Text: Judges 6-8,
Theme: Gideon and Israel
Part 1
Introduction of Gideon: We will do two studies out of the chapters 6-8. The first one is about the Call and ministry of Gideon, and the second is about the later part of Gideon’s life including his children and their end. His leadership is found in the book of Judges from chapters 6 to 8. His contribution is told with lengthy narration after the manner of Samson.
Gideon:
He was the fifth Judge of Israel who lived in the 12th BCE. He was also known as Jerubbaal, he was the youngest son of Joash of the tribe of Manasseh lived in Ophrah. Gideon’s family was not wealthy. The name Gideon has Hebrew origin, meaning a feller of trees, a Hewer or a great warrior. Jerubbaal means, “Let Baal contend against him” (Judges 6:32). Gideon’s family was idolatrous. God commanded Gideon to destroy the altar of Baal that belonged to his father, and he built an altar to God and named that exact spot Yahweh-Shalom.
Context: The Israelites during Gideon were facing survival issues because of the atrocities caused by Midianites and Amalekites. They destroyed crops, took plunder, and then escaped. Israel was humiliated, despairing, and miserable. The nation was just as emotionally and spiritually ruined. Finally, they beg God for rescue (Judges 6:6). However, God used Gideon to use his people to fight the battle. He had an army composed of 32000 soldiers but God tested their faith and courage and reduced them to 300. They used the pitchers, torches, and trumpets to win the battle. He judged for forty years (Judges 6:11-8:35). The supremacy of Yahweh over Baal is proved to the ministry of Gideon. Monotheism is strongly advocated against idolatry during the Judges. Gideon took it to his heart.
Call of Gideon: One day, Gideon was threshing wheat an Angel of the Lord appeared to him and commissioned him to go and fight the Midianites. But Gideon was unwilling to serve him. However, after persuasion, he agreed to serve the Lord. Gideon was discouraged and doubtful but God took Gideon step by step until he became a courageous, passionate, and empowered leader. The Lord said unto him, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites” (Judges 6:14). “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:15,16).
Lessons:
1. Gideon was very human and realistic. He responded bluntly to his unresolved feelings about God and His power. He expressed that God had abandoned Israel to suffer. He was living with discouragement because of the attacks they had again and again from the Midianites. They had incurable pain (Judges 6:1-6). Gideon and his people had physical and emotional pain. There was a fear of survival, starvation, stress, and shame. He had anger and bitterness about the life they lived on.
2. Gideon blamed God for handing them over to their enemies instead of taking responsibility for the ways his people had abandoned God (Judges 6:1, 7:10).
3. No matter how small, weak, or doubtful we may be, Through Gideon God teaches us that God doesn’t see us the way we see ourselves. He works patiently with us and shapes us.
4. God often manifests himself to his people when they are out of the noise and hurry of this world. Silence and solitude befriend our communion with God.
Discussion:
1. Do we count numbers or Counsel of God?
2. What are the occasions you had feared to give leadership for God’s kingdom?
Part II
Introduction:
According to the Precept Austin Commentary: Chapter 8 of the book of Judges records Gideon's reactions to five confrontations. In four out of the five, he behaves abominably. The chronology in chapter 8 seems to be as follows: the protest of the Ephraimites after he arrived home (8:1-3); Gideon’s pursuit of the two kings (8:4-12); his disciplining of the defiant Jews on his journey home (8:13-17); the slaying of the kings (8:18-21); and Gideon’s “retirement” (8:22-35).
Spurgeon says, ‘We have some friends, like these men of Ephraim, who do not like being left out of the battle for the Lord. They say, “Why are we not asked for our help? Why are we not allowed to take our share?” These Ephraimites knew all about the war, and they might have volunteered to help Gideon.” (Judges 8:1-3). Their complaint was petty and self-serving, motivated almost entirely by personal jealousy and injured pride. There was only bitterness of heart and petty jealousy. “There is nothing Satan loves more than to see Christians fighting with one another. If we are fighting with each other, we are not pursuing the enemy. Satan can cause us to be so confused that we believe fellow believers are our enemies.” (Gary Inrig).
Good Example:
Gideon was not interested in becoming a King of Israel. He does not want to take the place of God. He understood that it was not his place to take the throne over Israel and that the LORD God was king over Israel. (Judges 8:22-23). It was a good attitude of a leader. Leaders should not supersede the Divine rule. No one can take the place of God be it of kings, of priests, of prophets, and of preachers. “After winning a great victory, we must always beware of the temptation to sin, for Satan attacks us subtly when we least expect it.” “The government in Israel was essentially a theocracy, not a monarchy, and even when the monarchy was introduced it was qualified by this consideration.” (Austin Precept).
Wrong Example:
However, over forty years Gideon used his wealth and influence to build an enormous family. he had many wives and seventy sons. Also, he took a concubine who was a Canaanite. She was from the town of Shechem. There is a marked contrast between the seventy sons and Abimelech. The 70 were ‘out of his loins’ means of male descent to his own tribe. Abimelech, on the other hand, was the son of a concubine who remained with her own family group in Shechem. It is important to observe that any offspring of such a union belonged to the wife’s family. (Tyndale Old Testament Commentary). Gideon had a son through her against the law of the Lord (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). His son was named Abimelech, literally meaning "the king is my father." This son was involved in terrible bloodshed after Gideon's death (Judges 8:29–32).
He angrily punished Succoth and Penuel for not helping in his war against the Midianite kings (Judges 8:1-17). He ordered the people to give him their golden earrings, taken as war spoils from the Ishmaelites. He made a worship symbol, an ephod, out of it and led his people astray with it (Judges 8:24-27). His family did not follow his God (Judges 8:33). The hero of faith (Hebrews 11:32) ended his life on a sad note.
Conclusion:
“Many are led into false ways by one false step of a good man. It became a snare to Gideon himself, and it proved the ruin of the family. How soon will ornaments which feed the lust of the eye, and form the pride of life, as well as tend to the indulgences of the flesh, bring shame on those who are fond of them!” (Mathew Henry). “A picture of his fluctuating life, of both his strengths and weaknesses, is painted in the present passage of Scripture. This passage stands as a warning to us against living an inconsistent life.” (Preachers Outline and sermon Bible Commentary).
Discussion: What is the main area of deviation in the life of Gideon? How we can identify in our Lives?
(Ref: Britannica; Studylight; Bibleinfo; Bibleref; deepspirituality; Commentary by Matthew Henry; Austin Precept)
