CHILDREN LESSON 17 THE CALL AND MINISTRY OF GIDEON

Text: Judges 6:1-40; 7:1-25; 8:1-35

While Israel was on their way to the Promised Land, God gave specific commandments to them about the idolatrous Canaanites that were the natives of the land. Israel was to destroy the idols and all idol worshippers in Canaan. The reason was that God wanted to preserve Israel as a holy nation to Himself. He did not want them to be polluted by idol worship (idolatry).

However, the Israelites disobeyed God. They lived with the Canaanites and eventually became influenced to the extent that they started worshipping their gods. Their disobedience exposed them to God’s judgment and enemy attacks. Instead of peace and enjoyment in the Promised Land, their lives became miserable and insecure.

After each defeat, Israel would repent and cry unto God who would then deliver them through a judge that He had raised for that purpose. As soon as the judge died, Israel would go back to idol worship and provoke God to anger again. This was the situation when God again raised Gideon to lead Israel in battle against their latest enemies – the Midianites – who oppressed them for seven years.

Are you like Israel who always repented but went back to sin again and again? The Bible describes such people as dogs who go back to their vomit (sins). No sinner will go unpunished (Proverbs 16:5). The only way out of satanic oppression for the sinner is total turning away from sin and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

1. CALL AND COMMISSION OF GIDEON: Judges 6:1-32, Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19,20

Israel had again turned away from God to serve idols. They failed to completely separate themselves from the evil culture of the Canaanites. Their sins brought them under God’s judgment. As a result, (a) They were oppressed by other nations (the Midianites). They destroyed their crops and animals. The children of Israel became very poor and hungry. Many of them became afraid and fled to hide in the mountains and caves. (b) They were cut off from God’s favour, protection and blessing. The Midianites oppressed Israel for seven years. As a result of the severe suffering, they cried unto God for help.

In response to the cry of Israel, the Lord was moved to help them. He raised a deliverer by sending an angel to Gideon. The angel of the Lord found young Gideon at work in a winepress cleaning his grains. He called and commissioned him to lead Israel to fight against their enemies. Gideon’s commission is in two parts. (i) He was to destroy the idols in his father’s house. (ii) He was to lead Israel to war and defeat their enemies. Gideon obeyed by destroying all the idols in his father’s house and he led Israel to victory.

Jesus’ call to all His friends is to carry out the great commission. This means preaching the gospel of salvation to sinners. As a friend of Jesus, you must take away everything that can hinder you from carrying out the great commission. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Obey this command and you will have all-round victory in your life.

2. COURAGE AND MINISTRY OF GIDEON:
Judges 6:33-40; 7:1-25

God helped Gideon and his three hundred army to defeat the Midianites. Despite all that Israel did, God still heard their cry. He raised up Gideon to lead them to battle. Gideon realised that his call was a special one; therefore, he relied on God’s help for victory. The battle was planned by God Himself. (a) God assured Gideon of success through angelic visitation, dreams and the “fleece” test. (b) God chose Gideon and the 300 soldiers out of the 32,000 volunteers. (c) Gideon’s unusual weapons (trumpet, empty pitchers and lamp) show his absolute trust in God’s power to save them (Judges 7:16). (d) The timing of the attack by Gideon’s army was divinely appointed. (e) The terror and confusion that followed the attack resulted in the enemies destroying themselves (Judges 7:20-22). This was also God’s intervention. (f) God gave Gideon the wisdom to deal with the opposition, which would have hindered the total conquest of the Midianites. He used soft words to appease Ephraim and punished Succoth and Penuel for their uncaring behaviour.

Friends of Jesus must be courageous and rely on God’s guidance as they go through life. This is the only way to have victory.

3. CONQUERING THROUGH FAITH:
Judges 7:1-25; 8:1-21; Hebrews 11:6,32-34.

There are always two parties to every agreement or covenant in the Bible – God and man. For any promise of God to come to pass in your life, God will play His part and you must play your own part. Your part is obedience. Gideon cooperated fully with God and had total victory over the Midianites. (a) He made sure that God had commissioned him (the fleece test). (b) He accepted the 300 men chosen by God to win the battle. (c) He was not afraid of the uncountable enemies that he faced with his handful of soldiers because he trusted that God would never lie. (d) He relied on God’s unusual weapons to launch his attack on the Midianites. (e) He used divine wisdom to deal with distractions from Ephraim and the leaders of Succoth and Penuel. (f) He was not satisfied with partial victory but determined to have total victory.

Related Articles on InspiringAlways.com 

• Biblical Repentance – Evangelism Messages
• Adult STS Lesson 164: The Way, The Truth and The Life
• Moses and the Wilderness: Lessons for Our Journey
• Biblical Teaching on Forgiveness – Youth Search Lesson 125
• Who Are the Gibeonites? – Adult STS Lesson 160

Despite physical weakness, discouragement and even jesting from fellow Israelites, he pursued the enemies till the last two kings – Zebah and Zalmunna – were destroyed along with their armies.

Our battle is not physical but spiritual. We are fighting against sin, self, worldliness, Satan and his host. Gideon’s example teaches us that we need to seek divine help and trust God for victory in the battles of life. For a sinful boy or girl to have victory, he or she must take the following steps to salvation: (a) Realise that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself (Romans 3:23). (b) Repent of all sins (Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30). (c) Request for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:8,9). (d) Receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Saviour and Lord (Revelation 3:20). (e) Rejoice that you are now a child of God (John 1:12).

Just as Gideon did not rest till he had total victory, friends of Jesus must not rest until they have received other Christian experiences, such as purity of heart (sanctification) and Holy Ghost baptism. You must thirst, hunger and pray for these experiences. Only then you can conquer in the battle against sin, self and Satan.

QUESTIONS:
1. Why did Israel fail to have lasting peace and security in the Promised Land?

2. God, in His love, raised ______ to deliver Israel.
3. Mention three reasons for Gideon’s successful conquest of Israel’s enemies.
4. What should a sinner do to have victory in life’s battles? ______

5. Mention two other Christian experiences necessary for daily victorious life. ______

MEMORY VERSE: “Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon” (Judges 8:28).

LESSON: Gideon obeyed God’s call and was victorious.

THOUGHT: I will obey God’s call and tell sinners about His love.

ACTIVITY: Group discussion: Identify two important events that occurred when the angel appeared to Gideon. Then discuss their importance.

HOMEWORK: Read Judges 3:9,10,15,31 and write the names of the first three judges in Israel in your homework book.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 16 – IF GOD BE FOR US

CHORUSES: (1) Jesus conquered the world and gave us victory. (2) Who can battle with the Lord? (3) I will never let the devil win the battle.

BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary:
1. Supernatural

2. Sanctification
3. Captivity

4. Idolatry

5. Conquering