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God Calls Gideon
“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?” (v. 14).
It was during the Friday night missions service at the annual camp meeting in Petersburg, Michigan. The missionary leader had preached. Now he was appealing to everyone, especially young people, to offer themselves to God for Christian service.
It was during the Friday night missions service at the annual camp meeting in Petersburg, Michigan. The missionary leader had preached. Now he was appealing to everyone, especially young people, to offer themselves to God for Christian service.
A large number of people responded by going to the altar and front of the tabernacle. I was a preteen in that service fifty years ago and was one of many who responded to the invitation. When I offered myself to God, He responded by calling me into His ministry. The assurance of His call has inspired and impelled my life since that day.
Gideon had a “God moment.” The angel of the LORD who met with Gideon was probably Jesus Christ himself! This is what theologians call a theophany — an Old Testament appearance of Jesus.
The message of the Lord was clear and specific. Gideon was to rescue Israel from the Midianites. Gideon was very confident of His inability to be used by God, but God assured Him of His presence.
Someone said, “God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.” While God does often use people who have natural abilities, He seems to specialize in gifting people who have few natural gifts but who surrender themselves to His call. (Mark D. Avery)
Are you listening? Will you hear when God speaks to you?
Gideon had a “God moment.” The angel of the LORD who met with Gideon was probably Jesus Christ himself! This is what theologians call a theophany — an Old Testament appearance of Jesus.
The message of the Lord was clear and specific. Gideon was to rescue Israel from the Midianites. Gideon was very confident of His inability to be used by God, but God assured Him of His presence.
Someone said, “God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.” While God does often use people who have natural abilities, He seems to specialize in gifting people who have few natural gifts but who surrender themselves to His call. (Mark D. Avery)
Are you listening? Will you hear when God speaks to you?
Gideon: A Man of Valor
Focus Text: Judges 6:11-16; 7:16-23
Central Truth: God gives us victory as we follow His leading.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to choose one area of life in which they will take a stand for the Lord.
Lesson Outline:
I. A Deliverer Called (Judges 6:11-16)
II. Preparation for Battle (Judges 7:16-18)
III. Courage Brings Victory (Judges 7:19-23)
Lesson Outline:
I. A Deliverer Called (Judges 6:11-16)
II. Preparation for Battle (Judges 7:16-18)
III. Courage Brings Victory (Judges 7:19-23)
A Thoughtful Man
Work together to create a word picture of Moses for your character notebook.
Moses was a thoughtful man who was instructed by God and chosen to lead.
Moses appears to have had a temperament that was logical, self-sacrificing, gifted, and perfectionistic. Have the class find incidents in his life that illustrate these things.
Did God use Moses' natural temperament, or did God give special gifts to Moses for his life work?
A Prayer of Moses
“And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great, according as thou hast spoken” (v. 17).
Moses and Aaron had been voted out; Israel was ready to stone them! When God threatened to wipe out these grumblers, Moses stood in the gap. In his prayer, Moses used God’s own promises of protection and provision to implore Him to cancel the death sentence. Other nations had observed God’s provision for this great throng and to wipe them off the map would destroy the nations’ respect for God.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” (James 5:16b). We should never underestimate the power of a single prayer. As pilgrims on this planet, we have a Christian duty to pray for those who have spiritual or physical needs. This begins with our families and extends to the far reaches of the world. Prayer is an investment that pays extraordinary dividends for eternity. Heaven will reveal the miracles wrought through prayer!
We are the seed-sowers, and God delivers the harvest. The prayers of Moses are scattered throughout the Books of Exodus and Numbers. Sometimes the “people cried to Moses,” and at other times he discerned the spiritual void in his people. Thank God for forgiveness and that His mercies are new every morning. We don’t want our children to reap the remunerations of our sins. Stand in the gap for your family and generations to follow! May God keep us faithful in prayer and shower His blessings of mercy to a thousand generations. (Beverly K. Tatum)
Be Thou my Guardian and my Guide; And hear me when I call; Let not my slippery footsteps slide, And hold me lest I fall. — Isaac Williams
Lord, help us to be faithful to our generation and leave behind road signs pointing to the heavenly path!
Moses and Aaron had been voted out; Israel was ready to stone them! When God threatened to wipe out these grumblers, Moses stood in the gap. In his prayer, Moses used God’s own promises of protection and provision to implore Him to cancel the death sentence. Other nations had observed God’s provision for this great throng and to wipe them off the map would destroy the nations’ respect for God.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” (James 5:16b). We should never underestimate the power of a single prayer. As pilgrims on this planet, we have a Christian duty to pray for those who have spiritual or physical needs. This begins with our families and extends to the far reaches of the world. Prayer is an investment that pays extraordinary dividends for eternity. Heaven will reveal the miracles wrought through prayer!
We are the seed-sowers, and God delivers the harvest. The prayers of Moses are scattered throughout the Books of Exodus and Numbers. Sometimes the “people cried to Moses,” and at other times he discerned the spiritual void in his people. Thank God for forgiveness and that His mercies are new every morning. We don’t want our children to reap the remunerations of our sins. Stand in the gap for your family and generations to follow! May God keep us faithful in prayer and shower His blessings of mercy to a thousand generations. (Beverly K. Tatum)
Be Thou my Guardian and my Guide; And hear me when I call; Let not my slippery footsteps slide, And hold me lest I fall. — Isaac Williams
Lord, help us to be faithful to our generation and leave behind road signs pointing to the heavenly path!
Moses: Chosen to Lead
Focus Text: Exodus 3:1-14
Central Truth: God enables those He calls.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify several ways God enables us to fulfill His calling for our lives.
Lesson Outline:
I. A Man's Curiosity (Ex. 3:1-3)
II. A God-given Call (Ex. 3:4-10)
III. A Human Response (Ex. 3:11-14)
Lesson Outline:
I. A Man's Curiosity (Ex. 3:1-3)
II. A God-given Call (Ex. 3:4-10)
III. A Human Response (Ex. 3:11-14)
What Was Sarah Like?
Do a page in your character notebook for Sarah.
Sarah was an active woman who laughed in disbelief, believed the impossible, and then laughed in happiness.
Sarah appears to have been a peppery, lively, animated, practical, and strong-willed woman. See Genesis 21:10 and Genesis 16:6. Can a person like that be used by God? List her character traits with examples from her life to prove your point.
Why was Sarah able to believe God for the impossible?