ADVENTURES OF GIDEON: THE VALIANT
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Adventures Of Gideon
a) We are in the time of the Judges and the Conquest of Canaan. We look at the almost valiant Gideon, whose attitudes and ways reflect those of many dedicated Christians.
2. The Valiant
i) Gideon came next after Deborah. Gideon was the next judge of Israel following Deborah. She was a hard act to follow, but a generation gone by (Judges 5:31) and a lot had been forgotten. In this period between the two judges, history repeats itself for the umpteenth time. "The sons of Israel did what was evil" and "Israel was brought very low" (Judges 6:1,6).
ii) Gideon, when called, was negative and reluctant. Gideon seemed to think God had abandoned Israel —in fact Israel had abandoned God. Furthermore, Gideon felt that he was the least among Israel to be their deliverer. Before he would be convinced, he wanted to see a sign from God. His first act as judge, helped by ten of his servants, was to obey a command from God to destroy the pagan altars and idols of his father's house, and to build an altar to the LORD instead. However, he was too afraid to do this in daytime, so he did it by night (Judges 6:11-27).
iii) Later he was bold and full of confidence in the LORD. At the Lord's bidding, Gideon went down to spy out the great war-camp of the Midianites. He overheard a man tell a simple dream, and another interpret it (Judges 7:9-15). This was enough for him to show great faith and boldly attempt the rout of the Midianite army using only 300 men and a ruse (Judges 7:16-23).
iv) He spoke true wisdom, but acted in folly. When the Israelites requested him to rule over them, he said, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son... the LORD shall rule over you". Yet he then requested gold from them, out of which he made an image, and the people of his city worshiped it! This image "became a snare to Gideon and his family" (Judges 8:22-28).
v) God took account of his faith. Gideon, a child of his times, followed some customs that were not the way of God. However, God saw Gideon's faith, and by it Gideon joined those who "out of weakness were made strong" (Hebrews 11:32-34).
The End ...
1. Adventures Of Gideon a) We are in the time of the Judges and the Conquest of Canaan. We look at the almost valiant Gideon, whose attitudes and ways reflect those of many dedicated Christians.
2. The Valiant
i) Gideon came next after Deborah. Gideon was the next judge of Israel following Deborah. She was a hard act to follow, but a generation gone by (Judges 5:31) and a lot had been forgotten. In this period between the two judges, history repeats itself for the umpteenth time. "The sons of Israel did what was evil" and "Israel was brought very low" (Judges 6:1,6).
ii) Gideon, when called, was negative and reluctant. Gideon seemed to think God had abandoned Israel —in fact Israel had abandoned God. Furthermore, Gideon felt that he was the least among Israel to be their deliverer. Before he would be convinced, he wanted to see a sign from God. His first act as judge, helped by ten of his servants, was to obey a command from God to destroy the pagan altars and idols of his father's house, and to build an altar to the LORD instead. However, he was too afraid to do this in daytime, so he did it by night (Judges 6:11-27).
iii) Later he was bold and full of confidence in the LORD. At the Lord's bidding, Gideon went down to spy out the great war-camp of the Midianites. He overheard a man tell a simple dream, and another interpret it (Judges 7:9-15). This was enough for him to show great faith and boldly attempt the rout of the Midianite army using only 300 men and a ruse (Judges 7:16-23).
iv) He spoke true wisdom, but acted in folly. When the Israelites requested him to rule over them, he said, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son... the LORD shall rule over you". Yet he then requested gold from them, out of which he made an image, and the people of his city worshiped it! This image "became a snare to Gideon and his family" (Judges 8:22-28).
v) God took account of his faith. Gideon, a child of his times, followed some customs that were not the way of God. However, God saw Gideon's faith, and by it Gideon joined those who "out of weakness were made strong" (Hebrews 11:32-34).
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