Gideon Led Israel
(Judges 6-8)
September 7, 2025
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
The story of Gideon in Judges 6-8 reveals the power of God at work in the lives of His people and how victory belongs to Him alone. God’s call on Gideon’s life demonstrates how the Lord often chooses what is weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Why would God choose to drastically limit the number of Gideon’s soldiers in battle? How does God’s provision in this story point to an even greater salvation—our hope in Christ?
Once again, the Israelites had committed themselves to doing evil in the sight of the Lord. The Lord allowed the Midianites to rule over His people as a consequence for their sin. Yet, God again acted mercifully as He responded to their cries for deliverance in the face of oppression. God graciously sent a prophet to His people to remind them of the faithful love He had shown them since their days in Egypt. He urged them to remember His covenant with His people.
God called Gideon to be a judge for the Israelites and to deliver them from Midian. Not wanting His people to claim victory on behalf of their own strength, God told Gideon to pare down his troops. God showed His power by limiting the Israelites’ manpower in battle. This way, they could only attribute their victory to the Lord’s goodness on their behalf. Gideon and his army of 300 had no logical way of winning a battle against so many Midianite troops. Yet, God proved He is Lord over creation and the One who pursues His people and delivers them unto Himself.
God provided salvation to His people by delivering them from the hand of the Midianites, but even more, He has provided eternal deliverance to all who trust in His Son for salvation. In the battle against sin and death, we—like the Israelites—have no means of securing victory on our own. Yet through Jesus, the battle is already won. Lead the boys and girls in your care to see God’s ability to make a way where there is no way, as well as His heart for sinners who deserve death. May your children walk forward in faith, trusting in the Lord for His victory over sin and death.
** Next week: Samson and the Philistines (Judges 13-16)
Family Discipleship Plan
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Family Discipleship Plan •
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Read Judges 6-8 from the Bible.
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One thing we see repeatedly in the Bible is God displaying His strength by using weak people.
Gideon came from a weak, insignificant family. His fear seemed bigger than his faith, but God assured Gideon that His power would work in and through Gideon. Everything Gideon asked God to do to prove His power, God did. Gideon and the army went to fight the Midianites, but God wasn’t finished showing His power.
God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 men all the way down to only 300 men. Victory over the Midianites seemed impossible with these odds, but nothing is impossible with God! God confused the Midianites and made them fight with each other! Gideon and his army easily defeated the Midianites because God’s power was working through Gideon’s army.
When we feel the guilt from our sin, we often try to earn God’s love and forgiveness. The problem is that we will never be strong enough or good enough on our own to defeat the power sin has over us. The good news is that God has shown His power through the work of Jesus who died to save us from sin. When we trust in Him, He gives us forgiveness and victory through His power.
Gideon could have never won the battle without God’s power. Victory came from God alone. We cannot save ourselves from sin. Only Jesus can save us from our sin. .
Pray: God, are more powerful than anyone else. When we are afraid or when we face hard times, help us trust that You are powerful and good enough to help us. We can trust in Your power because we see it best through Jesus who came to save us from our sin. Amen.
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But they make themselves humble in my sight. They pray and look to me. And they turn from their evil ways. Then I will listen to them from heaven. I will forgive their sin. And I will heal their land. After all, they are my people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIrV
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Mornings
Ask God to give you the strength you need for today. Remember that He knows everything you will face, and He has the power to help you. How does knowing God’s goodness and power help you to face hard things?
Evenings
Rejoice in the ways God has helped you in difficult times. Write down the fears or hard situations you’ve faced, and then write down the ways God was present and powerful for you.
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For Fun
Fold paper into a cone shape to make a simple trumpet. Help kids make and decorate their own trumpets. Have a competition to see who can make the loudest trumpet call. Talk about how Gideon blew his trumpet and how God provided power and victory to defeat the Midianites.
To Serve
Go on a prayer walk around your neighborhood. Pray for neighbors (by name if possible), and ask God to make His power and goodness visible to them so they will trust in Him. Remind kids that the work of salvation is only possible through God’s power. We want to share the good news with neighbors because we trust that God is good enough and powerful enough to save them.