BOTTOM
Gideon is listed as one of God's prophets. But Gideon's story is fascinating. The Bible introduces Gideon in Judges 6:11...as Gideon, son of Joash, an Abiezzrite of Ophrah.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said: "The Lord is with you, strong man!" and he says to him: "Go with this strength of yours and you will save Israel from the hand of the Midianites."
1. Gideon's list of excuses
So Gideon hesitated, wondering how he could save Israel. The angel of the Lord says to Gideon Go, have I not sent you? Gideon finds excuses that remind us of the story of Moses when God sent him to Egypt to save the Israelites. Exodus 3:11 and Exodus 4:10, Moses argued with the Lord, He asks God "Who am I that I should go away... I am slow to speak... I have a stutter. Like Moses, Gideon argues with the angel of the Lord about how he, Gideon, might save Israel. He of all people; His tribe was the weakest of Manasseh, and worse still, in his own father's house he considered himself the least. This is another example of God using one who is considered inferior. See 1 Samuel 16:11, 12. Key Lesson 1: When God calls you, He has a purpose and He will enable you to accomplish the task. God doesn't see people the way people see them, and God can use anyone in His ministry.
2. give me a sign
Gideon then confirms that it was God speaking to him. He besought the angel of the Lord and said, "Give me a sign." Let me bring a sacrifice before you and the angel of the Lord answered and said, "I will wait until you come back." Gideon comes back with the offering and the angel of the Lord uses the staff in His hand and touches the offering, immediately fire comes out of the rock and consumes the offering. Then the angel of the Lord went. With this sign, Gideon confirms that he is the angel of the Lord and exclaims, "Alas, O Lord, for I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face." The basis of their fear comes from Exodus 33:10. But the angel assured him that he would not die and said: "Peace be upon you, you will not die". Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called himThe Lord is Peace.God is patient with our unbelief and will give us the opportunity to believe in him.
3. Tear down the altar of Baal and cut up the statue
So the Lord commanded Gideon to tear down his father's altar of Baal and to sacrifice his father's second seven-year-old bull. Do you see any connection here to the donkey mentioned at Luke 19:30? God owns everything and knows its exact location with great precision. Gideon was scared, so he performed the task at night with the help of 10 of his minions. The next morning the men of the village wanted to kill him for destroying the Baal altar, but his father defended him and asked the men to let Baal defend himself because it was the Baal altar that had been torn down. That day his father called him Jerobaal because he had torn down the altar of Baal Judges 6:32. We also emphasize here the role of parents as defenders and protectors of their children against external aggressors. The most important lesson here is that we cannot worship both God and Baal. Like Elisha, like Joshua, if God is God, then worship him.
4. the sign of the veil
So Gideon again sought confirmation from God, he supplicated God and said, "Lord, if you save Israel by my hand, as you said, behold, I will put a fleece on the threshing floor if there is only dew on the fleece." and the land is dry, then I will know that by my hand you will save Israel, as you said. Scripture says... and so it was. When he woke up the next morning, he squeezed a bowl of water out of the wool and everything else was dry. So Gideon pleaded with the Lord again, saying, "Please don't be angry with me, but let me speak again. Let me try the fleece again; now let it dry only on the fleece, and dew everything else on the ground. Again, Scripture records that... that's how it was that night. The wool was dry, but there was dew on the floor. The most important lesson here is that God is patient.
5. Gideon raises an army
So Gideon raised an army of 32,000 men. But God had other plans. The 32,000 men were many and the Israelites might think it was their army that saved them (Judges 7:2). Then God told Gideon to announce the return to the fearful and fearful. An impressive 22,000 men returned leaving 10,000 men Judges 7:3. But the Lord told Gideon that 10,000 men were still too many. Then God tested them by making them drink water from the brook. Those who licked the water like a dog were the right team, while those who got on their knees to drink were shunned. Only 300 men licked the water in their hands like a dog, 9700 men knelt and knelt to drink water. So the 9,700 men were sent home. Fear not even if you are few, God can bring deliverance even to a single person. He did it for Gideon. He can do it for you again. Remember the song "Dare to be a Daniel". It goes well with this theme.
6. The Midianite dream and its interpretation
The Lord told Gideon to take his servant, whose name was Purah, to the camp of the Midianites, which was in the valley near the hill of More. God wanted to prove once again to Gideon that he would use him to save the Israelites. When he got there he found people lying in the valley. They were like locusts and their camels were like the sand on the seashore in the crowd Judges 7:12. When Gideon arrived, a man related a dream. Below is how the story went:
Mann 1:I had a dream. A barley loaf fell on the camp of the Midianites. Arrived in a shop, correctly understood. The tent fell and toppled over. I wonder what that means. I'm surprised.
Partner:That must be none other than the hand of Gideon, son of Joash, a man from Israel. God has given the entire Midianite camp into your hands.
After that, Gideon no longer doubted God. He returned to the camp of Israel and planned the attack strategy. God will use myriad ways to prove His purpose. Learn to listen to the still, small voice.
7. Gideon's Attack Strategy: The Sword of the Lord and Gideon
To win a war you need strategy and tactics. So Gideon divided the 300 men into three companies. He put a trumpet in each man's hand with empty jars and torches in the jars. Then he shows people great guidance and guidance. He says: "Look at me and do the same". Here's a lesson for every leader to lead the way. The men blew their horns and broke pitches. When the Midianites heard the loud noise, they thought a mighty army had attacked them. Then throughout the camp the Lord set every man's sword against his companion, and the army fled. So God used Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Act for the Lord.