“The Judges - Gideon”

​B I B L E  B I T S  & B I T E S
Devotions for Families

Season 3: Judges
Episode 4: “The Judges - Gideon”
Today’s Bible Bite: Judges 6-8

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3CDZjpkDKU (Saddleback Kids – Gideon’s 300 Men)

“The LORD told Gideon, ‘With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.’” (Judges 7:7)

Again? Yup! The Israelites turned their back on God and they once again found themselves suffering. God allowed the Midianites to cause problems for the Israelites. For seven year, this group of people made it really hard for the Israelites because they stole all their food and even trampled the food growing in the fields. The Israelites were starving and they pleaded with God to help them. God chose Gideon to help the people, but He wanted to make certain that the people understood that it was God who had done the rescuing not a new judge.

God told Gideon that He wanted him to attack the Midianites and drive them away. Gideon gathered 32,000 men, which was a pretty small group compared to the Midianite army, but God told Gideon he had too many men. As instructed, Gideon told all the men who were frightened that they could go home—22,000 took up his offer and left, leaving Gideon with an army of only 10,000. But again, God told Gideon he still had too many men. So next, Gideon divided the men as God instructed him. As they drank from a river, Gideon was to send everyone home who bent down and drank water directly from the river. He was only to keep the men who scooped up the water in their hands to drink—this left Gideon with only 300 men. If they won this battle against the Midianites, it would have to be a miracle from God!

And guess what? They did beat the Midianites! And Gideon served as the Israelites’ judge and the people had peace once again…at least for as long as Gideon lived.

Think about it...
• The Midianites made life really hard for the Israelites. What did they do?
• The people were desperate for help. Who did God choose to be their judge?
• God wanted the Israelites to recognize that He was the one who rescued them. How many men did He allow Gideon to keep in this army?
• The people once again enjoyed peace, but only until Gideon died. Why do you think the people always turned their backs on God?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, for showing the people is Israel that it wasn’t a judge who rescued them, but it was always you. Thank you that you are willing to help us too. Please help us to listen to you and follow your directions just like Gideon did.