Judges

Judges 6: The LORD promises His presence

Begin in prayer

Before we read how the LORD meets fearful Gideon with His promise, let us come to Him together. Ask Him to quiet our hearts and to help us see Christ, who is with His people.

Be strong, all you people of the land,’ says Yahweh, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ says Yahweh of Armies.

Haggai 2:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Please help us hear Your Word when it exposes our sin. Show us Christ's mercy and teach us to seek Your strength as we obey. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Israel again does evil, and the LORD gives it into Midian's hand for seven years. Midian destroys the crops and leaves Israel without sheep, oxen or donkeys. When Israel cries to Him, God sends a prophet who explains the disobedience behind its distress. The LORD's angel calls Gideon to rescue Israel, promises His presence, and consumes Gideon's offering with fire. God assures him of peace, then commands him to replace his father's altar to Baal with an altar to the LORD. Gideon obeys at night, and his father defends him when the townsmen demand his death. As the enemy gathers, God's Spirit comes on Gideon, and God grants the signs of the wet and dry fleece.

As you read Judges 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD promises His presence and equips the rescuer He sends.

Midian's raids leave Israel without food or livestock, driving families into caves and mountain strongholds. Before sending a rescuer, God sends a prophet to name Israel's disobedience. Gideon questions God's presence while hiding his wheat in a wine press, a place used for crushing grapes. The LORD answers his weakness with a promise to be with him. Fire consumes Gideon's offering, and God gives him peace when he fears death. The rescue begins at home, where Gideon must destroy his father's altar to Baal. God's Spirit then comes on him to gather an army. Even as Gideon asks twice for signs with a fleece, God patiently confirms His promise.

How does Judges 6 show us that the LORD promises His presence and equips the rescuer He sends?

God names Israel's sin before He sends help.

Midian destroys Israel's crops and leaves no sheep, oxen or donkeys. The prophet recalls God's rescue from Egypt and His command against other gods (verses 8 to 10). Their misery follows their refusal to listen to the One who had delivered them.

The LORD answers Gideon's weakness with His presence.

Gideon says his family is the poorest in Manasseh and he is the least in his father's house. The LORD promises to be with him and defeat Midian (verses 15 and 16). The burning offering and God's word of peace confirm that this fearful man has met the LORD.

God equips Gideon and calls him to obey.

Gideon destroys Baal's altar at night because he fears his household and the townsmen. Joash challenges Baal to defend himself, and Gideon receives the name Jerub-Baal (verses 27 to 32). God's Spirit comes on Gideon, and God also grants the two signs he requests with the fleece.

Memorise

Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.

Judges 6:16

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what fear keeps me from trusting God, and will I come to Jesus for peace?

Gideon fears death after seeing the LORD's angel, and God says, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.” The God who exposes Israel's sin also gives peace and sends help. Guilty people need that peace with God more than safety from an army.

Jesus Christ came to bring sinners to God. He obeyed His Father without turning to idols or shrinking from His task. At the cross He bore the punishment His people deserved for their sins. Through His death He has done everything needed to reconcile them to God. He rose from the dead and lives to care for all who come to Him.

Please turn from your sin and trust Jesus. You cannot make peace with God by proving that you are strong. Weak and guilty people may come to Him for mercy. Those who rest in Christ are forgiven and brought into peace with God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus receives sinners who turn from sin and trust Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Gideon's fleece requests concern God's spoken promise, and they give no command to seek signs for guidance. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for meeting weakness with His faithful word, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

If we are faithless, he remains faithful. For he can’t deny himself.”

2 Timothy 2:13

Lord God, thank You for promising Your presence to weak and fearful people, as You did for Gideon. Please help each of us turn from sin and trust Jesus. Give us courage to obey Your Word this week. Amen.