Central thought: The abiding presence of God makes the difference in the life of any believer.
Hymn: Stand up! Stand up for Jesus
Text: Judges 6:1-24
Most of us want to know God’s plan for our lives, but we are not always sure how to find it. The Bible gives descriptions of how God guided many people. We can see that God’s call often 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 was committed. His challenge was to obtain food for his family even though hostile invaders were making the growing, gathering and preparation of food almost impossible. He was resourceful and put a winepress to double duty by turning it into a threshing floor, hidden from the Midianites. Gideon was working in his threshing floor when God sent him a messenger with a challenge. His acceptance of this challenge made him one of the judges of Israel. He was a judge who led Israel for forty years to subdue the Midianites who had oppressed the people of Israel.
A study of his character will reveal among other things how God calls His people, the implications and rewards of obedience to God’s call.
Lesson Objectives:
- To explain the circumstances that led to the call of Gideon.
- To relate Israel’s experience to the situation in our nation.
- To comment on Gideon’s complain and God’s response.
Question 1.) What circumstances led to the call of Gideon?
Judges 6:1-12
In verse one of Judges 6, we read “ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Midianites seven years”. Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and this led them into trouble as should be expected for all who sin against God.
God delivered them into the hands of the Midianites, a desert people that descended from Abraham’s second wife, Keturah. Years earlier, the Israelites while still wondering in the wilderness, battled the Midianites and almost completely destroyed them. The tribe repopulated and increased in number that they were capable of being made a severe scourge to Israel. God had promised to increase Israel as the sand on the sea shore, but their sin stopped their growth and diminished them while their enemies who were supposed to be in every was inferior to them overpowered them.
The Midianites made frequent incursions into the land, they allowed the Israelites to sow their crops, but towards harvest, came seized, ate up and destroyed both grass and corn. While leaving, they went away with the sheep and oxen. This was the situation for seven years. When all efforts to get succor from other sources failed, Israel at last cried unto the Lord. God heard their cries and sent a prophet to reprove them for sin and bring them to repentance.
The person God commissioned for the service of delivering the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites was Gideon.
Question 2.) How can we relate Israel’s experience to the situation of our nation today?
Israel was quite a prosperous nation because God’s hand was upon them but when they chose to do evil in the sight of the Lord, He gave them up to suffer in the hands of their enemies. Thus Israel was greatly impoverished, in-spite of God’s promises to them, because of sin.
Nigeria is one country that is so blessed by God in all aspects yet it is one of the most impoverished nations of the world. Her citizens are suffering in-spite of the blessing of God on the Land. When compared with Israel in this study, we will readily agree that the cause of this situation in the land is sin. As Israel sinned the enemy took hold of the leadership of the land, so we see sin ravaging our nation through assassins, robberies, immorality, idolatry, false religion etc. that have made the people lose peace and fellowship with God. Thus as Israel came to realization of their predicament and cried to God in repentance so our nation can be redeemed by a great revival when the citizens return to the Almighty God. God is faithful and has never failed to raise men who will carry out His purpose for all ages.
Question 3.) Examine Gideon’s call.
Judges 6:11-14
As a result of Israel’s deviations from GOD’s way they were brought under the oppression of the Midianites. Judges 6:1 states “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Midianites seven years”. In their state, they cried out to the Lord. God heard their cry and sent a prophet to them who reminded them that despite all that God had done for them, they decided not to obey His voice (Judges 6:7-10).
Finally, the process of their deliverance from the oppression of the Midianites began when God sent an angel to Gideon (Judges 6:11-12). The angel greeted Gideon in the name of the Lord assuring him of God’s presence. Based on his human reasoning and their experiences he expressed uncertainty/doubt about God’s presence with him. The ever merciful God did not respond to his queries about God’s presence with them but “…looked upon him; and said, go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have I not sent thee?” Judges 6:14. This marked the beginning of Gideon’s commissioning by God who was going to use him to deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites.
Question 4.) What was Gideon’s initial response to God’s call?
Joshua 6:15-16
Gideon based his initial response on what he knew about himself and his family. He declared “… wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” Judges 6:15. He felt sincerely that with these human limitations/inadequacies he was not in a position to lead Israel. The interesting fact is that God who is all knowing was well aware of these perceived inadequacies before sending His angel to Gideon. God reassured him of His presence with him “And the Lord said unto him, surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man” Judges 6:16). God’s presence with him was the guarantee for his victory.
Many of us today may be hesitating to respond to God’s call upon our lives to carry out specific assignments for Him because of what we know about ourselves ex. Past sinful life, financial limitations, inadequate education etc. Some believers even find it difficult to go out on evangelism because they are afraid to speak to people who think they are richer, more educated or more endowed than them.
Question 5.) From the choice of Gideon, what can we learn about the man God will use?
1 Corinthians 1:26-28
All through the Scriptures, we see the quality of men and women that God chooses to use. They are not extra ordinary people in any sense of it but ordinary people with extra ordinary (or diving) qualities. They are people who will willingly surrender their all to Him to use to His glory.
Our Lord Jesus made use of ordinary unlearned fishermen to turn the world “upside down” Acts 17:6. This is because the things of God look foolish in the eyes of the worldly wise.
All that matters to the Lord for Him to use anyone is simple obedience to His voice and availability of the vessel to be used. Once this willingness is there, the Lord is ever ready to turn the erstwhile ordinary vessel to an extra ordinary vessel.
Like Gideon and the other men that God uses in the past, He still calls people to serve in specific ways. It is important that we all learn the lesson that God’s call on an individual cannot be limited by perceived human inadequacies. In our dispensation, God has given us the HOLY SPIRIT who empowers us daily to do His work.
Daily Living Application:
God sent His angel to a man who was hurting for his oppressed people. However that man, Gideon, focused on the impact of their calamity not its causes; for it was his people’s neglect of God rather than God’s indifference that brought the hardship. We need to accept responsibility for misdeeds and not shift blame on God or others.
In many nations of the world, a few powerful people continue to oppress the populace. God is looking for those who will agonize in prayer for their nation and are willing to stand up for the deliverance of the oppressed.
Memory Verse:
2 Corinthians 12:9
“And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.