Gideon - A Deliverer for the People

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Judges 6:1-3
The Israelites vowed to follow God but fell short of their promise and it got so severe that God took action again. “ did evil in the eyes of the Lord “

For the fourth time in Judges, the Israelites fell into sin ( v 1 ). This time they found themselves at the mercy of the invading Midianites. Desert dwellers, descended from Abraham and Keturah ( Gen 25:2 ), lived generally to the south of Palestine. They were allied with the Moabites in an attempt to impede the Israelites under Moses ( Num 22:7; 25:6 ), but Moses later routed them ( Num 31:8 ).

Israelites tried hiding in caves and shelters to try to save the food supplies and themselves.

The Midianites swept across the Jordan into the Valley of Jezreel at harvest time. With their speedy, wide-ranging mounts, they roamed all the way to Gaza, helping themselves to crops and animals ( v 4 ). The Midianites were joined by the Amalekites, who had earlier assisted King Eglon of Moab ( 3:12-13 ), and by other eastern peoples ( v 3 ). Israel was helpless to resist the invaders and literally took to the hills to save their lives ( v 2 ).

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Judges 6:7-10
In their distress the Israelites once more cried out to the Lord ( v 7 ). The last time this happened, God used the prophetess Deborah to bring deliverance ( 4:3-4 ). On this occasion the Lord sent a “ prophet ” ( v 8 ).

Once again God reminded the people of their release from Egypt’s slavery ( vv 8-9 ), which should have resulted in perpetual devotion to the Lord. Instead, the Israelites worshiped the gods of the Amorites ( v 10 ). Here “ Amorites ” is used generally of all the inhabitants of Palestine ( Gen 15:16 ), though it can sometimes be restricted to the hill country folk. Israel refused “ to listen to ” the Lord ( v 10 ), a Hebrew idiom for disobedience ( 2:2 ).

Judges 6:11
The Lord’s instrument of deliverance was a young man from the tribe of Manasseh named Gideon. While he was threshing wheat in Ophrah, eight miles northwest of Beth Shan ( 1:27 ), the angel of the Lord appeared to him. The angel sat under the oak tree, or terebinth, located there ( 4:5 ).

To hide the wheat and himself from the Midianites, Gideon was threshing in a winepress, a pit carved out of rocky ground. Normally threshing floors were located in exposed areas so that the wind could easily blow away the chaff.

Judges 6:12
The angel’s words seem out of line with the timid actions of Gideon, and Gideon himself challenged their authenticity. Actually, the promise of the Lord’s presence was intended to encourage Gideon, just as the same assurance led Moses to take the Israelites out of Egypt. “ The LORD is with you ” is the basic meaning of the name Yahweh ( YHWH ), revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai ( Exod 3:12-14) . If God is with us, who can resist us ( Isa 7:14; 8:8-10; Rom 8:31 )

Gideon was called a “ mighty warrior ”, “ mighty man of valour ” perhaps in anticipation of his remarkable bravery. Often it is applied to fighting men ( Josh 1:14; 10:7 ) Some scholars understand the term to mean the upper class. Gideon did have at least ten servants ( v 27 ), which indicates the status of his father’s family.

Judges 6:13
Gideon did not recognize the visitor and complained that the oppression proved that the Lord was not with Israel. Gideon compared the miracles everyone had heard about with the now inactivity of the Lord ( Ps 44:1-3, 9-16 ).

Judges 6:14
Here the heavenly guest is identified as the Lord himself, and something of His glory may have been revealed as He turned to face Gideon. The Lord was sending Gideon, as he had sent Moses ( Exod 3:12 ). The strength Gideon possessed was the promise of the Lord’s presence with him.

“ mighty warrior and “ I will be with you “ is as with Moses.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

Heroes of faith...

Recap

Why was idol worship so important to Israel?

This punishment was seven years of troubles with the Midianites and now the people cried to God.

Prayers and vows in excessive times and a loss of memory after the danger has passed.

Have you ever made promises to God in your trouble? Have you kept them after the trouble passed?

This was a cycle of sin and can we see the same cycle in our lives?

Israelites idol worship brought them major problems, do we fall in the same trap?

“ But you have not listened to me “ was Gods charge to the Israelites, can He charge you with the same?

In this lesson we can see the righteous suffering along side of the unrighteous.

Judges 8:18-19
Then he asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered, “each one with the bearing of a prince.” Gideon replied, “Those were my brothers, the sons of my own mother. As surely as the LORD lives, if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you.”

The Christians of the world today is not immune to punishment that God will bring on this country due to our idols and the lack of hearing and obedience.

Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven I pray we can get rid of our idols and return to You with a stronger faith and obedience that we had before. I pray we do not cycle our allegiance between You and our idols. I pray for the Spirit of dedication. Thank You Lord.

In the name of Jesus. Amen

TGIF