May 31, 2020
Heroes of Faith
Gideon: The Fight of Faith
with Mark Adams
Hebrews 11; Judges 6-8
This morning we are studying another Hero of the Faith in Hebrews 11. A man named Gideon. Gideon’s life illustrates the fact that one of the keys to victory in life is our understanding that we have Someone much bigger at our side.
Gideon was the fourth Judge and his ministry began with the same phrase that got all the other judges started.
“[Once] again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” —Judges 6:1
They people of Israel knew they were vulnerable and that an attack could come at any moment so not only were they constantly hungry, they lived in constant fear.
“They were brought very low because of Midian.” —Judges 6:6
The angel of the Lord – Jesus Himself, before His incarnation, taking the form of an angel and visiting the earth – visited Gideon.
“The Lord is with you, Oh VALIANT warrior!” —Judges 6:12
God’s reply to all of Gideon’s excuses of inferiority was this:
“I will be with you.” —Judges 6:15
That’s the main point that I want us to take from his faith story. You see when it comes to dealing with the struggles of life it’s not a matter of who
“Gideon, go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my family” —Judges 6:14-15
“I will be with you and you will strike down the Midianites as if they were but one man.”
—Judges 6:15-16
What is unthinkable and undoable on our own becomes unstoppable when we realize that GOD is with us.
God is; greater than anything we face and He is always with us.
The first task God gave him was to
“Gideon did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.” —Judges 6:27
when Gideon’s father found out what happened he responded by saying,
“If Baal is really God, Baal can take care of himself.” —Judges 6:31
The next task God gave him was to go up against the camel-riding Midianites to free his people.
“Lord, if You will save Israel by my hand as You have promised—look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You said.” —Judges 6:36
“There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go. Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” —Judges 7:4
“With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands.”—Judges 7:7
God gave Gideon the courage to fight; he did and miraculously, the Midianites took off running. Israel was free, and they knew Who freed them; it wasn’t those 300 dog-lappers. No, it was the one True ALMIGHTY God.
No matter our fears or how long our worry lists are; God is enough,