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B. Curry, D.Min. P a g e | 1

Gideon Judges 6-8 Introduction - The book…not merely history, but demonstration of interaction between God and His people o Relevant for us to study and apply today - The time: No king…the people “did what was right in their own eyes” o (Read 17:6, 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) o Cycle of sin, repentance, rescue, and peace…over and over o Despite their history of God caring for them and blessing them over and over, the from generation to generation turned away from God - As a result, the Israelites filed to complete the conquest of the land o …Even though God had guaranteed them victory! - (Read Judges 6:7-10) o In Judges 6:7-10, the Lord tells them through a why they have endured oppression over the generations since they entered the land he had given them o Throughout the , we read about repeated cycles of sin and rescue ▪ Sin…they put the pagan culture around them ahead of the Lord ▪ Rescue…each time a righteous judge rose and led the Israelites back to their God • God repeatedly sent the righteous judges, also translated “deliverers” - The raising of righteous judges is what is called a “type” of Christ in the Old Testament o “Type”—a kind of picture of the future advent of the Messiah to deliver God’s people from their slavery to sin o A metaphor comparing the bondage of sine and spiritual oppression in which unsaved people live today…and God’s offer of deliverance through His Son, Jesus Christ - In the history told in the book of Judges, one of the best-known judges, or delivers, is Gideon o Yet today, Gideon is an example of faith for us (Read :32-34) - We will look at Gideon’s ministry today; his story is a demonstration of how God can work in our lives as well

(Proposition)—In Judges 6-8, we see that God guided Gideon from his state of fear and timidity to become a leader and conqueror

Joel B. Curry, D.Min. P a g e | 2

Gideon: timid, afraid, hiding from the Midianites - The Midianites held the people of Israel in bondage o They were fearful ▪ …and gravely oppressed ▪ The Israelites had their plows and other farm implements, but had stripped them of weapons ▪ Every harvest, the Midianites descended on the Israelites to steal and destroy the crops • There was famine in the land - But now, just as God had called the previous judges—, , and —He called Gideon forth to lead the Israelites out of their bondage o But it was a call under very different circumstances ▪ Othniel—’s nephew, strong family faith history ▪ Ehud—a cunning warrior and leader; killed the king of Moab ▪ Shamgar—he and his men had killed 600 Philistines using only farm implements ▪ Deborah—well-known and revered by the Israelites at the time she was called to be Israel’s judge - But Gideon? o Neither heroic nor bold o A timid farmer who at the time God called him was hiding from the Midianite oppressors at harvest time o The of the Lord found Gideon threshing wheat while hiding in a winepress, out of the enemy’s sight ▪ And yet the angel called him a “mighty man of valor” when he greeted him (6:12) - Gideon followed the initial instruction the Lord gave him…but only in fear o He tore down the altar to in the night, because he was afraid of his own father and the others in the city who worshipped at the altar of that false, pagan god ▪ But it was a step in the right direction for the fearful Gideon • He obeyed God despite his fears…though he tore down the altar during the night, so the people of the city would not catch him in the act o The next morning, however, the people saw the destruction and discovered that it had been done by Gideon o But Gideon was emboldened by the response of his Baal-worshiping father o (6:30-31)— 30 The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the pole beside it.” 31 But Joash replied to Joel B. Curry, D.Min. P a g e | 3

the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” 32 So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal[f] that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.”

- In the process of observing Gideon, we notice a change taking place in him as he followed God…

Gideon the leader (Read 6:25-35) - God has challenged Gideon to live up to his potential o To deal with the sins of the people of his city o To respond not fearfully or timidly, but with a growing faith in the power of God as the Midianites and their allies enter the land to ravage the people and the crops ▪ We find in vv. 34-35 that Gideon acted…he brought together the people of the city and sent messengers calling for the people of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali to join in the fight - But we still see that Gideon is hesitant, even timid o The sign of the fleece—to confirm God would empower him and his people ▪ Gideon sked God twice to confirm His promises with the sign of the fleece, vv. 36-40 ▪ Another interpretation of the sign of the fleece…to demonstrate to the people, not to Gideon, that God would care for them and protect them as they confronted the enemy ▪ Either way, we see Gideon still hesitant after he has called the Israelites together to face the Midianites

Gideon the conqueror (6:33-8:3) - Gideon is radically transformed through the process of choosing his troops and preparing the strategy to defeat the enemy o He grew from his lingering insecurities to inspired leadership of 300 men against the Midianites and the Amalekites, where were “…as numerous as locusts” (7:12) - Gideon had conquered his fears o His faith has grown as he reduces his forces from thousands to just 300 and places his confidence in the word of God - To confirm His word, God sends Gideon and Purah secretly into the camp of the enemy… Joel B. Curry, D.Min. P a g e | 4

o …where they overhear a soldier recounting a strange dream about a loaf of barley tumbling into the camp and cause the tent to collapse ▪ The interpretation: the dream was symbolic of Gideon and his army of 300 defeating the Midianites and the Amalekites ▪ Barley was the cheapest, most common type of bread • God would use this cheap, common loaf (that is, Gideon) to defeat the mighty enemy forces (read 7:15) - And indeed, Gideon and his 300 men route the enemy and send them fleeing o It was an imaginative rouse ▪ 300 men on the hillsides surrounding the enemy’s camp in the night ▪ With 300 torches ▪ And 300 voices shouting, “The sword of the Lord of Gideon” (7:20) o The Midianites and the Amalekites panicked, assuming each of the 300 torches meant a company of Israelites warriors preparing to attack the camp ▪ In the confusion and panic, they Midianites and Amalekites fought each other inside the camp, inflicting many casualties, and the survivors fled for their lives o Gideon assembled his people and gave chase ▪ The enemy was on the run ▪ Two of the Midianite leaders died in the retreat ▪ Fields and wells previously under siege were recaptured by the Israelites - Chapter 8 is a record of the fighting that followed o Under Gideon’s leadership, the Midianites and the Amalekites were subdued o And Gideon and his army tore down the Midianite idols to their false gods - Gideon, indeed, first confronted by his Lord as he hid in a winepress, had become Gideon the Conqueror, Gideon the Leader o …because he believed God and followed God’s will - The people of Israel wanted Gideon to become their king o Gideon’s response: 8:23 - The result (8:28) o After 40 years had passed—a generation—Gideon died ▪ And the people once more turned to the false gods (Read vv. 33-35) Conclusion - God wants people of faith to step up to the plate and follow His leading Joel B. Curry, D.Min. P a g e | 5

- He is not looking for perfect people, but for the common, everyday barley loaves…people He can mold and are willing to serve Him