CALLED
Judges 6:1–4, 7–16
Chapters 3–4 of Judges recount the repeated cycle of Israel’s disobedience, captivity and deliverance. Living among the pagan tribes in Canaan, the people of God gave in to the peer pressure around them and “did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.”
Because of their disobedience, God would allow them to be conquered. Eventually, they would cry out to the Lord, and He would raise up a judge to deliver them. In the aforementioned chapters, we read about Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar and Deborah. God used these judges to rebuke the people and call them to remember and repent.
When we come to chapter 6, we read the all-too-familiar refrain: “The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”
Oppression (1–4, 7–10)
Because of their disobedience, God allowed them to be oppressed by the Midianites for seven years. They were reduced to living in caves and dens in the mountain areas. Their crops and their livestock were routinely confiscated by the Midianites. The Jews were living at the poverty level. When they finally cried out to God, He raised up a prophet to remind them of the reasons for their plight. Yahweh was the One who had delivered them from slavery in Egypt and brought them into the promised land, and yet they continued to disobey Him.
What are some of the consequences for disobeying God?
Commission (11–14)
In this passage we are introduced to Gideon. The angel of the Lord (who I believe is the preincarnate Christ) appears to Gideon as he is threshing grain inside of a winepress for fear of the Midianites. And in a humorous statement of irony, the angel declares, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.” At this point in his life, Gideon is anything but a “valiant warrior.” Gideon pushed back against the statement that the Lord was with him or Israel since they were under such serious oppression from the Midianites. He questioned God’s care for them.
However, the angel commissioned Gideon to be the man who would deliver the children of Israel from the Midianites. Once again, God was responding to the prayers of His people crying out for deliverance. I am so grateful that our God is long-suffering and patient.
Has God ever called you to do something that is outside your comfort zone? What was your response and the outcome?
Reassurance (15–16)
Gideon was unconvinced about his ability to deliver the people. He was looking at his history and limited resources. Gideon was living in defeat until he took his eyes off of his circumstances and the enemy and looked up to God. He was a member of one of the weakest tribes — Manasseh — and his father’s house was one of the weakest in the tribe. He needed to learn that God didn’t need his ability, only his availability. As the song states, “God uses ordinary people.”
Gideon needed reassurance that God was with him. He brought a sacrifice of unleavened bread, a young goat and broth to the Lord and placed it on a rock. When the angel of the Lord touched the offering with his rod, fire rose out of the rock and consumed the sacrifice. Gideon built an altar in that place and named it “the Lord is Peace.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
By Don Fugate
Senior pastor of Foxworthy Baptist Church in San Jose, California
