December 12, Gideon

Day 13, December 12
Persons: Gideon
Theme/Event: Unlikely Heroes
Symbol: Pitcher with torch inside
Judges 2:6-23, 6:1-6, 7, 11:8-28

We saw God show His glory last night by helping Joshua and the Israelites defeat Jericho. We will see tonight How God shows His glory even through people who are afraid. Another one of Jesus’ ancestors was named Gideon. He lived at a time when not many people were following God and many worshipped false gods. Gideon thought God had forsaken the Israelites (Judges 6:13), but we know God never forgets His people. The Lord came to Gideon and patiently proved Himself to Gideon. The Lord then told Gideon to take an army to defeat the enemies of the Israelites, the Midianites.

Judges 7:15-22
15 …He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” 16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers. 17 And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, ‘The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!’” 19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!” 21 And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. 22 When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel gathered together from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.

By obedience to the Lord’s commands, Gideon and his army defeated the Midianites. The Midianites were so startled when Gideon’s army broke the pitchers with the torches inside, that the Midianite army fought itself! Even though Gideon was fearful, he trusted in God and God gave Gideon and his army the victory. God chose Gideon to not only be the head of his army; He made Gideon a judge over his people. Gideon helped them to obey God’s laws and stop worshipping false gods. Even though the Israelites had forgotten God, God had not forgotten the Israelites and in His time, God raised up an unlikely leader to show His power and His glory.

Questions:
What did Gideon tell his army to do?
What are you afraid of?
How can you trust God to help you?
Prayer: Dear God, help me to always trust in You, even when I am afraid. Thank you that you are always faithful.