ConclusionI believe that we can summarize God’s call to Gideon in one word: trust. If we go all the way back to Gideon’s first encounter with God in the wine press, God was telling Gideon to do the job and trust in Him for the result.As we try to live out our faith and be … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 19) →

ConclusionBiographies can be a good thing, not for just enjoyment, but for learning. Reading biographical accounts of Biblical characters can increase one’s faith in the truthfulness of the Scriptures because the Bible presents a very human picture of the people that are in the accounts.The Bible presents people honestly, as we would expect them to … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 18) →

A Judge and MoreThere is one more lesson that Gideon can teach us.God gave Gideon a stunning victory against the Midianites. He became a judge over the people instead of a king. Gideon had the opportunity to lead the people in the right direction, but became a leader in idol worship. Because of these facts, … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 17) →

A Judge and MoreHe did make what seems to be a strange request from the people. Gideon asked each of them for an earring from the plunder, and received over forty pounds of gold (Judges 8:26) and other treasures. Gideon took the precious metal and made an ephod from it.What is an ephod? Ephod has … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 16) →

A Judge and More The account of Gideon ended with him as a judge. This judge became something more.As we’ve seen from American history, a political career can begin with success in war. Several of our American presidents, including Ulysses S. Grant, began political careers because they led victorious armies in great wars.Gideon’s career as … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 15) →

A WarriorWhat can we learn from Gideon?This gives us another lesson from the account of Gideon.That lesson is that God will equip the one that He calls. God may not call us to fight a military battle and win a victory against what we might call impossible odds. He has called us to follow Him … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 14) →

A WarriorGideon and his men pursued the fleeing Midianites. With the help of the Ephraimites, they cut off the retreating enemy.The kings of Midian, however, continued to run. But Gideon caught up with them and killed them, making the defeat final.Gideon took, according to verse 21, the ornaments from the camels of the two kings … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 13) →

A WarriorGod told Gideon to make a reconnaissance into the Midianite camp. He went to an outpost where Gideon and his servant heard the men talking about a dream. The Midianite said that a loaf of barley bread tumbled through camp and wiped it out. The other man on patrol had the gift, in this … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 12) →

A WarriorNext, we begin to see Gideon as a warrior.Chapter 7 of Judges begins with Gideon and his force camped south of the Midianites on ground that was above the enemy. Gideon was in a good tactical position to attack. Leaders of military forces, like Grant and Sherman, would have given their eye teeth for … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 11) →

A Scared Young ManThe second lesson is that God is patient with His people when they have a lack of faith.Gideon was commissioned by God Himself to take on the Midianites and was promised victory against them because God was with them. Yet, at each turn, Gideon displayed a lack of faith. This is especially … Continue reading Gideon: A Biographical Study (Part 10) →