Judges 6-8

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GideonGideon•5th Judge for nation of Israel•Enemy: Midianites, Amalekites• Israel’s bondage: 7 years• Time as judge: 40 years

Judges 6

v. 1 – Israel did evil, God delivered them to Midianites for 7 years

v. 2 – Children of Israel hid in caves

v. 3-6 – Midianites took the land, Israelites in poverty

v. 7 – They cried to God for help

v. 8-10 – God sent a prophet, you are in this condition because you disobeyed. God will deliver you

Judges 6

v. 7 – They cried to God for help

v. 8-10 – God sent a prophet, “you are in this condition because you disobeyed. God will deliver you”

Judges 6

v. 11 – Angel appeared to Gideon

v. 12 – Angel said, “The Lord is with you”

v. 13 – “If the Lord is with us, why has this happened?”

v. 14 – You will save Israel

v. 15 – Gideon said he was a nobody, not strong enough to lead

v. 16 – Angel assured him that God would be with him

v. 17 – Gideon wanted a sign

v. 18 – Gideon told the angel to wait

Judges 6

v. 14 – You will save Israel

v. 15 – Gideon said he was a nobody, not strong enough to lead

v. 16 – Angel assured him that God would be with him

v. 17 – Gideon wanted a sign

v. 18 – Gideon told the angel to wait

Judges 6

v. 17 – Gideon wanted a sign

v. 18 – Gideon told the angel to wait

Judges 6

v. 19 – Gideon prepared a feast and brought it to the angel

v. 20 – Angel told Gideon to place it on a rock, pour broth on it

v. 21 – Angel touched it with staff, consumed by fire

v. 22 – Gideon believed he was an angel of the Lord

v. 23 – Lord told him he would not die

v. 24 – Gideon built an alter to God

Judges 6

v. 22 – Gideon believed he was an angel of the Lord

v. 23 – Lord told him he would not die

v. 24 – Gideon built an alter to God

Judges 6

v. 25 – Gideon told to tear down alter and wooden image of Baal

v. 27 – Gideon and 10 servants did so

v. 28-29 – Men arose and saw, accused Gideon

v. 30 – Spoke to his father and said bring him out to be killed

v. 31 – Joash said if Baal is a god, let him avenge

v. 33 – Midianites and Amalekites prepare for battle

Judges 6

v. 30 – Spoke to his father and said bring him out to be killed

v. 31 – Joash said if Baal is a god, let him avenge

v. 33 – Midianites and Amalekites prepare for battle

Judges 6

v. 34-35 – God spoke to Gideon again

v. 36-40 – Proof to Gideon that God was with him – miracle of fleece and dew

Judges 7

v. 1 – Gideon with 32,000 men camped near enemy with 135,000 men

v. 2 – God said there are too many men

v. 3 – Tell those afraid to go back home

v. 4 – Still too many

Judges 7

v. 5 – Those that lap water as a dog will fight

v. 6 – 300 lapped as dog, put hands to mouth

v. 7 – 300 men would fight enemy of 135,000

Judges 7

v. 16 – Men divided into 3 companies. Each man had a trumpet, pitcher, and lamp

v. 17-18 – Gideon instructs the men

Judges 7

v. 19-20 – 300 men blew trumpets, broke pitchers, and cried “The sword of the Lord and Gideon”

v. 21 – Every man stood in his place, Midianites destroyed themselves and fled

1. Trusting God

If But Why Where

“You have to be kidding”

Lack of Faith and Obedience

1. Trusting God

Do not place full trust in God

Snag in life

Question God

Paul endured – 2 Cor. 4:7 ff

“walk by faith not by sight”

2. Inferiority

Gideon Felt Unqualified

Why Me ?

Felt he could not do the job

2. Inferiority

I am not qualified

God says “I will be with you”

Matt. 28:20 “I am with you”

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil.4:13

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil.4:19

God did not accept the excuses of Gideon

If you cannot, you serve a God who can!

“And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God”

2 Cor. 3:4-5

3. FearGideon was scared (Jud. 6:27; 7:10)

Of those close to him

Of the Midianites

But he was willing to serve God

3. Fear

• At times we are afraid

• Devil uses fear to stop us

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

2 Tim. 1:7

3. Fear

• Paul had fear - Acts 18:5-11

• Fear was overcome by obedience

•God did not remove their fears, but he enabled them to overcome

• God will provide us the strength

God accepted Gideon with his struggles

He gave him strength to overcome

SalvationSalvation

Hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17)Believe In Jesus (Jn. 8:24)REPENT of your sins (Lk. 13:3)Confess your faith (Matt. 10:32-33)Baptized Into Christ (Acts 2:38)

Faithful until death (Rev. 2:10)

REMISSION OF SINS