Heroes of the Faith, Part 4Sample

God Confirms His Word

Bible story: Gideon - Judges 6:1-7:25

Memory verse: Isaiah 40:31

Last week, we saw how Barak trusted people more than God. This week we’re learning about a man named Gideon. Again, the Israelites sinned, and the Midianites oppressed them so badly that they had no food or animals. They had to make food in secret.

One day an angel came and talked to Gideon, saying that God would save Israel with him. He told Gideon to go in the strength he had. Gideon asked how that was possible because he felt so small. Have you ever thought to yourself, “Who am I? What can I do?” But God can take the little strength you have and help you do something huge. God is so strong that He doesn’t need the help of a strong person.

Gideon did something we can all do: he asked for confirmation. God prefers that we ask Him to confirm His word and then obey it. What frustrates God is disobedience and lack of faith. When Gideon realized that it was an angel speaking to him, he was afraid. God said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid.”

Jesus said He gives us His peace and is always with us and tells us over and over not to be afraid. When we have peace, when we know God is with us, and when He has confirmed His Word, then we put our faith into action and obey Him.

Gideon tore down altars of false gods in his town and built an altar to the real God. Then God told him to gather Israel together to fight the huge Midianite army. This is when Gideon asks for confirmation, asking for something impossible. He set a piece of fleece on the ground. In the morning it was soaking wet but the ground around it was dry. The second day, the fleece was dry but the ground around it was wet. Those conditions were exactly what Gideon had asked for to confirm God's promise.

Gideon gathered 32,000 Israelites for the battle, but God isn’t interested in our strength; He can save us with many or with few. He told Gideon to send people home until there were only 300 men! Close your eyes and imagine 300 men against a vast army. God again confirmed His word. He told Gideon to sneak to the edge of the enemy camp, where he overheard someone in a tent talking about a dream where Gideon defeated them.

When you see that God is with you, do what Gideon did and worship God. Gideon gave the 300 men lamps and clay jars to cover the burning lamps, and trumpets. In the middle of the night, they surrounded the army. Then all at once they smashed the jars to shine the lamps and blew the trumpets and shouted. The huge enemy army ran away terrified! Israel won the battle easily because God was with them. When God calls you, remember how strong God is. Ask Him for confirmation, then do whatever it is He is calling you to do.

I can ask God to confirm His word to me. I will obey God.

Questions:

1. What if God tells me NO?

2. Does God get angry with me? Why?

3. Does God really want to talk to me?

Application to life:

Look for something that confirms the existence of God, for something that happens or something that you see in your life or in the life of someone else. Write about it, then tell someone about it.