JUDGES LESSON 6
We will begin this lesson in Judges 6:1 "And the children of
Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them
into the hand of Midian seven years."
The children of Israel seemed to never learn. They reach out to
God, when they are in trouble. As soon as their trouble is over, they
return to the worship of the false gods of the people around them.
This seven years, they spent in the hands of Midian, was a
chastisement from God.
Judges 6:2 "And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel:
[and] because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the
dens which [are] in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds."
These caves were where they lived, when they were hiding from the
Midianites. The caves afforded a certain amount of protection from the
enemy. They set up places, where they could hide and withstand their
enemies. At least, in the caves, the enemy could attack from only one
side. This was a place where they were relatively safe.
Judges 6:3 "And [so] it was, when Israel had sown, that the
Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east,
even they came up against them;" Judges 6:4 "And they encamped
against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come
unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox,
nor ass."
It appeared from the two verses above, that they destroyed
Israel's crops every time they planted. They took their animals, as
well. They were trying to starve Israel out. The children of the east
were, probably, speaking of Haran.
Judges 6:5 "For they came up with their cattle and their tents,
and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; [for] both they and their
camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy
it."
There were so many of them, they ate and destroyed everything in
sight. They had no intention of saving anything. They came to destroy,
and that is just what they did.
Judges 6:6 "And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the
Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD."
The only time they cry out to God, is when they are destitute.
Now, that they are out of food and cannot help themselves, they call
out for help unto the LORD.
Judges 6:7 "And it came to pass, when the children of Israel
cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites," Judges 6:8 "That the
LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them,
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and
brought you forth out of the house of bondage;"
This is speaking of the LORD telling them what their error is,
before He helps them. This prophet is, in a sense, like Deborah. The
difference is, she was a prophetess. He brings news from God to these
rebellious people. The message begins by reminding them that it was
God who brought them out of bondage in Egypt.
Judges 6:9 "And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from
before you, and gave you their land;"
The LORD fought their enemies, and brought them to their land of
promise. The LORD has kept covenant with them. He did just as He had
promised to do.
Judges 6:10 "And I said unto you, I [am] the LORD your God; fear
not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not
obeyed my voice."
They have not kept God's laws and His commandments. God had
promised them He would be with them, but they were not to fear. Their
disobedience to God has gotten them in the place they are in.
Judges 6:11 "And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under
an oak which [was] in Ophrah, that [pertained] unto Joash the Abi-
ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide
[it] from the Midianites."
One of the most interesting things, to me, is that God calls
those who are the least likely to expect it. They are generally not
trained in the job God has for them to do. Their ability and strength
to carry through on what God wants them to do, lies in God's
abilities, not in their own. The land of Israel is caught up in
idolatry. They are heavily oppressed on every side, but God knows who
to choose to serve Him. He sends the angel of the LORD to speak.
Gideon raised wheat and hid it from the Midianites. What an unlikely
person to be called of God! Gideon was a simple man.
Judges 6:12 "And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and
said unto him, The LORD [is] with thee, thou mighty man of valour."
Angels are not always seen by other people. The angel is on a
mission from God to speak to Gideon. Gideon would be the one he
appeared to. What a wonderful encouragement to know the LORD was with
him. Probably, Gideon had never thought of himself as a mighty man of
valour. He thought of himself as a farmer of wheat. Gideon sees what
he is now. God sees his potential for what He wants Gideon to be.
Judges 6:13 "And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be
with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where [be] all his
miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring
us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us
into the hands of the Midianites."
It takes a very brave man to speak to an angel in this manner.
Perhaps, he was not aware he was an angel. He, probably, appeared in
the form of a man. Gideon is down in his spirit, because of what the
Midianites are doing to all of them. He does not understand, if God is
really with them, why are they having all of the trouble? He is,
undoubtedly, not aware of the conditions of the covenant God had made
with them.
Judges 6:14 "And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this
thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites:
have not I sent thee?"
The LORD does not even answer Gideon on his question. He tells
him, to fight for Israel. There is a promise in this, that the Lord
will be with him and strengthen him for the battle. God has promised
him victory over the Midianites.
Judges 6:15 "And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I
save Israel? behold, my family [is] poor in Manasseh, and I [am] the
least in my father's house."
Many of the people, who serve the LORD, feel they are not
qualified to do so. This is what Gideon is saying here. He is poor and
not qualified, in his own sight, to lead.
Judges 6:16 "And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with
thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man."
The LORD accepts no excuses. He just reassures Gideon that He
will be with him. He says, they will be so easy for Gideon to defeat,
it will appear to Gideon as if they had been one man.
Judges 6:17 "And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in
thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me."
Gideon is now questioning whether this is a message from the
LORD, or not. He wants proof that it is from the LORD.
Judges 6:18 "Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto
thee, and bring forth my present, and set [it] before thee. And he
said, I will tarry until thou come again."
Gideon wants the angel of the LORD to remain, until he can go and
get something. The angel agrees to wait for the return of Gideon.
Judges 6:19 "And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and
unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket,
and he put the broth in a pot, and brought [it] out unto him under the
oak, and presented [it]."
This is like a sacrificial offering that Gideon has brought out
to the angel of the LORD.
Judges 6:20 "And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh
and the unleavened cakes, and lay [them] upon this rock, and pour out
the broth. And he did so."
The broth was poured out like a drink offering, and the flesh and
the unleavened bread were laid on the rock which acted as an altar.
Judges 6:21 "Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the
staff that [was] in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened
cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh
and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of
his sight."
This fire that consumed the offering, showed it was accepted from
heaven. This should be a sufficient sign for Gideon that the message
was truly from God. Angels appear and disappear instantly. This is
what happened here.
Judges 6 Questions
1. How many years did the LORD deliver Israel into the hands of
Midian?
2. Where did the Israelites try to hide?
3. Who came up against Israel?
4. What did they destroy and take, besides Israel's crops?
5. The enemies of Israel was described in verse 5, as being as
numerous as ______________.
6. In verse 6, where did Israel turn for help?
7. Who did the LORD send to Israel in answer to their cries?
8. Who is this prophet like?
9. What things does the prophet remind them that God had done for
them?
10. What had God warned them not to fear?
11. Who did God send after the prophet?
12. Why had Gideon hid the wheat behind the winepress?
13. What is interesting about the people God chooses to serve Him?
14. The _______ of the ________ appeared to Gideon.
15. What question does Gideon ask him?
16. What does the LORD call Gideon to do?
17. What excuse does Gideon give for not being right for the job?
18. What promise does God make to Gideon?
19. How easy will it be for Gideon to defeat Midian?
20. What does Gideon ask, so he will know this is from the LORD?
21. Gideon asks the angel to wait for what?
22. What did Gideon bring back?
23. What is this really that Gideon brought?
24. What does the angel tell Gideon to do with the offering?
25. What happens to the offering?
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