YOUTH STS LESSON 173_THE CALL AND MINISTRY OF GIDEON

TEXT: Judges 6:1-32; 7:1-25; 8:1-35. 

MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” (Judges 6:14).

God, in His omnipotence, brought Israel from the land of bondage into a land flowing with milk and honey. He did this in faithfulness to the covenant He made with their father Abraham. For them to enjoy this blessed promise, He gave commandments to guide them into a perfect relationship with Him and with one another. Foremost among the commandments is “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). The children of Israel disobeyed this command and God’s punishment came on them. From this, we understand that to have God’s promises fulfilled in our lives, we must meet His conditions.

Question 1: What condition must Christian youths meet to have God’s promises fulfilled in their lives?

Every Christian youth must obey God’s word if they expect the fulfilment of His promises in their lives. God warned Israel against idolatry repeatedly. Unfortunately, they still went into it and the wrath of God came upon the whole nation. They were sold into the hands of enemy nations who oppressed, afflicted and spoilt them until they were impoverished.

GOD COMMISSIONS GIDEON (Judges 6:1-10; Deuteronomy 4:23- 28; 30:17,18; 31:20, 21; Joshua 24:20; 1 Samuel 7:3; 1 Kings 9:6, 7; Hosea 8:3; 1 Corinthians 10:14; Colossians 3:5)
Israel, as a nation, was greatly favoured by God. What Israel enjoyed is what the Church enjoys (unmerited favour of the Lord). Unfortunately, Israel forgot the mercy and great works of God to them. Later, they cast away God’s commandment and went into idolatry.

Question 2: Why did Israel go into idolatry?

Israel neglected God’s instructions on the worship of idols. “Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee” (Exodus 23:32, 33). In order not to go into idolatry, God gave them these specific instructions: (1) not to enter into covenant with the people of the land (Exodus 23:32); (2) not to make marriages with the people of the land (Deuteronomy 7:3,4); (3) to destroy the entire people of the land (Deuteronomy 7:2). As they got into the land of Canaan, they forsook these injunctions and went into backsliding. Likewise, God has given instructions to Christian youths on what to do to avoid sin and backsliding. Heavenly-minded youths should be careful to: (i) avoid idolatry of any form (1 Corinthians 10:14); (ii) be separated from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17); (iii) avoid unequal yoke (2 Corinthians 6:14-16); (iv) study and meditate on God’s word daily (Joshua 1:8); (v) attend church meetings regularly (Hebrews 10:25). God spoke to Gideon through His angel and commissioned him to deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites. “And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour” (verses 11,12).

Question 3: What are the evidences that the Lord called and commissioned Gideon to deliver Israel?

“And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” (verse 14). The following are evidences of Gideon’s call: one, it was a clear call. “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour” (verse 12). Two, there was convincing assurance of God’s presence and support (verse 21). Three, there was also clear mission. He was told the assignment to carryout (verse 14). Four, he had convincing confirmation (verse 17,21). Five, the certainty of God’s peace was given to him even in troubled time (verse 24). True children of God also have the assurance of God’s peace. The crisis and commotion in our societies should not fret us. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). Six, at the end of the battle, Gideon conquered and was triumphant. When a man is sent by God, he will prosper in whatever the Lord gives him to do. This is the most convincing evidence of God’s call and commission. Before God intervenes in the life of a people or nation, there must be cleansing and rebuilding of the altar of truth first. This is so because God is of a purer eyes than to behold iniquity. Since God is using an individual to deliver his people from bondage, His command to him is to remove the source of their suffering. Christian youths should learn from this. Whenever they are suffering for sin, it will be wise for them to examine themselves, confess sin and repent fully (2 Chronicles 7:13,14). Gideon obeyed God and destroyed the altars of Baal at night.

GIDEON MOBILIZES ISRAEL FOR WAR (Judges 6:33-40; 7:1-15; Micah 4:12,13; Deuteronomy 1:30; Zechariah 14:3; 1 Timothy 6:12)
“Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel” (Judges 6:33). There was a great war ahead of Israel as their enemies gathered themselves together. Midian went into a collaboration with people from other countries to build a very huge and strong military force. They came with all their weapons of war and strategies to combat Israel. There are several conflicts which youths pass through today that may challenge their beliefs and convictions. These conflicts include peer pressure, temptation to indulge in worldly music, examination malpractices, cyber crimes and worldly ceremonies. We need to know that living as a believer involves a number of spiritual battles.

The devil is not pleased with the destiny of any believer and he is therefore fighting to draw the believer out of the faith. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). As we face various battles of life, Christian youths should not be intimidated by the number or size of their enemies or those who oppose the truth. Victory in a war is not tied to the number of the army but on the plans set up to ensure victory. God does not save with numbers; He delivers those who put their trust in Him. After hearing the cry of war sounded by the enemy, Gideon decided to raise soldiers to fight. He sounded the alarm to declare it was war time. He did not rest on the possible victories he had experienced before now but with zeal took the battle ahead of him, trusting God. Sounding the alarm, he had Abiezer with him. He went further to send messengers to Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali who came up to fight the battle which was ahead of them.

Question 4: What do you learn from Gideon’s preparations?

“But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him” (verse 34). The God-factor was the major difference between Gideon and many others who had led Israel. He believed in God and his actions were in accordance with God’s directives. Before he called the people, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he followed the leading in determining his actions. Many times, people expect some pastors to operate with certain type of anointing while they remain permanently dependent on these pastors. Gideon was not a prominent person and he did not have backers before the Lord selected and started to use him.

The next thing Gideon did was planning, which is critical to success. Without planning, one will not be able to achieve great results. Proper planning determines the height one can achieve. As Christian youths, the important plan we should work on is our academic time-table to help us control how we study and ensure we optimise the use of our time. Gideon’s zeal in going to war against the enemies of Israel also serves as a challenge to us. We should defend the kingdom of God with all our zeal and power. As citizens of the kingdom, the Lord expects us to, “…earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). We need to fight to win. We should fight against sin, against the devil, against worldliness and all other semblances of evil. Christian youths should fight against compromise, negative influence and friends who may seek to draw them away from the fold. Having not fought in this type of battle before and in dire need to mobilise and encourage the people to fight, Gideon went back to the source of their survival. He wanted a sign from the Lord to confirm they would be victorious as they went into the battle. God gave them great miraculous signs to stir up their faith.

Gideon asked for further signs and the Lord, knowing his heart that he was not being mischievous or insincere, responded to his request with spectacular miracle. Gideon, who knew how to speak to God and hear from Him, spoke to the Lord that he wanted a sign to show if Israel would be saved by his hand. “Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said” (Judges 6:37). The Lord answered his prayers and he found out when he woke up in the morning that the whole ground was dried but there was dew on the fleece. Soon after, he asked for a reversal of the miracle and said ” let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew” (Judges 6:39). In making his request, he was submissive and gentle, pleading with the Lord not to deem him faithless or unbelieving. The Lord also, knowing the state of his heart, answered him. The whole ground had dew while the fleece was dry. “Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley” (verse 1). Gideon and his army rose up early in readiness for battle. Gideon understood how God works: that He cherishes prompt obedience to His command; that winning a battle requires the application of God’s mode of operation. “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me” (verse 2). Gideon obeyed God’s instruction even when it looked foolish to do so. He did not see it impossible to win a battle with few men as long as God was with them.

Question 5: Why did God ask Gideon to reduce his army?

God did not want Israel to become proud after the victory has been won. He does not want anyone to share His glory with Him. He knows the thoughts of man’s heart. He perceived that Israel will glory in their numerical strength if they were allowed to fight with that number. This also gives the reason many of us have not experienced breakthrough in life. Some of us seek solution to our problems in our own way. There are people who give themselves to fasting and prayer for days as if it is by their strength they would overcome. Though no one can have victory and breakthrough in life without prayer, the act of bragging and boasting is what God frowns at.

GIDEON DEFEATS THE MIDIANITES (Judges 7:16-25; 8:1-35; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 4:16; Ephesians 5:1,2; Isaiah 58:1)
“And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers” (verse 16). To accomplish his God-sent mission, Gideon divided the three hundred men into three groups. This is referred to as division of labour which is a system of breaking down work into smaller parts to be handled by different people. The work of God cannot be performed by a single person. It should be divided into small units for others to participate in and for easy operations. This will allow everyone to be involved. “When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon” (verse 18). In Scripture, blowing of trumpets is likened to proclaiming the gospel message. Let us therefore seek the Lord for the power of the Spirit of God to spread the gospel effectively. We must be like Paul the apostle who said, “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). “So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands” (verse 19). The army which Gideon led was truly tested and trained by God. The time Gideon called on them to duty was “in the beginning of the middle watch” which suppose be a time of rest. Yet they sacrifice it for the service of God. What a challenge!

Question 6: What are the qualities we can draw from Gideon’s army?

Gideon’s army challenges us to serve God today. They were consecrated, fearless, steadfast, determined, focused, dependable, faithful and had faith in God for victory. Today, Gideon’s army is being remembered for their sacrificial service to God. What will you be remembered for? Gideon, in his pursuit of the Midianites, sought for the support of Ephraim to stop them from escaping through the passage of Jordan. The men of Ephraim acted accordingly and “took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan”. The waters, here, seem to mean a number of streams which run from the hill country of Ephraim into Jordan and which had to be crossed by the Midianites before they could reach the Jordan passage. The Ephraimites deployed themselves along the rivers so that the enemies who thought they were clean escaped still fell into their hands and were slain. Thus, did Gideon’s little band of three hundred soldiers proved to be God’s instrument in initiating the deliverance of Israel from seven years of cruel servitude to Midian. After the defeat of the Midianites, the people of Ephraim blamed Gideon for not calling on them earlier for the battle. His soft answer calmed their anger. Gideon was a focused soldier. He did not allow Ephraim’s action to hinder them from pursuing the enemies. This helped them to be committed to the fight – though they fainted yet continued pursuing. “Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they…And he said…if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you” (verses 19,20). Now, Gideon wants them to pay for what they had done. He said he could have spared them if they had not killed his brethren. This is to teach us that whatever a man sows that he will reap. “And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey: (for they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelities” (verse 24).

His moral life after the wonderful victory he had over Midian is not a model for Christian youths. In this study, we shall be taking a close look at the consequences of his covetous request on his life, household and the children of Israel after his demise. Unfortunately, Israel stopped following the Lord immediately after Gideon died. They backslid as soon as he departed. “And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god” (verse 33). The children of Israel had no personal conviction to serve the true God. It was as if they were waiting for the exit of Gideon so as to have the freedom to go fully into idol worship. In summary, we learn from this study that:

(i) the pride of life made Israel to desire Gideon to rule over them rather than God. They wanted to be like other nations.

(ii) The lust of the eyes made Gideon to desire the earrings of all the preys which amounted to covetousness.

(iii) The pride of life made him to make an ephod which he raised in Ophrah and caused both his family and all Israel to go a whoring after it. God brought him out of idolatry, but he misled Israel back to it. (iv) The lust of the flesh made him to marry so many wives and even had a concubine. This led to the utter destruction of his entire family. What a tragedy! “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (1 Corinthians 10:6). “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lust thereof’ (Romans 13:14).