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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.

Lesson 4

All to God’s Glory

Judges 4:1-5:31

Much to the chagrin of my wife I am a fan of old westerns.  Usually the acting is poor and the action is predictable.  I guess I first began to like them when I was a child.  My Dad used to talk about some of the old time cowboys like Tom Mix and others who were as he said the genuine article.  One of the things they always did in those old movies was, “the meanwhile back at the ranch scenes.”  While the hero was entangled in some kind of problem the villain was back with the heroine and her family wrecking havoc.  The other thing they did was to show a person riding and then speeding of the film and having them arrive in an instant.

I have used the “meanwhile back at the ranch” many times in teaching over the years.  The obvious is taking place in the Scriptures but as you look deeper behind those events you can see God at work.  Quite often in my own life this has taken place.  If the story would be told simply it would appear that events just happened.  Like most of us it would seem that because I took certain actions the there was an eventual conclusion.  In reality life does not work that way.  Sometimes as hard as I might try the results were not what I wanted to happen. Even worse when I got ahead of God and made my own decisions I experienced failure, which hurt me and those I love.  God always has a plan for each of us.  We need to prayerfully wait until He opens the door.

The story of many churches would be different if they would just heed the advice to wait and listen to God for direction.  To get ahead of God quite often spells disaster.  Usually a church Pastor who tries to bring about rapid change will often find himself at odds with the leadership especially and the congregation in general.  In his mind he is doing what it takes to help the church grow while the people themselves like the status quo.  If both will take the time to heed what God wants to take place then there will be healthy environment from which meaningful ministry can take place.

It is not only just new leadership that can bring trouble to the doorsteps of the church.  Any time there are those with conflicting agendas at work the church cannot function as a unified body.  Competition between ministries for budget, space and people can destroy the effectiveness of God’s body.  We have to understand that God is quite often working behind the scenes to accomplish a goal that will bring Him the glory when the church is a true witness in the community.

As we have seen in the first three lessons Israel was determined to live according to man’s will and desires leaving God out.  God did not give up on them.  Only looking back on the events could a person see what God was doing.  Proverbs tells us, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”  Man continues to try and shape his own destiny but in the end God is still is in control.  In the end God will be glorified possibly in spite of the best efforts of man.

Judges 4:1-3

The pattern continued for Israel.  After Ehud died they once again returned to their evil practices.  The next oppressor arose within the land of Galilee. His name was Jabin who lived in Hazor that was just south and west of the Sea of Galilee.  His army commander Sisera lived close by in a place called Haroseheth-hagoyim.  The army was equipped with one of the modern tools of warfare of that day.  They had nine hundred chariots that would prove especially deadly against an army trying to fight on foot.

As they had done previously when things went against them over a period of time, they cried out to God for relief.  Notice that the time they served Jabin was twenty years.  Each period of oppression was longer and more severe than the previous one.

1. Why did the people begin to practice evil after the death of Ehud?  (They were dependent on man rather than God.)
2. How important was the chariots to an army of that day? (It gave them mobility and speed when attacking an army on foot.)
3. Why did God allow the Israelites to serve Jabin for a longer period of time? (Because they continually turn their backs on Him.)
4. When do you call out to God?

Judges 4:4-5

Deborah was unique among the judges.  Not only was she a woman but, was more truly a judge than the men who were for the most part warriors.  From her home in Ephraim she handled the difficult decisions between Israelites.

1. What does these two verses say about God? (He is not partial.)
2. What was different about Deborah than those who had gone before her?
3. In her case what characteristics would she have needed to be a judge?
4. What do you like to see in those individuals who have authority over you?

Judges 4:6-7

The time came for a new warrior to step up.  Deborah, under the command of God summoned Barak from Kedesh-Naphtali.  He was told to go to Mount Tabor and fight against Sisera.  He was, according to Deborah, assured victory over the commander of Jabin’s army even if Sisera had nine hundred chariots.  He was to take ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulon.

1. Why was Barak called to lead the battle against Sisera? (Deborah was not a warrior but a judge.)
2. What did Deborah promise?
3. Why was Barak told to go to Mount Tabor? (It would give him strategic advantage and would negate the ability of Sisera to use his chariots.)
4. What are the areas you trust God?

Judges 4:8

Barak’s response can be viewed two different ways. One is to look at it as a lack of faith on his part.  The other would be to see it as admiration of Deborah’s abilities as a prophet who spoke on behalf of God.  Every person facing a difficult task would want someone who possessed wisdom to go along and advise him.

1. How do you see Barak’s response?
2. Why do you picture him responding that way?  (If God had spoken to her, who would be better to assess the situation than Deborah?
3. Who are some of the people you would like to have with you when facing a difficult situation?
4. What is the danger of criticizing a person like Barak? (You sometimes do not know all of the facts.)

Judges 4:9-10

Deborah explained to Barak, not out of criticism but as a point of fact, that the honor would not be his in battle.  A woman was going to receive the glory for the defeat of the enemy.  It would take a man of character to set out on an expedition knowing that there was no personal benefit to be gained by his participation.  Although that was to be true just to believe that one’s nation and family would be free from a dictator would have been incentive enough.  At that point the two of them set off to face the army of Jabin.  As commanded by God Barak’s army was composed of ten thousand troops from Zebulon and Naphtali.  Again the writer emphasized that Deborah went with the army.

1. How would you react if someone told you that you were going to complete a task but someone else would get the credit?
2. In the church who should get the credit for a ministry that has touched people’s lives?
3. What would have been your response to Deborah if she had made the comment to you?
4. What does this say about the character of Barak? (He was a man who did not have to be in the limelight.  It is a picture of true humility.)
5. What was to be the thing that he could feel good about? (That he had a part in freeing his people from oppression.)

Judges 4:11

The writer then set the stage for the fulfillment of part of Deborah’s prophecy.  The in-laws of Moses who had travelled with Israel are reintroduced.  Heber the husband of Jael had separated himself with his family of Kenites and from the Israelites and taken up residence in Kedesh.

1. How would you see this verse as a “meanwhile back at the ranch” example?
2. What was God doing? (He was positioning people where they needed to be to carry out His purpose.)
3. Why would Heber have separated himself from the Israelites? (They were constantly getting themselves in trouble.)
4. What events have occurred in your life where you could say that God was working behind the scenes to bring the pieces of puzzle in your life together?
5. How have you viewed the changes that may have taken place?

Judges 4:12-13

Sisera heard that the army made up of those from Zebulon and Naphtali was on Mount Tabor. He responded to the approach of Barak by calling all of his forces together along with those who manned the nine hundred chariots. Rather than attacking the Israelites on the Mount he went to the River Kishon which would have afforded him the opportunity to use the chariots to his advantage.

1. How did Sisera hear so quickly that Barak was on his way? (Lived in the same general vicinity.)
2. Why did Barak go up onto Mount Tabor? (Without the benefit of having chariots it would place him strategically to minimize the advantage that Sisera would have had.)
3. Why did Sisera not attack Barak on the mount? (His advantage was on level ground.)
4. What did Sisera hope to do quickly? (Put down the rebellion.)

Judges 4:14-16

Instead of staying on Mount Tabor where Barak and his army was reasonably safe, Deborah issued the command for them to go down to Sisera.  God had promised that the enemy would be given into his hand.  Barak courageously and faithfully followed the directions of Deborah and proceeded down into battle.  Sisera may have been caught off guard by such a daring maneuver and he and his whole army were destroyed.  When he saw that his army had been defeated he fled from the battle scene.  Barak then continued the attack all the way back to the city of Harosheth-hagoyim.  It was from that place that Sisera had gathered his army.

1. Why did God order Barak off of Mount Tabor? (He might be safe there but the victory lay in the flat land.)
2. What was God’s promise?
3. What does it show about Barak that he obeyed the command of God? (Both obedience and courage.)
4. What proof did he have that God was going to accomplish a victory? (His only experience had been one of oppression by Jabin not a victorious life so he was basing his whole future on the words of Deborah.)
5. What has been a time when you believed that God was calling you to do something difficult that you had never experienced before?
6. If you had been in Barak’s position how would you have reacted? Why?

Judges 4:17-21

The next verses give no logical reason for the events that occurred in them.  The family of Heber was at peace with Jabin.  Sisera, as he fled, was met by Jael, the wife of Heber, who invited him into the tent to hide from his enemies.  She provided milk to quench his thirst and covered him up to hide him.

When he fell asleep from fatigue, she took a hammer and tent peg and drove it through his skull pinning him to the ground. She would have been very familiar with how to use both hammer and tent peg.  It was the woman’s responsibility to both set up and take down the family tent every time they moved.  No one will ever know why she did such an act.  Somehow God orchestrated the whole event.

1. What does this event show about Sisera?
2. Why would he have felt safe in the tent of Heber?
3. How did she lull him into a sense of security? (By taking care of his physical needs.)
4. Why do you think that she murdered Sisera?
5. How does this correspond to acts you hear about being committed today?
6. Why do we need to be careful in the describing this as an act of God?  (Most of the horrible things that happen today are a result of evil men committing evil acts.)
7. How was this different? (God was bringing about the freedom that he had promised his people.  Sisera was the next to last piece in preventing them from having peace.)

Judges 4:22

When Barak arrived Jael came to a warrior a second time.  She then proceeded to share with him what she had done.  According to the prophecy a woman had accomplished what Barak did not and would on the surface receive the honor for defeating Sisera.

1. Why did Jael let Barak know what she had done? (He needed to know not to pursue Sisera any longer.)
2. What do think his reaction would have been?
3. How was her act a fulfillment of prophecy?
4. What was each of the three players in this episode seeking? (Victory and freedom from slavery under a despot.)
5. In reality who received the honor and glory? (God, for without Him victory would have not been won.)

Judges 4:23

There was more work to be done.  As long as there was a Jabin Israel would never be free.  He had plenty of Sisera’s he could have called forth.  In the mind of the writer God had already accomplished what He had promised.  What followed was the mopping up exercise to make sure Jabin would never hold power over he Israelites again.  He was finally completely destroyed by the Israelites.

1. Why was the killing of Sisera not the final act? (Jabin was the power behind the oppression.)
2. How did the writer view what had taken place? (It was a finished deal.)
3. What was the last thing that needed to occur for the Israelites to be completely free?
4. Why do we sometimes snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?  (We only accomplish what will get the most attention and forget to bring a task to completion. Loose ends will sometimes lead to failure.)
5. What does it take to accomplish what God wants done in your life? (perseverance and life long commitment to following Him.)

Judges 5:1-31

When victory was finally won Deborah and Barak wrote a song or poem about what had been accomplished.  In it they gave all the credit to God for bringing about the victory through such a small band of men. In a way it was critical of some of the tribes like Reuben, Benjamin, Dan and Asher who were more concerned about their comfort than fighting to free their fellow Israelites.  Only Zebulon and Naphtali showed the courage to fight against overwhelming odds believing God was going to bring the victory that He had promised.

The writer concluded in verse 31 with words that appear to be a prayer. He asked for God’s protection and destruction of their common enemy.  Secondly, in a beautiful way he prayed for strength for those who loved God.

God answered the prayer of Deborah and Barak.  He gave them peace in the land for forty years.

1. Looking at the words of this poem, who was deserving of all honor? (God, He is given credited for what was accomplished.)
2. Why was the poem critical of certain Israelites?
3. Why was the role of Jael recounted? (Without her the events may have had a different ending.)
4. What was the result of the prayer at the end?

• Be ready for God’s call.
• Be courageous in the face of overwhelming odds.
• Learn to put others first.
• Understand that in every situation God is to be glorified.
• Understand that the church does not revolve around you.
• Work with those from whom you can learn the direction God wants you to take in your life.
• Humility is a great quality for you to acquire.

A church will grow in the Spirit of the Lord when prayer and the study of God’s word become a priority.  God does not intend for us to drift into a state of lethargy.  In the face of a society that has fallen away from God we are to remain strong and vigilant.  All else may fail us but we know that God is faithful and true to carry us through every situation.  He is the only hope of the world and He has called us to be part of the struggle against the principalities and powers of the world system.  If we will listen to Him we can have the strength to overcome and not give into evil.

Paul said, “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”  He went on to write, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”  Sisera had his measly nine hundred chariots but Deborah and Barak had God on their side.  If we think that we are weak, which we are, God is stronger than any enemy we can face.  To God be the glory for all He has done as is going to do in our lives.

Lesson 3

Help From Unexpected Places

Judges 3:1-31

There has been a movie on TV a number of times about a boy who stopped growing.  One of the other boys who was larger than most of the other children in the school befriended the one who was handicapped.  The stronger one became the legs for the smaller boy and carried him on his back everywhere the two of them went.  The story ends when a school bus in which the class was riding went off into some water.  The boy with all of the limitations became the hero as he calmed the other children and got them off the bus through the window.  Sadly, because of his weakened state the boy passed away leaving his best friend to mourn for him.  In most cases our world would expect the stronger to be the hero while the one less capable would tag along living vicariously through the other boy.

In all of us there is a little of both of those boys.  Each of us has limitations or what some might call weaknesses.  We also have many positive abilities and characteristics called strengths at work in us.  There is a story I use about a automobile salesman who was very good at selling cars but was terrible at paperwork.  The car dealership decided he would be a much better employee if he could just do paperwork better.  To help him he was sent to a seminar of how to handle paperwork proficiently.  When he returned the company thought it would be a good idea for him to teach the techniques he had learned.  As you would figure because he spent so much time teaching others his sales of cars fell off.  It was that ability to sell was why he was hired in the first place. Now because he was not doing the job of selling cars he was fired.  The lesson here is that, yes we must try to always improve in those areas in which we are weak, but it should never be at the expense of those things we do well.

For a number of years now Bethany Place has offered the opportunity for each of us to learn about membership, how to mature in one’s faith, our attributes that allow us to minister and how to get involved in missions. Sadly, while many have availed themselves of these opportunities and have become involved in ministries according to their strengths and gifts many have chose not to do so.  In a way they are like the man who kept the mina in a handkerchief to return to his master in the same condition he received it.  This is of course is impossible.  We either use it or we lose it.

One of the areas concerning us right now is how we keep young people in the body of Christ.  So many are walking away never having developed the tools to face a difficult and challenging world.  We have assumed that eventually when they grow up and become strong they will naturally take over the leadership of the church.  The question is what if they never have the chance to use how God has gifted them while young to turn into those God can use.  We have the misconception that only the older and mature church members should participate in certain activities in the church.  If we keep them weak they will never grow strong enough to take over and become the next generation of leaders.

Judges 3:1-6

The writer gave a picture of what was occurring in Canaan.  Because the Israelites had refused to obey Him He had left certain nations to cause trouble for Israel.  This was done to see if the nation would return to God.  Naturally the enemies of the people and of God would try to destroy them.  The only way that the small nation of Israel could hopefully survive and prosper in the land was to put their trust and confidence in God.  As long as they turned their backs on God He allowed them to suffer at the hands of the enemies.  The writer listed the nations that were and would continue to try and destroy Israel throughout its history.  They included the Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonites and Hivites.

From destroying the inhabitants of the land the current condition of the people found them living among the inhabitants.  Not only did the Israelites live among the nations they even began to intermarry with the ungodly.  This was specifically prohibited by God as the ultimate step in losing its identity.

1. Why did God leave the godless nations in the land of Canaan?
2. What was the lesson God wanted them to learn? (Only through Him could they be victorious over much stronger people.)
3. Who were the enemies God allowed to stay in the Canaan?
4. What was the ultimate indication that they were no longer godly people?
5. What are some of the things God allows in our lives to test our faith in Him?
6. What are some of the things that are going on in our society that are specifically condemned and prohibited by God?

Judge 3:7-8

As if things could not get any worse the writer wrote that the people lived evil lives. They forgot God and began to worship the Baals and the Asheroth.  At that point the anger of God was fired up against His chosen people.  He allowed them to be oppressed by the first of many such men in their history.  Cushan-rishathaim  of Mesopotamia.  One of the current nations that possess the land that was Mesopotamia is Iraq.  The children served that nation for eight years.

1. How did the nation of Israel go from bad to worse?
2. Why was it wrong to worship the Baals and Asheroth?
3. What does it mean for our faith to worship other gods?
4. What will God do when a nation turns against God?
5. What does Cushan-rishathaim represent? (Godless oppressive governments who do not care about God or His people.)
6. What is significant about the eight years? (The people evidently were satisfied to live under a foreign ruler for a while.)

Judges 3:9-11

The time came when the nation loss its rights and got tired of living under the control of a foreign ruler.  When things got too bad the people began to cry out to God for relief.  He listened to them and gave them a deliverer with whom they were very familiar.  Othniel who was the nephew of Caleb became their leader against Cushan-rishathaim.  He had previously proven himself with the defeat of Debir.  As one commentator mentioned there was no flaw spoken about Othniel in Judges.  During the time he was judge the people faithfully served the Lord for forty years.  His influence, as with the vast majority of leaders ended with his death.

1. Why did the Israelites begin to cry out to God?
2. Why do we often only call on God in times of trouble?
3. Why was Othniel a good choice as judge and deliverer?
4. What qualities are important to you in a leader?
5. Why is the influence of a leader limited to his lifetime? (One reason might be is that society changes over time especially after forty years.)

Judges 3:12-15

The names change but the circumstances that brought about trouble for Israel was the same.  After the death of Othniel they reverted to their old evil ways so God allowed them to be overtaken by Eglon who led a coalition of Ammonites and Amalekites to bring Israel to its knees.  The length of time that they served Eglon was more than double the previous servitude.  Once again they reached the breaking point and called out to God for help.

The new deliverer did not have the qualifications of Othniel or the physical skills he had possessed.  Many commentators believe the reference to Ehud being left-handed meant that he had some type of physical problem and did not have the use of his right hand.  The sons of Israel sent him to Eglon with a tribute hoping for better treatment under his hand.

1. Why did the Israelites again find themselves under the domination of another foreign ruler?
2. Why did they never seem to learn from their mistakes?
3. Why do we fail to learn from our past experiences?
4. Why would God raise up a person with physically disabilities to deliver the people?
5. What did the people hope to accomplish with their tribute?
6. What should they have done instead?
7. How do we sometimes try to appease others instead of placing our problems before God?

Judge 3:16-23

Ehud made special preparation for the trip to see Eglon. He made a double-edged sword that he strapped it to his right leg.  When most men were right handed no one would have suspected that the man would be in possession of a hidden weapon.  He presented the tribute and sent the men with him on their way back home.  He approached Eglon and stated that he had a special message for him.  At that point he took the sword from his left leg and struck the man.  He then fled locking the door behind him leaving the man dead.   Ehud used the physical limitation to his advantage.

1. In what way did Ehud not let his physical limitation to keep from accomplishing what he had set out to do?
2. In what ways do we sometimes use our limitations to serve God?
3. How do we overcome weaknesses?
4. What were Ehud’s strengths?
5. Why would Eglon not suspect that someone like Ehud could be a danger to him?
6. How do we sometimes view others that seem to have limitations?
7. Why is this a poor attitude to have? (Because God can use whomever he wants to accomplish His work?
8. Why are our attitudes sometimes more crippling than those that are physical?
9. What was the greatest characteristic Ehud possessed? (Courage)

Judges 3:24-25

The servants of Eglon possessed the same mind set as he had.  They were not concerned at first when he did not come out of the cool roof chamber.  They certainly would not have suspected the group led by a left-handed man who had brought the tribute would be any danger to their leader.  Only after he did not respond after a period of time did they become anxious.  When they finally opened the door they found Eglon dead.

1. What was the big mistake the servants of Eglon made? (They underestimated someone like Ehud?
2. What did they fail to take into account? (The desire of the Israelites to be out from under the domination of Eglon.)
3. Why did they wait so long?
4. How do we sometimes underestimate the strong desires of people and wait to long to respond?

Judges 3:26-30

The delay gave Ehud the time he needed to marshal an army from the tribe of Ephraim to fight against the Moabites of Eglon.  He led the men who had come to him into battle.  God gave the enemy into the hand of the Isralites. Ten Thousand of the Moabites were destroyed during the battle that took place. The Bible does not say whether Ehud remained as judge before the people.  The main thing is that he had brought about a great victory for Israel as God’s man for that hour.  Whether he continued as judge is not the point.  For the next eighty years God gave peace to the land.

1. How did Ehud use the time he had while the servants of Eglon left him alone?
2. How is this a picture of God working behind the scenes for the nation of Israel?
3. Why were the people of Ephraim willing to follow him? (He had performed a real service for the people by killing Eglon.)
4. Who are the people you are willing to follow and why?
5. Why did God give peace to the land for the extended period of time? (With or without Ehud evidently the people continued to serve God.)

Judges 3:31

There is only a short glimpse of the third judge.  Shamgar, the son of Anath, evidently was a valiant warrior.  The Bible tells us that he committed an extraordinary act of killing six hundred Philistines by himself with an oxgoad.  Almost as an afterthought the writer stated that he had also saved Israel.

1. What stands out in your mind about this man?
2. What did he accomplish that warranted having his name listed in the book of Judges?
3. Why does it seem the fact that he saved Israel almost appears to be a footnote when compared to the rest of the book?
4. Why does God put such people in His Word?

• In order to keep from stumbling you need to be consistent in your relationship with the Father through the study and meditation on His word, prayer and fellowship with committed followers of Christ.
• Never let what you might consider a weakness in yourself keep you from serving the Lord.  Paul in 2 Cor. 12:10 stated that, “when I am weak, then I am strong.”
• Remember when you are weak then God gets all of the glory when you act on His behalf.
• Discover how God has equipped you to carry out the work He has set before you and then be faithful in carrying it out.
• Remember its not physical strength but your character that is important in leading people.
• Do not concern yourself who gets the credit for accomplishing any work for God.  Shamgar was only mentioned in one verse while Othniel and Ehud had much said about them.

Hopefully, we will be a church like the stronger boy of my illustration above.  Although he bore the burden every day he was willing to lay it all on the line for his friend.  As it turned out the weaker became the encourager of the stronger.  If we can be that weaker one who dedicates our lives to encouraging and building a church to God’s glory so that it will not stumble and become one that succumbs to the world.  Only if we are committed to Christ can we be assured that the church will sustain all of the attacks that are be made against His body today.  The world system that belongs to the devil would like nothing else than to swallow the church and have it disappear.  Even if we are just a remnant we must remain faithful because we are the only hope for a world that has become chaotic and hopeless.  We know that we have weaknesses but our God is strong enough to use weak vessels like us to further His kingdom.  All that is going on in no way has caught Him by surprise.  In the book of Esther Mordecai told her that she had may have been allowed to attain to her position for the salvation of her people.  Her faithfulness brought about victory for the Jews. (Esther 4:14)  Yes, we too face overwhelming odds but God has promised us that we are overcomers if we just serve Him.

Lesson 2

How Soon We Forget

Judges 2:1-23

In his book “The Outliers” Malcolm Gladwell had a chapter on the effects of summer vacations from school on the learning process of students.  He contended that the extended time off actually had negative results over a long period of time.  He went on to say the children who continued to do well were those from homes who kept them involved in learning experiences throughout the break and did not allow them to spend time just playing video games or passively watching television.

One of my fears, as a child, was that when I returned to school after the summer break I would have forgotten all I had learned the previous year. Of course I did remember a few things but looing back I can relate to what Gladwell has written.  The teacher had to spend some time reviewing what had been done the year before thus wasting precious time when we could have been learning new things. There is a theory that is called the half-life of learning.  A definition I found on-line states, “Half-life is the amount of time it takes for a quantity to diminish to half of its original size through natural processes.” In other words there is a learning curve that shows knowledge without continual reinforcement will be lost over a period of time.  I have discovered this is particularly true in memorization of Scripture.  Somewhere I read that to remember something for a lifetime one needs to repeat that information for forty days running.  This is difficult as more and more material is added that a person has to retain. This is a lesson that I realize is a requirement for a healthy spiritual life.  To think that a person can read something one time and think that he knows all that is to be known is ludicrous.  My philosophy of learning is that it must be life long without extended vacations.

In our churches today we have pretty much lost the art of memorizing.  Except for ministries like AWANA and Good News Clubs no one is exposed to the practice of hiding God’s word in one’s heart.  The danger of doing church this way leaves most of us defenseless against a world that is at enmity with us.  We have been on extended vacation from studying the Bible for too long and the world has by passed us in worldly knowledge.  Without the clear direction that can only come from the Bible we will, over a period of time, find ourselves like the student who is a vacation too long and thus falls prey to the half-life of learning curve. If this is allowed to continue we will find ourselves in the position of the Israelites who forgot about God because they had not received instructions that were to be passed on from generation as was spelled out in Deuteronomy 6:6-9.

To be a disciple of Christ is to be one who has the passion to learn His ways for living. One writer has used the term apprentice in describing the relationship that each of us is to have with Our Lord.  To be an apprentice is to desire to imitate the one training us in smallest detail.  The church is not growing and staying healthy because we truly do not have the desire to be one who wants to be like Jesus in every way.  This failure can only lead to a weakened body that will come to the point of serving the gods of tradition and programs. The Israelites should be warning to the church today of what happens to a people who no longer know God on His terms.

Judges 2:1                                                                                                                                                                 What God was about to say to the children of Israel was so important that this was probably one of those occasions when Jesus made a pre-incarnate appearance. Such appearances are called a Theophany.  The writer stated that the angel of the Lord came from the place where the Israelites had first camped in Gilgal. It was there that God had freed the people from the attitude of slavery that they seemed to have maintained during the forty years in the desert. Gilgal had become the base of operation for Israel during the initial phase of taking the land.  The angel found the people at Bochim. It is possibly another name for Bethel. It literally means the place of weeping.  (See verses 4-5).  The message from God started out by reminding the people that He was the one who had brought them out of Egypt and kept them for all those forty years.  He then wanted them to remember that He had given them the covenant that had first been given to Abraham and then his descendants.  God stated that He would never break the covenant He had made.

1. Why would God send His Son to speak to the people?
2. What was significant about the angel of the Lord coming from Gilgal? (It was a reminder of where they had begun the campaign to conquer Canaan.)
3. What was the significance of the word Bochim? (It will be covered in verses 4-5)
4. What is important about the covenant given to Abraham for us today?
5. What was the one thing that God said to the people that gives us confidence today? (God will never break His word.)

Judges 2:2                                                                                                                                                                God also laid out before them the commands that He had given them prior to their arrival into the Promised Land.  They were not to have any relationship with the people of the land.  Their primary task was to destroy the idols that were being worshipped.  The people of the land were not about to give up their practices so as a consequence of their unbelief they were to be removed from the land.  Sadly, Israel had not carried out the commands of God as was seen in the previous chapter they did not destroy idol or man and eventually found themselves living among the inhabitants of Canaan. In His question it seemed God could not believe their behavior, when He had promised and given them so much?

1. What was the primary task the Israelites had been given?
2. Why did the people have to be destroyed? (They were the worshippers of the idols and would not give up their way of life.)
3. In what ways did the Israelites fail to carry out the commands of God? (They did not destroy idols or the idol worshippers.)
4. What were the consequences of their failure?
5. How do we disobey the commands of God?
6. In what ways does that make us like them?
7. What are the consequences of our disobedience?
8. What do you think God’s response is to our sin?
9. How does it compare with the question He had for the people?

Judges 2:3 Because of their disobedience God was no longer going to help them in driving out the enemy.  Without His assistance they would be fighting against armies much stronger than they had.  From that point on they would have problems with the enemy and would fall into the trap of worshipping the gods of the land.

1. Why does God reach a point of not providing help to a people any longer?
2. What does it indicate about the attitude of the people?
3. What were the two things that God was no longer going to do for them?
4. Which of them was the most dangerous for them?
5. When will God stop helping a church?
6. What are some indications that God has taken His hand off of a body that claims to be His church?
7. When have been times when you felt that God was far from you?
8. What did it take to sense His presence again?

Judges 2:4-5                                                                                                                                                                      Reaction to the words spoken by God to the people was immediate.  They began to weep because of the lost of the sustaining hand of God in the land. They even renamed the place where they were Bochim, which as was stated above meant weeping.  Their weeping also would have indicated their repentance.  They then showed some semblance of belief in God by making a sacrifice to Him.

1. Why did the people respond as they did?
2. Why do we not weep when God has removed His sustaining presence from us today? (Could it be that we do not even know He is gone?)
3. What did their reaction show about them? (They were sorrowful for what they had failed to accomplish what they had been called to do.)
4. What did it mean that they sacrificed to God?
5. What do we do to restore our relationship with God?

Judges 2:6-10                                                                                                                                                              The writer gave a brief recap of the last days of Joshua and those of his generation and their immediate descendants.  Joshua in his lifetime had divided the land according to God’s plan and had sent each tribe to the land of their inheritance.  It was said of the people that they served God during the time of his life.  Even the next generation who had experienced what God had done served Him.

Joshua died at one hundred ten living in the land of Timnath-heres that the people had given him in the land of Ephraim. All the generation who had been with him, also died.  Then after those men had passed on a new generation was born who did not know God nor did they remember the work that God had done among them.  This is a sad commentary on the generations of Israelites that had failed to teach their children and grandchildren the ways of God. This truly is the defining moment in the book of Judges.  As weak as their commitment was the people had continued to worship God as was seen in Bochim.  Now the nation would take a new direction without God.

1. Why did the writer believe it necessary to go back and give a short recap of the last days of Joshua? (All that God had promised had been accomplished.  The people were in the land and each tribe had been given its inheritance.)
2. What was the significance of mentioning the different generation? (There remained a connection to the time of the travels through the desert and the conquering of the land with the leadership of God through Moses and Joshua.)
3. How did the people reach the point where they did not know God or what He had done for the nation?
4. What was the danger for the people in that situation?
5. How can that same condition happen to us?
6. How do we make sure that we do not lose our way?

Judges 2:11-13                                                                                                                                                      Inevitably, men who do not know God will commit evil acts.  They began to commit themselves to   worshipping the gods of the land to fill the void left in their hearts. As God had prophesied the gods of the land became a snare for the Israelites because rather than destroying them they had begun to worship them. They bowed to Baal and the Ashtaroth of which much will be heard throughout the Old Testament. All of their actions provoked God and brought Him to be angry with the people.

1. What happens to a people without God?
2. Why will man begin to worship false Gods?
3. What are the Baals and Ashataroths of our day?
4. What is the view of God toward our sin?
5. What is different of how He views you and me and the way He reacted to the Israelites? (His anger toward sin is quieted by the work of His Son in our lives.)
6. How can we avoid the trap in which the Israelites found themselves? (Stay true to God.)

Judges 2:14-15                                                                                                                                                           As a result of their disobedience in His anger He withdrew His hand from them.  He allowed them to be defeated and plundered by the very enemies they had been sent to defeat.  There is a sentence that would indicate that they had become weakly cowards who fled in the face of the enemy.  God was against them because they had rejected Him as He had promised them.  Their situation brought, as one might expect, great distress in their lives.

1. What did God allow to happen to the people?
2. How do you think their enemies would have treated them?
3. What happens to a defeated people?
4. What does it mean when the writer speaks of their distress?  (It would indicate their sorrow in the ways in which they had been living.)
5. What do these verses help us to understand about our spiritual enemies? (They are not our friends even when we seem to go along with the crowd.)
6. What does this say about godless people?
7. How did the Israelites know that they were in a bad situation? (Their lives with God had been better.)

Judges 2:16-19                                                                                                                                                             In these verses is the cycle of the history for approximately the next four hundred years in the life of Israel as will be seen in the rest of the book of Judges. Below is the sequence of events as discussed in the book.  They include:

• Because of the disobedience of the people they would be given into the hands of the enemy.
• God would provide a judge who would deliver the people.
• God would be with the people for the life of that judge.
• After the judge died the people would revert to their evil ways and once again worship the false gods of the land.
• The cycle would then begin all over again, disobedience, defeat, distress, and deliverance by a judge.
• Each cycle became worse as the nation spiraled ever downward.

1. Why would each cycle get worse?
2. How different is the cycle than what is seen in most nations? (Each one has continued to go down a slippery slope after a promising start?
3. Where would you say our country is on the cycle?
4. In what ways could it be turned around?
5. How can the church have an influence without trying to promote a theocracy?
6. How does this cycle compare with your own life?

Judges 2:20-21                                                                                                                                                     God’s patience finally ran out with the Israelites.  No longer would He assist the people in their struggle against the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.  The old saying of making one’s bed and lying in it is appropriate here.  The Israelites had continually thumbed their noses at God so He decided to allow the enemy to control them.  One of the reasons He took that approach was to see if somehow His chosen people would once again repent of their evil ways and turn back to Him.

1. What does it take for God’s patience to run out?
2. How does His anger differ from how we react to ongoing situations?
3. How does God sometimes judge man? (By allowing him to continue on his destructive path.)
4. What had the people done to bring on God’s anger?
5. What is God’s hope by allowing people to suffer in difficult situations brought on by self serving decisions?
6. What is God’s verdict against all of us? (All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23)
7. How does man get out from under that verdict? (Turning to Him in humility in repentance of his sins.)
8. What will God do when man turns away from Him? (The righteous advocate will stand in our place.)

• Take seriously the task of mentoring others including family and fellow believers to which you have been called.
• Use your time wisely in studying and hiding God’s word in your heart that you never forget Him.
• Remember that the world is only one or two generations away from becoming a godless people.
• Confess your sins and repent of them to maintain a righteous relationship with the Father.
• Be salt and light in the world.
• Become a true disciple.  A true disciple is an apprentice who wants to learn to live just as his Lord did.  The only way to learn is to be constantly in His word and around others taking the same path.
• Pray that God will give you direction for facing a world that has turned its back on Him.

Hopefully from this lesson we can see how easy it is for us to drift away from the Father.  Unless we are conscientious in preparing our lives and those we know to follow Christ then we can lose the passion to do so.  The church has been given all that we need to carry out the work that God has given us.  The Great Commission and Great Commandment are our marching orders.  If we will follow the mandate to make disciples who then can make new disciples then the church will flourish.  If we reach a point when we know longer see this as our responsibility then God will ultimately remove His presence from a given body and it will die.  It may take more than one generation for this to occur but it will.  Just look at the Israelites and what happened to them as a nation even though they were God’s chosen people.  God however has maintained a remnant of His people through all generations.  Now we have the living proof of His patience and compassion in the Church of Christ.  We do not want it to be weakened on our watch.  We must keep vigilant and on guard against the encroachment of the enemy.  Use every piece of the armor of God to fight the good fight and finish well the course that God has given to us.

Lesson 1

                                                                                              A Recipe for Failure

Judges 1:1-34

There is an old saying that describes just the opposite of many today.  It goes something like, “It is not as important as how one starts out as how they finish.”  Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” Sadly today our world is full of failures of every kind.  If one wants to be a pessimist just look at the sports world for example.  The best batters in the major leagues are considered a star if they get a hit three out ten times at the plate.  In other words the batter fails seven times out of ten to get a hit.

In a way my life is the same, there have been times when no matter how I have tried to do it just does seems to work out.  Plans that I make or decisions to take a different direction in my life have not always come to fruition.  Although I might consider these failures, God knows better than me what is best.  He has probably saved me from getting in over my head more times than I could even fathom. He has also opened doors for me that I did not expect.  There have been many opportunities that have come to me to do the things that I have dreamed of doing only in a different way than I expected.  I once thought I would like to be a radio announcer and worked towards doing that.  Twice I have had the chance to be on radio.  Once was in Russia where I was interviewed for a radio station in Kazan.  Unbelievable, but it happened.

Usually when those things I could consider failures have occurred it was not that I did not have the desire but I had left God out of my plans.  One time I was released from a position which lead to getting a position at the International Mission Board and moving into the field of purchasing which had not been open for me at my previous employer.  I have been trained both as a transitional pastor and church consultant but there has been no call for me to take either of those positions.  If I had done so it would have closed the door to being able to write the material we are using at Bethany Place.  It is a hard lesson to learn and one that will go on as long as I live to always trust what God has said in His word.  To believe and follow His guidance makes the path we take a lot less stressful and will not be full of failures.

All over the county there are churches closing their doors every year.  Sadly, this has become epidemic today. There are bookshelves and computers loaded with books and articles written about the dying church and what can be done to revitalize them.  This is not a new phenomenon. We have just finished studied the problems in John’s letters with which he had to deal in the early church.  If we look at the seven churches in the book of Revelation the only one that survived up until the twentieth century was the church of Philadelphia because each of them fell away from following the truth.  If any church continues to try to carry out the ministry in their way they can expect to fail and possibly close their doors.  God has dictated what is good for the church in His word and will not honor us when we deviate from it.

In Joshua the Israelites were given clear commandments from God of what He wanted to be done with the people in Canaan. Toward the end of the book Joshua told the people of God’s faithfulness and His expectation that they would continue to follow the words of Moses that he had received from God.  To fail in carrying out his instructions would have devastating consequences.  Our study of Judges will be warning to us if we do not heed the words given to us in the Bible. See especially chapters 23 and 24.

Judges 1:1-2

As the time of death approached, Moses had asked God who would continue to lead the children of Israel in their conquest of the land of Canaan.  He had been directed to anoint Joshua to take over the leadership role.  It is not clear why Joshua did not follow the example of Moses and choose a specific person to take over.  One possible reason my have been that Israel would be made up of separate territories each determining its own leaders to bring about the defeat of the inhabitants.  A hundred mile long by twenty-six mile wide battlefield would have been overwhelming for any army.  As shall be seen later much of the ground gained would have to be recaptured as the army moved from one objective to the next. The second possible reason would have been that Joshua was relinquishing his role and leaving the people in the hands of God.  This idea is seen in the request made by the Israelites after the death of Joshua. Collectively they asked God who would lead them into battle.  Following the pattern of the past Judah was named to provide that leadership.

1. What were the reasons that Joshua did not do like Moses and name a successor?
2. Which one do you believe is more valid?
3. Why was Judah selected? (It was identified as the family to lead Israel all the way back to the prophecy of Jacob concerning his sons.  Moses set of the order of march from the camps with the tribe of Judah at the forefront.)
4. What did this action show about the people at that moment? (They were putting their trust in God for direction.)
5. In what ways do you follow their example at that point?

Judges 1:3

There was no command from God that Simeon should accompany Judah into battle. Judah had been given the largest territory in Canaan. At that point Simeon was the smallest of the tribes so it was to their advantage to go with Judah.  Of course by making this pact the two tribes actually disobeyed God.

1. How did Judah disobey God?
2. Who needed the alliance more?
3. From Joshua where was the inheritance of Simeon? (In the midst of the land of Judah.)

Judge 1:4-7

God gave the army of Israel victory over the inhabitants Canaan.  Specifically named were the Canaanites and Perizzites.  There was also the city of Bezek led by a man called Adoni-bezek.  He was evidently the governor of that city.  During the battle Adoni-bezek fled.  He was captured by the Israelites. Rather than killing him for some reason they cut off his thumbs and big toes. The governor saw this act as a judgment from God because he had done the same to seventy other kings who then had to eat from the scraps of food that fell from his table.  He was then carried off to Jerusalem where he died.  No one knows the cause of his death. He may have bled to death, developed an infection or was killed in battle.  One thing is sure that the keeping him alive was a disobedient act because God had clearly stated that all in Canaan were to be killed. See Deuteronomy 7:1-2

1. Why did God give the armies of the Canaanites, Perizzites and Bezek into the hands of Judah? (It was God’s plan to destroy the godless nations within the inheritance given to Israel.)
2. How would you describe Adoni-bezek according to what is found in these verses?
3. Why would he acknowledge God’s hand in what happened to him? (He would have recognized the accomplishment of Israel as coming from a superior being.  Whether he fully understood God as we do is questionable because of his treatment of other men.)
4. Why did he believe what had happened to him was justified? (He lived under the concept of equal punishment for what had committed by him.)
5. By keeping him alive how did the army of Judah disobey God?
6. How do we sometimes disobey when we think we are doing right? (We forget it is God’s commands not our own decisions that make something right or wrong.)
7. What do you think of what is said in Deuteronomy in the treatment of the people in Canaan?

Judges 1:8

Originally in the dividing of the land among the tribes Jerusalem was part of Benjamin.  Later it would fall under Judah.  At the point in time Judah actually would have gone there to assist the tribe of Benjamin.  The powerful army of Judah readily defeated and burned the city.

1. To whom did Jerusalem belong?
2. Why would Judah have gone there?
3. Why did boundary lines not matter at that moment? (The enemy was the enemy no matter where they were located.

Judges 1:9-10

Judah then turned its attention to the land given to them as its inheritance.  Although not mentioned in this book the city of Hebron had been given to Caleb. See Numbers 14:24 and Joshua 14:6-15.  The promise made concerning him was fulfilled as he took over the city. It would later become a city of refuge with his family retaining the rights villages and lands surrounding Hebron. They also captured Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai

1. What does this narrative tell us about the faith of Caleb? (It took more than seven years before he had the opportunity to claim the land promised to him.)
2. What does it say about God? (He will fulfill His promises even though in the case of Caleb it took over forty-five years to do so.)
3. What encouragement should this narrative give us?
4. How has God fulfilled His promises to you?

Judges 1:11-15

The next verses are a powerful picture of faithfulness and commitment to God’s dictates and promises.  It must be remembered that Caleb and his family were not descendants of Jacob but possibly Esau.  At some point during the time in Egypt they attached themselves to the tribe of Judah.  This family is an example of a people who became part of God’s people because they were committed to living their lives according to His plan.  Caleb obviously had continued to provide leadership to the tribe of Judah at that time.  He offered the hand of his daughter in marriage to the one who was willing to do the Lord’s battles and defeat Debir (Kiriath-arba)  Othniel, his nephew won the battle and Caleb’s daughter.  Achsah then persuaded her new husband to ask Caleb to give the land of southern Israel called the Negev to them since it had springs of water.  This also showed her commitment to the new land into which they had come.

1. Why is this event such a powerful picture of commitment to God? (They believed the land belonged to them as God had promised?
2. What does the offer by Caleb say about Othniel? (He believed as strongly as his uncle in the mission.)
3. Why would Caleb offer his daughter in marriage? (It was a commitment to the land.)
4. What act showed that Achsah intended to be a part of the success of Israel?
5. To what are you committed?
6. How does the commitment you have made affect your decisions?
7. How willing are you to take risks for the Lord?
8. In what ways have you already done so?

Judges 1:16

There was another group of aliens who decided to attach themselves to Israel.  It was the family of Jethro called the Kenites.  They had gone up with Moses from the very beginning of the forty-year journey, to guide the Israelites through the unfamiliar territory.  They are only mentioned here but later will play a crucial role in the life of the nation.

1. Why were the Kenites willing to go with Moses? (His promise of a reward and to help him along the way?
2. What did their willingness to go cost them? (Forty plus years of hardship and travel.)

Judges 1:17-18

Judah now fulfilled its promise to Simeon.  It helped them capture the land within Judah that would become their inheritance.  Judah also defeated those who were in the territory which today is in the possession of the Palestinians.  It included Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron.

1. How did Judah fulfill its promise to Simeon?
2. Which part of the conquest is now in the hands of the enemies of Israel?
3. Why would such an event take place?

Judges 1:19

The first sign of disobedience and lack of trust occurred when the tribe of Judah was unable to dislodge the people living in the valley.  For the Israelites the enemy army that possessed chariots were too formidable for them.

1. Why was this event a sign of unfaithfulness?
2. What had God commanded?
3. Why did the tribe of Judah believe they could not defeat an army with chariots?
4. What are the weapons that the enemy possesses that make him too strong for you?
5. What is the best course of action when faced with such a challenge?
6. Why do you think the Israelites gave up so easily?

Judges 1:20

What a contrast between the two tribes mentioned. Caleb was given Hebron which he captured from the sons Anak.

1. What allowed Caleb to capture Hebron and defeat the giants?
2. What giants are you called to fight?
3. How do you deal with the obstacles in your life?

Judges 1:21-22-26

Here is seen a pattern that will get progressively worse as chapter one continues.  It was the beginning of the downward spiral of the nation.  Sadly, it did not take long for the nation to drift away from faith in God and became disobedient to His commands to destroy His enemies.  In between this one verse, and those which follow it, was the success the house of Joseph had in capturing Bethel.  While Joseph was able to take over the city, Benjamin could not defeat the Jebusites living in Jerusalem.  It is a part of history that the Jebusites remained in Jerusalem until the time of David over four hundred years later.

1. How did Joseph contrast with the tribe of Benjamin?
2. Why was Joseph able to accomplish what Benjamin did not?
3. How was this failure costly to Benjamin? (The Jebusites and their influence on the tribe would have negative consequences in the years to come.)
4. What does this say to us about mixing with a group of people who may be a bad influence?
5. How difficult is it to uproot such people out of your life?

Judges 1:27-34

The important point in these verses is the degree to which Israel drifted further and further from God as

they refused to carry out His commands to possess the land.  Other than Caleb and one or two successes for the most part Israel failed God. Below will be listed the tribes and the events that showed the regression of the people. What took occurred in each case is as follows:

• Manasseh did not defeat the Canaanites living in the territory but became the slaves of the Manassites when they became strong.
• Ephraim did not drive out the inhabitants.  The Canaanites continues to live among them.
• Zebulon the inhabitants living in Kitron refused to leave and became the slaves of the Zebulonites.
• Asher after failing to drive out anyone from a number of cities actually began to live among the natives.
• Naphtali took the same route as the tribe of Asher and began to live among the people they could not defeat or drive from the land.
• Dan found itself as exile in the hill country of the land they were to possess.  The inhabitants did not even permit the people of Dan to come into the valley.
• The house of Joseph finally became strong and forced the Amorites to become their slaves.

From what is seen in the actions of the nation of Israel it would only be matter of time before they people would take on the nature of those living among them or among which they lived.  It is inevitable that when individuals hang around the ungodly long enough, they will be influenced by them.

1. How does what occurred with the Israelites reflect what can take place in each of our lives?
2. What was the pattern of their behavior?
3. How does it reflect the saying, Do an act, reap a habit, do a habit, reap a character?
4. What would it have taken for a different result to have occurred for them?
5. What can we do in our lives to make sure that we do not fail as they did?
6. What had not changed? (God was still there and His promises had never gone away?
7. If that is true why do people fall away?

• Believe what God has promised knowing for you
• Be willing to face difficult situations with complete faith in Jesus Christ.
• Know that all will fail at sometime but those are the times to not make excuses for failing but to confess and repent of your sins because God will forgive you.
• Understand that God has placed us in this world for His purpose so be sure that you seek out what it is and keep to that path.
• Do not let those around you influence for evil.

The Church today finds itself in a world that is opposed to it on every side.  We can be either overwhelmed and give up on continue to carry on the mission of Christ to which we have been called. Sadly, the nation of Israel let their guard down and no longer believed that God could accomplish the task to which they had been called.  We have given a mandate to carry the gospel tirelessly into all the world.  That means we are to remain steadfast in our efforts to reach people next door and around the world.  The way to keep from wavering is to mentor, encourage and sustain fellow followers of Christ with as much energy as we can.  This is not the time to be seen as failures but overcomers.  Paul said, “ I can do all things through Him who strengths me.” Philippians 4:13.  Our continuous prayer in these days is for God to give us that spiritual stamina.