Sept. 17, 2023: Family Worship Service: Old Testament (6-1) : "Title: "Gideon's Mission and Failure"”　

Last time, we ended with the Israelites being able to enter the land of Canaan. Joshua divided the land of Israel into 12 tribes and ordered them to keep the law that God had given them. But after Joshua died there were no strong leaders. Political and military leaders (Judges) were chosen for each region. There were 12 leaders, and the most famous of them were Gideon and Samson. Today we are going to learn about Gideon.

After Joshua died, the Israelites began to worship the idol, Baal, which the Canaanites had done. At that time, the Midianites and Amalekites invaded Israel, burned their houses, and robbed them of their grain. The Israelites had to hide in caves.

A man named Gideon was hiding and beating straw in a cellar when an angel appeared to him and told him that God was with him and that he should save Israel.

But Gideon said, "I was born of the weakest tribe. So, I am not capable of such a big thing." Gideon could not believe that God would really walk with him and lead him to victory. So he tested God.

First, Gideon put the fleece outside and prayed to God that the land would be dry, and only the fleece would be moistened. He said he would believe what God said if that happened. And God made it happen.

However, Gideon still could not believe what God said, so he asked God to do the opposite: to let the land be wet but let the fleece be dry. God made it happen again.

So Gideon was convinced that God was with him.

The enemy army, Midian, numbered 135,000 men, but Gideon had only 32,000. He and his people could not expect to win against Midian.

However, God commanded Gideon to reduce the number of soldiers. 

So Gideon said, "Those who don't want to fight can go home." and 22,000 left. The rest were 10,000.

 God commanded Gideon repeatedly, "Reduce the number of soldiers even more." Gideon told the thirsty soldiers that they could drink water from the river, and they all began to drink. As he watched, some of the soldiers looked around with one hand, while sipping water with the other in case there might be enemies, while others drank the water desperately. So Gideon reduced the number to only 300. 

Now, with such a small number of soldiers, would l they be able to win a victory over the enemy?

Gideon's strategy was to divide the soldiers into three groups and suddenly blow horns at night to catch the enemy off guard.

The Midianites panicked, and they thought their own people were enemies and they  killed each other. 

Gideon's army won a great victory, and Israel could live in peace.

People asked Gideon, who had excelled as a leader, to become their king. However, Gideon declined, saying, "The true king is only God, so neither I nor my sons will become kings." Instead, he used the spoils of war to create an ephod, a priestly garment. Unfortunately, this led to idol worship. People believed that by worshiping this image, they could tap into the same extraordinary victory achieved by Gideon, the power to confront formidable enemies with limited strength. As a result, the peace restored by the leader chosen by God began to deteriorate once again.

Now, what did you think of this story of Gideon?

Gideon was a coward at first, but he became a brave leader. Strangely, the leaders of Israel in the Bible, even Moses, did not immediately respond to God's choice of leaders. But when they did, they became strong.

Yes, they did. I'm encouraged because I'm timid, too. But why did God choose a small number of soldiers, like 300?

I think it was to teach us that strength is not a number. Gideon was skeptical and would not believe without proof, right? 

I think God taught him about God's power, and even if they were a small army, people who were wise and courageous could accomplish it. 

I see. It is often our tendency to gather a large number of people and organize them before taking action, but I have experienced that even one or two people can do more than a large group when they work together with the same spirit and passion.

One thing I regret is that Gideon made an idol. How could he do that when it is what God hates the most?

That is a good question. The period of these Judges lasted three hundred years (Judges 11:26) in 1400-1100 BC. Israelites abandoned their faith and fell into pagan idolatry, so when God sent a foreign enemy, their faith was awakened, and they asked God for help. 

God took pity on them and raised up judges to help Israel. 

As long as the judges reigned, their peace remained, but as soon as the judges died, people abandoned God and returned to idolatry. This continued to repeat. It was a symbol of human beings’ weakness.

When people go through difficult times, they turn to their true hearts and trust in God, but once their problems are gone, and they get unexpected success, they often become arrogant, forgetting God and thinking of themselves as  great. Let's be careful not to let this happen to us.

Yes, that's right. God is good and helps those with repentant hearts. We should obey what God tells us in our hearts.

Dad, could you please pray for us?

Sure, let's pray!

Thank you for allowing us to worship You and learn what God wants us to do.  After Joshua's death, the Israelis forgot the Ten Commandments and worshiped idols of their own making.

We also often rely on our wisdom and strength without faith in You and disobey You. Please guide us to know Your will and to walk righteously every day. I pray through the name of Jesus. Amen!