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Gideon: Judges 6-8
Gideon was another deliverer, chosen by God to help Israel out of severe oppression by the Midianites. Israel’s crops were being destroyed, the land devastated, and they were forced into caves for refuge. God had let this happen because the people had been disobedient.
The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, telling him that the LORD was with him. Gideon questioned this because of the conditions of Israel, but God told him that he would deliver the people. At God’s command, Gideon tore down the altar to Baal and built one to the LORD.
Gideon gathered an army together to fight against the Midianites. At first, God said there were too many; they might be tempted to think that they defeat Midian by their own power. Many went back home, but there still remained 10,000. God said this was also too many, so a test was prepared to pare the army down to 300.
With these 300 men, Gideon soundly defeated the Midianites. The fact that there were so few in the army proved that it was by God’s power that they were victorious. Because of Gideon’s leadership in overcoming the Midianites, the people of Israel wanted him to become their ruler. Gideon declined, however, saying, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you” (8:23).
As long as Gideon lived, the people remained in the right path. But as soon as Gideon died, the people once again returned to their old pattern of sin, “playing the harlot” by following after false gods. Gideon had done so much good for Israel, but they “did not remember the LORD their God,” nor did they “show kindness” to Gideon’s family.
Discussion
1. Who were the Midianites? Locate where they came from on a map. How long did they oppress Israel? What did they do to Israel, and why did God allow it to happen?
2. Why did God not want Gideon’s army to be very large? What test was given to trim the army down?
3. How did Gideon determine if it was God who was really speaking to him?
4. Why did Ephraim contend with Gideon?