Lesson 8

background notes

doctrinal / teaching points
1. True faith believes and struggles.

2. True faith believes and worships.

practical application

1. Your worship is not a waste.

questions

1. Who was the Angel of the Lord?

2. What was Gideon doing when the Lord called him? Why was Gideon doing it "differently?"

3. When God called Gideon, what was His implied promise to him?

4. List some of Gideon's questions to the Lord.

5. Did the Lord answer all of Gideon's questions?

6. In this section of Scripture, what sign did God give to Gideon to assure him that it was He who was speaking?

answers

1. It is believed that this was the Lord Himself, the preincarnate Son of God. This is supported in vs. 22-23 where Gideon knew that he had seen the Lord Himself, and thought he was going to die, because he had seen God.

2. Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press. Normally, wheat is threshed out in the open so the wind can blow the chaff away. Gideon didn't want the Midianites to see him and rob his small amount of grain.

3. "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (v. 12) Actually, there were two promises: 1) the Lord would be with Gideon in his call and 2) the Lord would make of him a mighty man of valor.

4. Why have all these things happened to us? Where are Your miracles of which our fathers spoke? Have You forsaken us and delivered us to the enemy? How can I be called to save Israel when my clan is the weakest, and I'm the least in my father's house?

5. No, but He assured him of victory.

6. When Gideon brought out meat and unleavened bread, laid them on a rock, and poured out the broth, the Angel of the Lord touched them with his staff, and fire rose out of the rock and consumed them.

discuss / consider

1. Gideon had a faith that believed and struggled. He had honest questions about what was going on, even wondering if the Lord had forsaken him; he had doubts and fears. But Gideon did not lose faith, nor did he reject or deny the Lord. Do you have doubts, fears and questions? Do you seek signs from the Lord to affirm His presence and care?

2. Gideon prepared and presented an offering to the Lord. It was an act of worship, and it cost him something. In this time of famine, Gideon gave a very substantial offering, not from surplus, but of survival supplies. It involved real sacrifice. How can you sacrificially worship?

challenge

1. The Angel of the Lord consumed Gideon's sacrificial offering. A disciple called it a waste when Mary anointed the Lord with a costly ointment. Perhaps there are those pointing fingers of accusation at you for "wasting" your life, squandering your money on the underprivileged, or spending time in prayer. Remember, when you give to the Lord, it is never a waste in His eyes.

memorize

• "The Angel of the Lord said to Gideon, 'The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Judges 6:12

• "Mary took a pound of very costly oil and anointed the feet of Jesus. And the house was filled with the fragrance. But one of His disciples said, 'Why this waste?" John 12:3-5