Bible Stories: Gideon
Join Pastor Tim Carpenter at Mercy Church as we dive into the book of Judges for our "Bible Stories" series to explore the life of Gideon. This message highlights God's incredible patience with our human frailty and challenges us to trust His plans rather than endlessly demanding signs. For more information or for help in your spiritual journey, visit mercychurchnh.com.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction to Gideon and Judges Series
1:33 - Judges 6:1-6: Israel's Disobedience and Oppression
2:19 - The Cycle of Disobedience and Deliverance
5:15 - Judges 6:7-10: God Sends a Prophet
5:46 - Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
7:10 - Judges 6:11-12: The Angel Appears to Gideon
11:08 - Judges 6:13-14: Gideon Questions God
13:04 - Judges 6:15-16: Gideon Claims Weakness
13:53 - Judges 6:17-18: Gideon Asks for a Sign
15:27 - Judges 6:19-24: Gideon's Offering and Realization
17:21 - Judges 6:25-27: God Commands Gideon to Destroy Idols
18:09 - Judges 6:28-32: The Aftermath of Destroying Baal's Altar
21:19 - Judges 6:33-35: Midianite Alliance and Gideon's Call to Arms
21:46 - Judges 6:36-40: Gideon's Second Fleece Test
23:42 - Conclusion: Trusting God Beyond Our Doubts
A Quick Brief
Study Guide: The Story of Gideon and Divine Patience
This study guide examines the biblical narrative of Gideon as presented in Judges chapter 6. It explores themes of national disobedience, divine judgment, the transition between covenants, and the persistent patience of God toward human frailty and doubt.
Quiz: Understanding Judges Chapter 6
1. What is the recurring cycle of behavior observed among the Israelites throughout the book of Judges? The cycle begins with the Israelites’ obedience and trust in God, which eventually shifts to forgetting God and falling into disobedience. This disobedience leads to divine judgment, after which the people cry out for help, prompting God to send a "judge" to deliver them and return them to a period of obedience.
2. Describe the nature of the oppression the Israelites faced from the Midianites and Amalekites. The Midianites and their allies invaded the land like swarms of locusts, destroying crops and seizing livestock until the land was ravaged as far as Gaza. This forced the Israelites to abandon their homes and seek safety in mountain cliffs, caves, and strongholds to avoid total destruction.
3. What explanation did the prophet give to the Israelites when they cried out for help? The prophet reminded the people that God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt and delivered them from all their oppressors. He explained that their current suffering was a direct result of their failure to listen to God’s command not to worship the gods of the Amorites.
4. How does the text distinguish between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant regarding judgment? Under the Old Covenant, disobedience to God’s law led directly to judgment; however, the New Covenant provides a system where Jesus has taken that judgment upon himself. For those "in Christ," the judgment for disobedience has already been handled, representing what the text calls a "new and better covenant."
5. Where was Gideon when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and what was he doing? Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress rather than on a traditional threshing floor. He chose this hidden location specifically to keep the wheat out of sight of the Midianites and prevent them from stealing his harvest.
6. Why is the Angel’s greeting to Gideon, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior," considered significant? The greeting is significant because there was nothing in Gideon’s background or current behavior—such as hiding in a winepress—to suggest he was a warrior. It illustrates the concept that God looks beyond current appearances to a person's potential and defines them based on His own declaration rather than their self-perception.
7. How did the Angel of the Lord confirm his identity to Gideon during their first encounter? After Gideon prepared an offering of meat, broth, and unleavened bread, the Angel instructed him to place them on a rock. When the Angel touched the offering with the tip of his staff, fire flared from the rock and consumed the food, after which the Angel disappeared.
8. What was Gideon’s first act of spiritual reform, and how did he execute it? God commanded Gideon to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, then build a proper altar to God using the wood from the destroyed pole. Gideon performed this task at night with the help of ten servants because he was afraid of the reaction of his family and the townspeople.
9. How did Joash, Gideon’s father, defend his son against the angry townspeople? When the town demanded Gideon’s death, Joash argued that if Baal were truly a god, he should be able to defend himself and contend with the person who broke his altar. This reasoning successfully shifted the burden of retribution onto the false god and spared Gideon’s life.
10. What were the two signs Gideon requested using a wool fleece to confirm God’s promise? First, Gideon asked that dew fall only on a fleece left on the threshing floor while the ground remained dry, which resulted in a bowl full of water. For the second test, he asked for the reverse: that the fleece remain dry while the surrounding ground was covered in dew.
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Answer Key
The Cycle of Judges: Obedience and trust lead to forgetting God, followed by disobedience and judgment. This is resolved when God sends a judge for deliverance, restarting the cycle.
Midianite Oppression: They acted like locusts, destroying all crops and livestock (sheep, cattle, donkeys). Israelites were impoverished and lived in caves and mountain strongholds to survive.
The Prophet's Message: He cited the Exodus and God's previous rescues, stating the people suffered because they ignored God's command to avoid false Amorite gods.
Covenant Comparison: The Old Covenant featured direct judgment for law-breaking, while the New Covenant through Jesus sees the judgment "taken care of" for those in Christ.
Gideon’s Location: He was hiding in a winepress threshing wheat to avoid detection by marauding Midianite gangs.
"Mighty Warrior": This reflects God's ability to see heart, soul, and potential. It shows that God’s definition of a person is the ultimate truth, regardless of their current frailty.
The Fire Sign: The Angel touched the meat and bread with a staff, causing fire to consume them, which finally convinced Gideon he was speaking to a divine messenger.
Destroying the Altar: Gideon tore down the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole at night. He used the wood from the pole to offer a bull as a burnt sacrifice to God.
Joash’s Defense: He told the crowd that whoever fights for Baal should be put to death, questioning why a real god would need humans to plead his cause.
The Fleece Tests: The first test resulted in a wet fleece and dry ground; the second test resulted in a dry fleece and wet ground.
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Essay Discussion Questions
The Nature of Divine Identity: Analyze how the title "Mighty Warrior" contrasts with Gideon’s actual circumstances. How does this narrative support the argument that God defines individuals by their potential rather than their current state?
The Role of Signs and Doubt: Gideon repeatedly asked for signs despite witnessing miraculous events. Discuss the text’s perspective on whether miracles are sufficient to produce lasting faith and the implications of God’s patience in these moments.
Covenantal Shifts: Using the provided text, explain the theological transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. How does this change the way a believer views divine judgment and obedience?
Cultural and Spiritual Syncretism: The text mentions that Gideon’s father possessed an altar to Baal. Discuss the spiritual state of Israel at this time and why the destruction of private idols was a necessary precursor to national deliverance.
Patience as a Divine Attribute: Explore the various instances of God’s patience in the story of Gideon. How does the text encourage readers to view their own "frailty" and "slow uptake" in light of God's reactions to Gideon?
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Glossary of Key Terms
Amalekites: An eastern people who joined the Midianites in invading and ravaging Israel’s land and resources.
Asherah Pole: A cult object representing a false goddess; Gideon was commanded to cut one down and use its wood for a sacrifice to God.
Baal: A false god worshiped by the Israelites; Gideon destroyed an altar dedicated to him, leading to the name "Jerubbaal."
Christophany: A theological term used to describe a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, which some suggest describes the "Angel of the Lord" in this narrative.
Epha: A unit of measurement used by Gideon to describe the amount of flour used to make bread for his offering.
Fleece: A piece of wool Gideon used in two miraculous tests to confirm that God would use him to save Israel.
Jerubbaal: The name given to Gideon by his father, meaning "Let Baal contend with him," after Gideon destroyed Baal's altar.
Judges (Book of): A book of the Bible characterized by a repetitive cycle of Israel’s disobedience, judgment, and deliverance by God-appointed leaders.
Midianites: The primary oppressors of Israel in Judges 6, described as impoverished the Israelites by stealing their crops and livestock for seven years.
New Covenant: The system established through Jesus Christ where judgment for disobedience is satisfied by his sacrifice, offering a "better" system than the Old Testament law.
Old Covenant: The religious and legal system prior to Jesus where disobedience to God's directives led to judgment and the need for earthly judges.
Threshing Wheat: The process of separating grain from husks; Gideon performed this in a winepress to hide from the Midianites.
Winepress: A pit or vessel typically used for treading grapes; used by Gideon as a makeshift, hidden location for threshing wheat.
