Judges 6:11-24 & Ch.7 Gideon's Test 1. THE PLACE. 11 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. I. A PLACE OF CONSTERNATION!
A. Where Gideon Was Found
B. What Gideon Was Feeling
II. A PLACE OF REVELATION! 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour
A. The Angel Of The Lord Standing
B. The Angel Of The Lord Speaking
III. A PLACE OF TRANSFORMATION! 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
A. What God Can Do For Us 13 why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of B. What God Can Do In Us 14 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?
C. What God Can Do Through Us 14 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? 2. THE PERPLEXITY. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? 'The Midianite is in the land, Bleak devastation reigns.
Charred fields and looted granaries, Give witness to their gains. A lonely figure threshes there, 'Neath Ophrah's grizzled tree,
Then stunned, he looks, To find himself in regal company. The Angel of the Lord, no less, Now graces Gideon’s view.
'I've come to vanquish all your foes, My weapon will be you!' My Lord, what instruments have I, To drive the tyrant hence?
Just two, but all sufficient they - FAITH and OBEDIENCE'. They were (a) Many (b) Mighty (c) Malicious 3. THE PROTEST. 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
“GIDEON’S GOD” Judges 6.11-7.18 Gideon was: 1. A MAN WITH LITTLE COURAGE (6.11-14) 2. A MAN WITH LITTLE STATUS (6.15-16) 3. A MAN WITH LITTLE FAITH (6.36-40) 4. A MAN WITH A LITTLE ARMY (7.1-8) 5. A MAN WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD 6:16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. Zechariah 4.6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 1 Cor 1:29, That no flesh should glory in his presence. 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 4. THE PROMISE. 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. (a) The PROMISE of the God’s PRESENCE v.16 Surely I will be with thee
(b) The PROCLAMATION of God’s PEACE v. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom:
(c) The PERFORMANCE of God’s PLAN v. 25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place,
(d) The PROVISION of God’s POWER v. 33-34 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. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
(e) The PROOF of God’s POSSIBILITIES v. 7:1-8 (a) GOD TOOK AWAY FORCES FROM ISRAEL: (b) GOD TOOK AWAY FEAR FROM GIDEON: v.13&14 (c) GOD TOOK AWAY FORTITUDE FROM MIDIAN: Gideon's Trust Judges 7 I. THE REALITIES OF GOD’S PLAN A. God’s Plan Is A Different Plan - V. 2-7 Gideon planned to march into battle with 32,000 soldiers, but God had a different plan! (Ill. David was just a shepherd, but God had a different plan. Job was a wealthy man who just wanted to worship his God, love his family and enjoy his wealth, but God had a different plan. Saul of Tarsus just wanted to destroy Christianity, but God had a different plan!)
B. God’s Plan Is A Declared Plan - (Gideon heard from the enemy, v.13-14). He speaks through His Word, Rom. 10:17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. He speaks through His Spirit, Acts 13:2; As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Acts 16:6-7. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. He speaks through other believers, Acts 9:17-18. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. He speaks through the circumstances of life, Gen. 24:12-16. Rebekah 12 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: 14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. The bottom line is this, God will always direct your feet plainly! C. God’s Plan Is A Distinct Plan - V. 15-23 Gideon’s men were to surround the enemy, 300 hundred against thousands! They were to sounds their trumpets, shout for the battle and break a little clay pitcher containing a light. God said that this would give them the victory, and it did! II. THE REQUIREMENTS OF GOD’S PLAN A. God’s Plan Requires Surrender - Gideon army went 32,000 followers! to 300 What Gideon learned was that this fight was not about Gideon, his army, or even the enemy. This battle was about the Lord! Rom. 8:28; And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Jer. 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. B. God’s Plan Requires Submission - For God’s plan to succeed, Gideon and the 300 had to walk in obedience to God’s plan for the battle to succeed!
1 Sam. 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. Eph. 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; C. God’s Plan Requires Steadfastness - 1. The BLOWING of the Trumpet: ( 7:20 ) Trumpets speak of the Word of God. 1 Thes 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God–ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 2. The BREAKING of the Pitcher: 19 The pitcher or vessel speaks of the servant 2 Tim 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 3. The BEAMING of the Light: ( 7:20 ) Light speak of the Christ of God. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. As long as the vessel was unbroken the light was concealed ? But when the vessel was broken the light was revealed ? John the Baptist John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. III. THE RESULTS OF GOD’S PLAN Gideon's Triumph A. God’s Enemies Are Vanquished - V. 21-22 The Midianites and the Amalekites turned on one another in fear and fled the scene. B. God’s People Are Victorious - V. 23 Rom. 8:37; Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 2 Cor. 2:14; Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 1 Cor. 15:57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4:7-10; But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. C. God’s Name Is Venerated -V.15-23 Because the victory was won without a great army and without a fierce battle, God got all the glory for the victory! 1 Cor. 10:31; Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Matt. 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
