Sunday School: The Call of Gideon

Good morning!
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When we meet in person, we share our joys and concerns. Consider your last week, and any prayer requests you might have. If you feel comfortable, you can share them in the comments. When you are ready, use the prayer below (source) to get started.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you would speak to us today as we study Your Word. May every word, verse, and chapter cause our hearts to worship You more fully! Let this be a joyous time of study and fellowship in the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, amen.

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Today's lesson is on Judges 6:1-2, 7-16.

The book of Judges features accounts of a series of leaders (“judges”) who arose to rescue Israel from foreign oppressions during the era 1380 to 1050 BC.  These stories fit together to paint a picture of a dreary pattern:  the Israelites sinned, God punched them with foreign oppression the Israelites repented, a deliverer came, and peace followed.  Gideon, the deliverer-judge of today’s lesson, was the fifth of perhaps 14 judges.  The Midianites, the oppressors whom Gideon was to confront in today’s text, came from what is now northern Saudi Arabia of southeastern Jordan.(Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Mesopotamia. The Midianites shared a history with Israel that included conflict. 

Conclusion
Gideon gets to express confusion.  We may still feel confusion when our beliefs and our experiences seem to clash.  Note; The Lord did not answer Gideon’s question ’why’.  We are answerable to the Lord, he is not answerable to us.Yet, Gideon was attentive to the Lord’s will,  He refused to become king, insisting that God alone should rule Israel.  Like all of us, Gideon experienced both successes and failures.  When  God did not answer his questions, Gideon wanted miraculous signs.  It’s been said that there are two ways to learn things:  by wisdom and by experience.  Wisdom is when we learn from the mistakes of other; experience is when we learn from our own mistakes.  The life of Gideon is recored that we might learn from his successes and failures  The Lord still calls us to serve.  He still says that he is with us BUT are we with him?

Prayer
Oh God who warns and challenges, raise us up to be your hands and feet in your saving work.  May our questions reflect direction as you remind us of your presence.  We pray in the name of your Son, Jesus.  Amen.

Thought to Remember
Let God work  through your faith.

Benediction
Today's benediction is from the American Standard Version.

Next week's lesson is on 1 Samuel 8:4-7; 10:17-24.