Judges 7:2-4, 13-15; 8:22-25
SS Lesson for 07/24/2011
Devotional Scripture: 1 Sam 8:4-22
The major outline of the lesson came from the Bible Expositor and Illumninator. This week's lesson teaches us how we should always Let God Rule. The study's aim is to grasp the truth that God is in control of every situation we face. The study's application is to live our lives knowing that God is in total control of our situations and that we must learn to let God rule.
Testing God’s Rule
Is it ever right to test God? The answer depends on our motives and God’s invitation to do so. In Malachi 3:10, the Lord invites a test of his ability and willingness to bless. The Lord invited King Ahaz to test God, but that king sinfully refused to do so (Isaiah 7:10–12). On the other hand, the Israelites’ testing of God at Meribah is presented in a negative light (Exodus 17:7; Numbers 20:13; Psalm 106:32). Ultimately, however, it was the people themselves who were tested at Meribah (Psalm 81:7). Trying to test God may well end up saying more about us than about him! Thus it was with Gideon.
Lesson Background: Gideon’s Reluctance
Like other leaders called by God, Gideon was reluctant. The Mosaic covenant required that there be no testing of God (Deuteronomy 6:16); yet Gideon tested God at least three times. The first test was just after Gideon was called by the angel of the Lord to save the people (Judges 6:12–14). From the very beginning, Gideon tried to weasel out of his calling (6:7–15). When the Lord insisted that Gideon accept, Gideon asked for “a sign” that this was truly God speaking (6:17). The angel of the Lord complied (6:18–24). The second test was requested after Gideon was filled with God’s Spirit to lead (Judges 6:34). Gideon requested that a fleece of wool be covered with dew in the morning while the ground around it remained dry (6:37). It happened just that way (6:38), but that was not convincing for Gideon! So in his third test, Gideon asked God to reverse the miracle (6:39). God did so (6:40). God has a sense of humor, indeed, for during all this God described Gideon as a “mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). He declared that Gideon would smite the Midianites in his “strength” (6:14). What descriptions for a reluctant leader! What Gideon should have listened to were these words: “The Lord is with you,” “Am I not sending you?” and “I will be with you” (6:12, 14, 16). Fully appreciating the sovereignty and power of God helps us overcome fear and weakness.
Lesson Background: Israel’s Situation
The sin cycle of the story line of Judges is clearly marked in the account of Gideon (see Judges 6:1). Apostasy led to oppression. This is an indication of God’s sovereignty at work in bringing judgment on his sinful people. For seven long years the Midianites, with the aid of Amalekites and “other eastern peoples” (a nomadic group from the Syrian desert, east of the Jordan River), raided the Israelites at harvesttime in order to take the best of their produce, including livestock (6:3, 4). The Israelites resorted to hiding in caves and assembling fortresses to protect themselves from the multitude of marauders (6:2). The Midianites, related to God’s people through Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:2–4), mostly had a history of friendly relations with Israel. Moses married a Midianite woman (Exodus 2:21), although that was about 300 years in the past from the standpoint of today’s lesson. The Midianites were probably located south of Palestine and eastward in northern Arabia. Apparently, they were seminomadic at the time of Gideon (Judges 6:5); as antagonists to Israel, see Numbers 22:4–7; Psalm 83:9; Isaiah 10:26. On the other hand, the Amalekites were always adversaries to Israel (Deuteronomy 25:17–19; 1 Samuel 15:2, 3). They were descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:12), being a nomadic or seminomadic people who lived on the southern fringes of the promised land. Israel first encountered them in the desert trek to Mount Sinai (Exodus 17:8–16). The “cry of distress” segment of the sin cycle is found in Judges 6:7. But instead of sending a judge immediately, God sent a prophet to remind Israel that it was her fault for the oppression (6:8–10). Eventually, Gideon was called and “the Spirit of the Lord came upon” him (6:34).
The biblical account of Gideon begins as do the other cycles in Judges. Judges 6:1 says, "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years." These enemies, along with some allies, would appear regularly just at the time of harvest to plunder and destroy the crops (vss. 3-4). Israel was repeatedly left in an impoverished condition as a result. In time the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance, and God responded by calling Gideon to deliver them. What we remember most about Gideon's call is his reluctance to accept what God was telling him. After all, he was an unknown from the relatively insignificant tribe of Manasseh and had apparently never been in a leadership position. However, God often chooses unexpected people for important leadership roles and then equips them to accomplish His work. That was His plan for Gideon. This week we learn how Gideon and his people learned that God's strength is fully sufficient in every situation. We too need to learn to trust God at all times—even when we do not understand what He is doing. Have you ever sat in a car next to a driver who does not drive very well? It is difficult not to grab the steering wheel and take control. Sadly, we often act the same way when God has control of our lives. We seem to think He has it wrong and we must take the wheel. As a result, we steer the wrong way, often in the opposite direction. We tend to think that we know better than He does. Our lesson this week shows us that we need to get out of the way and let God rule so that He can steer us to victory.
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
Also named Jerubbaal (Judg 6:32) and Jerubbesheth (2 Sam 11:21), youngest son of Joash, of the clan of Abiezer in the tribe of Manasseh. His home was at Ophrah, and his family an obscure one. He became the chief leader of Manasseh and the fifth recorded judge of Israel. The record of his life is found in Judg 6-8. Joash was an idolater, and sacrifices to Baal were common among the entire clan. Gideon seems to have held this worship in contempt, and to have pondered deeply the causes of Israel's reverses and the injuries wrought upon his own family by the hand of the Midianites.
The Midianites under Zebah and Zalmunna, their two greatest chiefs, accompanied by other wild tribes of the eastern desert, had gradually encroached on the territory of Israel in Central Palestine They came first as marauders and pillagers at the time of the harvests, but later they forcibly took possession of lands, and thus inflicted permanent injury and loss, especially upon Manasseh and Ephraim. The conflicts became so numerous, the appropriation of land so flagrant, that the matter of sustenance became a serious problem (6:4). The multitude of these desert hordes and the cruelty of their depredation rendered defense difficult, and, lacking in the split of national unity, the Israelites were driven to dens, caves and rocky strongholds for safety (6:2). After seven years of such invasion and suffering Gideon comes upon the scene.
One part of the fleeing enemy evidently crossed the Jordan at Succoth, being led by Zebah and Zalmunna. The superior force followed the river farther south, toward the ford of Bethbarah. Gideon sent messengers to the men of Ephraim (7:24), probably before the first attack, asking them to intercept the Midianites, should they attempt to escape by the fords in their territory. This they did, defeating the enemy at Bethbarah and slaying the princes Oreb and Zeeb ("the Raven" and "the Wolf"). As proof of their victory and valor they brought the heads of the princes to Gideon and accused him of having discounted their bravery by not calling them earlier into the fight. But Gideon was a master of diplomacy, as well as of strategy, and won the friendship of Ephraim by magnifying their accomplishment in comparison with his own (8:1 ff). Gideon now pursues Zebah and Zalmunna on the East side of the river. The people on that side are still in great fear of the Midianites and refuse even to feed his army. At Succoth they say to him, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?" (8:6). At Penuel he meets with the same refusal (8:8). Promising to deal with Succoth and Penuel as they deserve when he is through with his present task, Gideon pushes on with his half-famished but courageous men, overtakes the Midianites, defeats them, captures Zebah and Zalmunna, and, returning, punishes, according to his promise, both Succoth and Penuel (8:7,9,13 ff).
Thus was the power of the Midianites and the desert hordes broken in Canaan and a forty years' peace came to Israel. But the two Kings of Midian must now meet their fate as defeated warriors. They had led their forces at Tabor when the brothers of Gideon perished. So Gideon commands his young son Jether to slay them as though they were not worthy of death at a warrior's hand (8:20). The youth fearing the task, Gideon himself put them to death (8:21).
The remaining verses containing the account of Gideon's family and death (8:30 ff) and the record of events immediately subsequent to Gideon's death (8:33 ff) come from other sources than the original narrators.
Most of us want to know God’s plan for our lives, but we’re not always sure how to find it. One common misunderstanding is the idea that God’s guidance will come to us out of the blue, that it has nothing to do with what we’re doing now. But if we’re always looking around for God’s next assignment, we run the risk of ruining whatever we’re working on right now. Fortunately, the Bible points to a kind of guidance that does not put our current projects in jeopardy. In the Bible’s descriptions of how God guided many people, we can see that often God’s call came while people were completely immersed in the challenge of the moment. A good example of this kind of guidance is seen in Gideon’s life. Gideon had a limited vision, but he was committed to it. His challenge was to obtain food for his family even though hostile invaders were making the growing, gathering, and preparation of the food almost impossible. Gideon was resourceful. He put a winepress to double duty by turning it into a sunken threshing floor. It lacked ventilation to blow the chaff away, but at least it was hidden from the Midianites. Gideon was working in his threshing floor when God sent him a messenger with a challenge. Gideon was surprised by what God told him to do. He did not want to jump into a task for which he was ill prepared. The angel had to overcome three objections before Gideon was convinced: (1) Gideon’s feelings of responsibility for his family’s welfare, (2) his doubts about the call itself, and (3) his feelings of inadequacy for the job. Once Gideon was convinced, however, he obeyed with zest, resourcefulness, and speed. He dedicated those personality traits to God, with whom he was now personally acquainted. Gideon had his weak moments and failures, but he was still God’s servant. If you can easily see yourself in the Gideon’s weakness, can you also see yourself in being willing to serve? Remember Gideon as a man who obeyed God by giving his attention to the task at hand. Then give your full attention to believing God will prepare you for tomorrow when it comes.
· Israel’s fifth judge. A military strategist who was expert at surprise
· A member of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11
· Defeated the Midianite army
· Was offered a hereditary kingship by the men of Israel
· Though slow to be convinced, acted on his convictions
· Feared that his own limitations would prevent God from working
· Collected Midianite gold and made a symbol that became an evil object of worship
· Through a concubine, fathered a son who would bring great grief and tragedy to both Gideon’s family and the nation of Israel
· Failed to establish the nation in God’s ways; after he died they all went back to idol worship
· God calls in the middle of our present obedience. As we are faithful, he gives us more responsibility
· God expands and uses the abilities he has already built into us
· God uses us in spite of our limitations and failures
· Even those who make great spiritual progress can easily fall into sin if they don’t consistently follow God
· Where: Ophrah, Valley of Jezreel, spring of Harod
· Occupations: Farmer, warrior, and judge
· Relatives: Father: Joash. Son: Abimelech
· Contemporaries: Zebah, Zalmunna
2 And the Lord said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'
3 Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.'" And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.
4 But the Lord said to Gideon, "The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, 'This one shall go with you,' the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, 'This one shall not go with you,' the same shall not go."
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
13 And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, "I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed."
14 Then his companion answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp."
15 And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. 31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me."
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
26 "But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they put your law behind their backs. They killed your prophets, who had admonished them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. 27 So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.
9 But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.
10 They cried out to the Lord and said, 'We have sinned; we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve you.' 11 Then the Lord sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, so that you lived securely.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian."
23 But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you."
24 Then Gideon said to them, "I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder." For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
25 So they answered, "We will gladly give them." And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder.
17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord — small and great alike.
21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
23 If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; 24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
Some scholars think that Gideon refused the offer of a kingship only out of politeness, but ended up being a ruler anyway. They point to his large harem and 70 sons (Judges 8:30), his use of jewelry and royal clothes, making and using the ephod-oracle, the naming of one of his sons Abimelech (meaning “my father a king”; 8:31), etc. None of these things prove that Gideon was a king. Perhaps what all this does show is that Gideon had a difficult time letting God rule. The Israelites as a whole also had this problem. After Gideon’s death, the Israelites immediately returned to pagan worship (Judges 8:33), revealing that Gideon’s influence “didn’t take.” Let this be a warning to us. God can do marvelous things, but will we seek to “grab the gold” when all is said and done? God chose Gideon to be a leader of a certain type to accomplish a certain task. We do well to go as far as God wants us to go, but no further.
Of all the judges whom God used to bring deliverance to His people, Gideon was one of the least likely candidates. He himself certainly thought so, vehemently citing his inadequacy for the task (Judg. 6:15). God had to put Gideon through a lengthy process to get his courage up, starting with a risky assignment to root out idolatry on his own father's property (vss. 25-32) and then giving him a doubled assurance through the sign of the fleece (vss. 36-40). Now that the moment of deliverance was at hand, Gideon's courage apparently needed one more boost to get him going. So during the night the Lord told him to sneak down to the enemy camp, where he would hear something that would cement his resolve (Judg. 7:9-11). The mere act of creeping up to the Midianite encampment had to take some courage itself, for their numbers were such that they covered the valley. But Gideon's effort was rewarded immediately when he overheard a Midianite soldier recount a vivid dream to a companion who then declared it portended certain victory for Gideon and the Israelites (vss. 13-14). Gideon's first response when he heard the dream and its interpretation was entirely appropriate: "he worshipped." He knew without a doubt that God was assuring him of complete victory. It was the boost to his faith that he needed, and he was grateful to God for granting it. Gideon's second response was also exactly what was called for. He returned to his people and passed on to them the assurance that he had received. When God gives us encouragement, we are not to keep it to ourselves. He expects us to bolster the faith of others with the strengthening we have received. "Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian." Again, as Joshua had at Jericho, Gideon declared the promised victory as an accomplished fact before it actually happened. As with Joshua, it was a statement of faith. But since the object of faith was the Lord and His promise, it was also a certainty. There was no possibility of the Midianites' gaining the upper hand, despite their vast superiority in numbers and armaments. Gideon now knew that none of that mattered. Gideon had come a long way in a remarkably short time. The man who once was found threshing grain in a winepress—a location decidedly unsuited to the task—for fear of being noticed by enemy occupiers now was boldly exhorting a token force of three hundred men to take on an army numbering well over 100,000! True faith, however, does not look at the supposed odds stacked against it; true faith looks at the power of God and sees everything else in that light. In the task that God has called us to—that of bringing His message of salvation to all the earth and making disciples of all nations—it would be easy to look at the daunting obstacles and despair of making headway in the endeavor. The world is big, and most of it is hostile to the gospel of Christ. But if we look instead at God's power, we can be emboldened to do our part in the task that cannot fail.
1. God's plans are designed to bring Him, not His servants, glory (Judg. 7:2)
2. Obeying God is always best, even when we do not fully understand His ways or plans (Judg. 7:3-4; cf. Isa. 55:8-9)
3. God's sovereign work is universal, and His timing is always perfect (Judg. 7:13-14)
4. True faith sees that God is at work and responds in worship and obedience (Judg. 7:15; cf. Heb. 11:6)
5. Wise is the person who knows when to say no (Judg. 8:22-23)
6. True gratitude finds a way to say thank you (vs. 24-25)
The Israelites had again turned away from the Lord, and in the time of Gideon they were suffering under the cruel hand of the Midianites. These nomadic people from the south raided Israel, destroying their crops and leaving them impoverished (Judg. 6:1-6). When the people cried out to God, the Lord once again answered by raising up a judge named Gideon. Gideon considered himself ill prepared to deliver God's people, and his faith was weak. But God assured him of success and eventually brought to him an army of Israelites prepared to battle their enemy. The account of Gideon, however, is really the account of God, who through it all shows Himself to be the true Leader and Ruler of Israel.
Gideon had with him an army of 32,000, which was still a mere fraction of the 135,000 Midianites encamped nearby (8:10). Yet God knew that if He gave this army victory, the people would only take pride in themselves rather than give God the glory (7:2). So the Lord instructed Gideon to reduce the size of his army by allowing those who were fearful to return home. This left Gideon with only 10,000 men. The Lord then told Gideon there were still too many men (Judg. 7:4)! He instructed Gideon to select only those soldiers who drank from their hands when they went to the water for refreshment. This reduced Gideon's army to only three hundred men (vss. 5-6). God's purpose was clear. He and He alone was to be acknowledged as Israel's Deliverer. Neither Gideon nor his army could possibly claim credit if they defeated the vast Midianite army with a force of only three hundred.
Even with God's clear direction, the task before Gideon must have seemed daunting. Earlier, Gideon in his weakness had sought supernatural assurance from God that He would save Israel through him. Now God graciously gave Gideon assurance, even though Gideon did not request it. The Lord told Gideon to go down to the Midianite camp, where he would be strengthened to go into battle (Judg. 7:9-11). When Gideon did so, he overheard a Midianite recounting a dream, which another Midianite interpreted as meaning that the Midianites would fall before Gideon. This news greatly encouraged Gideon, and he returned to prepare his troops for battle (vss. 13-15). The Lord knows our weaknesses and concerns even before we voice them, and He graciously and repeatedly encourages us to walk in faith, trusting Him. Such encouragement was just what Gideon needed. He went forth and saw God give Israel a great victory (Judg. 7:16-25).
Following the amazing victory over the Midianites, the people of Israel called upon Gideon to rule over them as king. Even if the people had not learned the lesson, Gideon had. How could he rule as king when God had not decreed it and when God had shown that He alone was their King? It was to God that they owed their deliverance, not Gideon. Like Gideon, we must never claim glory for ourselves for those things God alone has done.