him.  It is meaningful that Joash appeared to begin to understand that God was greater than any Baal and Aserah.  He told the men if the gods were so great then they could defend themselves. If they could not they definitely would not be worth worshipping.  At that point Gideon received a new name, Jerubbaal.  He was the one who contended with the gods but in reality Joash was calling on the gods to contend with his son if they had the power to do so.  His words protected his son from sure death at the hands of the worshippers.

 

1. Why did the men react as they did? (Their object of worship had been removed.)
2. How did his father stand up for Gideon?
3. What can we see begin happening in the life of someone like Joash? (God is stronger than the gods made by human hands.)
4. How could he have seen God working in the life of Gideon? (Gideon would have done this before his encounter with God.)
5. In what ways does the name Jerubbaal fit who we are? (We are to be victorious no matter how the gods of this world confront us.)
6. In what ways are we willing to tear down the strongholds of the devil as represented by the Baals and Aserahs in your life?

 

Judges 6:33-35

The Midianites and its allies once again came into the land of Israel to ravage as before.  When that occurred the Spirit of God came upon Gideon and he called the clan of the Abiezrites to follow him into battle.  Other tribes received a call to join them in facing a common enemy.  They included the tribes of Asher, Zebulon and Naphtali and all of them heeded the call.

 

1. What change did we see in Gideon?
2. What brought about the change?
3. Why did he put out the call to the Abiezrites first? (If they did not follow him no one would)
4. Who actually brought all these things together? (God had been working in the hearts of all the people who were upset about the conditions under which they were living.)
5. What do you think would take place when so many came to him?

 

Judges 6:36-40

Even after all that had occurred Gideon still had his doubts about God’s call.  He then tested God twice more.  He used a piece of fleece to determine if God really wanted him to proceed into battle.  The first night he wanted dew to be on the fleece.  The second night he asked that fleece be dry while the ground was wet.  God complied.  The defeat of His enemies was more important than the games Gideon continued to play.

 

1. What do you think of Gideon at this point?
2. Why did he continue to test God?
3. Why did God comply?
4. Why is God so patient with us when we continue to test Him as we do?
5. What does your actions say about your faith?
6. How can you become stronger in your faith?

 

• Pray for any doubts you may have in your relationship with God.
• Understand that you are here on earth for a God given purpose.
• Seek to discover how God can use you according to the way He has wired you.
• Understand that you do have to know how to do everything but are called to do something to grow God’s kingdom.
• Do not spend your time testing God but in trusting that He knows what is best for you.
• Move beyond your own personal desires to touch the lives of those around you for Christ.

 

God does not call us to comfortable.  We will have plenty of time to rest when we get to heaven. Right now there is a world that needs us to step up and out of our comfort zones to serve Him with all of our ability.  We can make all kinds of excuses to keep from spending our lives for God’s kingdom. As we have seen in today’s lesson He is not about hearing our lame reasons for not doing what He has called us to do.  There is a place in His kingdom work for each and every one of us introvert, extrovert and on and on the list goes.  No longer do we have time for the 20% doing 80% of he ministries.  The enemies are at the door trying to steal the sheep and destroy the harvest.  Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)  If we want to see the church grow we must be part of that team of workers willing to expend ourselves that not a single person who is waiting to be saved will be lost.