Lesson 12

background notes

doctrinal / teaching points

1. Victory in spiritual warfare demands broken clay jars.

2. Victory in spiritual warfare demands clear sounding trumpets.

practical application

1. Can you say, "Look at me and do likewise?"

questions

1. Gideon had divided his small army of three hundred men into three companies of one hundred men each, and he had sent them out to surround the camp of the Midianites. What did each man carry with him?

2. What was the reason for carrying these items rather than traditional weapons?

3. What made the Midianites believe that they were being attacked by a huge army?

4. Why did the Midianites attack each other?

5. The Midianite army with the Amalekites numbered 135,000, whereas Gideon's army numbered three hundred. How then could Israel defeat the enemy with the odds stacked against them at 450:1? Is this really a true story?

6. This account represents spiritual truths for Christians. What is represented by a) the land of Canaan, b) the battle itself, c) the Midianites and the Amalekites, and d) Gideon's weapons?

answers

1. A trumpet, a torch, and an empty clay jar to cover the smoldering torch.

2. So God could show His power to defeat the enemies of Israel, apart from weapons of war. Then Israel would know for sure that it was God who fought for them.

3. In the ancient world of warfare, a trumpet sound meant there was a commander with a number of troops under him, and the lights held high made the Midianites think that a great army was attacking them.

4. When Gideon gave the signal at the beginning of the middle watch, about 10:00 at night, the guards who were going back to their tents were thought to be the invading Israelites by the Midianites who were just waking up to the sound from the trumpets. Thus they began to kill off each other in the confusion.

5. Yes, it is a true story, recounted to let both Israel and the enemy know the power of God.

6. a) the land of blessing for the Christian, b) the enemy operating in the land of blessing, c) the things of the world and the lusts of the flesh which oppress the Christian in the land of blessing, and d) God's method of victory in spiritual warfare.

discuss / consider

1. Read 2 Corinthians 4:5-12. The method of victory in spiritual warfare is represented in the weapons used by Gideon. The clay jars are Christians; the treasure within is the life and light of Christ. To reveal Christ, the jars must be broken. We must die to self so Christ may be seen. Is your clay jar broken so that Christ might be revealed in your life?

2. Gideon's trumpets sounded out loud and clear. These trumpets or rams' horns could be heard for miles around, and the purpose was to let the enemy know that the sword of the Lord and of Gideon had arrived. The trumpets represent the clear and certain testimony of believers. What about your Christian testimony? Is it a clear and certain sound?

challenge

1. Gideon said, "Look at me and do likewise." (7:17). Can you say, "Do as I do and follow my example?" Apply this to different areas of your life, and in different situations.

memorize

• "Gideon said, 'Look at me and do likewise." Judges 7:17

• "It is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:6-7