05 - God cares for Gideon in his wars

References
Judges 6&7.

Notes for Servants
- It is clear that when the ancient people kept far from the Lord, the Lord humiliated them through
heavy servitude. This applies to our spiritual life ... but when we cry to the Lord, He saves us.
- Contemplate the words of God " Go in this might of yours" ...Which "might" He does
mean? Of course he means the might of holy zeal and Gideon’s concern in salvation.
- The Lord blesses the little that we offer and saves us. Let us offer him our effort, patience and
good works and he will sanctify us and grant us his grace and he willgive us powerso that we may
preach his name and make his works known everywhere.
Objectives
General: To ensure the child that God cares for him and protects him from danger so he must not be
afraid.

Specific:
The children will be able to
A. understand that God is everywhere and protect his children.
B. believe in the power of God His control over all things.
C. feel save as long as they believe in God.

Bible Verse

" If God be for us, who can be against us? "
(Romans 8:31)

Teaching Aids
1. Felt figure and flannel board.
2. Video.

Introduction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.\

 

Story Time
Gideon was a great ,man who had a great personality. He is of the great men of the Old
Testament. He lived in the tenth century B.C. He was one of the ancient people. At that time they had
powerful enemies called the Midianites... The Midianites enslaved them and were cruel to them... The
ancient people suffered a lot. They sowed and reaped and the Midianites came upon them in severe
attacks like locusts. They looted them and killed them and the people ran away in great horror, as soon
as they saw them. The people of God built tombs, strongholds and caves to hide themselves from their
enemies who stole their crops and animals. This situation continued for seven years; during which the
people of God suffered severely. What should be done? Would they fight the Midianites? They had no
army. Should they build up an army? They had no king, no chief, not a leader.... Everything caused
sadness.. What should be done? They cried to God with all their hearts. "You brought our fathers out of
the land of Egypt and gave them victory over Pharaoh... O Lord, save your servants.... We are deeply in
grief.
Come and deliver us..."They prayed everyday, in houses, in meetings, and everywhere... They prayed the
Lord to save them from their enemies..Did not you say to us "The Lord will fight for you"?
The seven years passed ... One day, a young man called Gideonwasthreshingsomewheatsecretly
so that the Midianites would not see him. He worked hard but he looked here and there out of fear.
Suddenly, a man appeared before him and said, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour" Gideon
was astonished... "Who is that man? he thought. "He may be the angel of the Lord..." Gideon was thinking
of the sad case of his people so he said to the angel. "If the Lord is with us, how can this happen to us, my
Lord? Wasn't the Lord with our fathers long ago? Didn't the Lord say to us, If God is for us, who is against
us?.. the men said,"Go and deliver the people. Gideon smiled and was amazed. He said, "Who am I to
deliver the people? I am a weak man and my family is poor... Who am I? The Lord said to him, "I will
be with you... and we will strike the Midianites as one man. "The Lord said, "If God is for us, who is
against us?" Gideon did not believe himself... was he dreaming or was he in reality? He was sure that he
was not dreaming and began to think.
ThenGideonsaid to the angel, "Wait, I want you to give me a sign... “Gideonwent in and brought
a sacrifice and put it on the rock... The man stretched his hand and touched the sacrifice with his staff... Fire
immediately came out ofthe rock and burnt the sacrifice... Gideonwassure that it was the Lord so he knelt
down and bowed to the ground and said, "Lord, what shall I do now?” And the angel said, "Take your
army and fight the Midianties and don't forget. "If God is for us, who is against us?"
Gideon went back home. He was amazed and happy... He told his family, his neighbours and his
relatives about what happened. All people knew that the Lord chose Gideon... They rejoiced... They all
asked him about the story and he repeated it over and over again saying: "Pray and thank the Lord.”
Gideon blew the trumpet... people gathered... He asked them to go with him to fight.. They all said, "We
shall go with you and the Lord is with us. Gideon divided them into groups... The number was very great...
They were 32,000 men... Then Lord said to Gideon:
- No,... This is not good. - Do you want greater number, Lord?
- How many soldiers are there? - 32,000 of the best men.
- Is the army ready? Yes, Lord.

- The men you have are too many for me to give them victory over the Midianites. They may think that
they won by themselves and so, give me no credit. Announce to the people, "Anyone who is afraid should
go back home.” Gideon said so to the men... Alas all men except 300 men, returned... Then God will be
angry and we willbe defeated... Gideonwassad... but the Lord promised him victory...Have you forgotten
the verse that says:"If God is for us, who is against us?"
O Lord, where can we find weapons?
- Take the three hundred men and divide them into three groups. Let each man have an empty jar and a
lamp. When you blow the trumpet let them all break the jars and shout, "Forthe Lord and for Gideon"
- Will this suffice, my Lord? The men are few and this is not a weapon. I am afraid I may be defeated.
- Have you forgotten the verse, "If God is for us, who is against us?"
- Gideonwas ashamed, he took courage as he was sure that the Lord was with him. He went out with the
troops, he blew the trumpet, then they broke the jars while they were shouting...For God and for
Gideon...The Midianites ran away...They won victory and the Midian was no longer a threat...and the
Israelites lived in peace.

Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.
Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.