WHEN LESS IS MORE Judges 6-7
AFTER JOSHUA The people served the L ORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua… after that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the L ORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the L ORD and served the Baals. They forsook the L ORD , the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the L ORD ’s anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. Judges 2.7, 10-13
AFTER JOSHUA Whenever the L ORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the L ORD relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. Judges 2.18-19
GOD CALLS GIDEON When the angel of the L ORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The L ORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6.12
GOD USES COMMON PEOPLE The L ORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The L ORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites.” Judges 6.14-16
GOD USES COMMON PEOPLE Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1.26-31
You are never too small for God to use you, but you may be too big.
Tear down your GOD USES father’s altar to Baal CLEANSED and cut down the Asherah pole beside PEOPLE it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the L ORD your God on the top of this height. Judges 6.25-26 _-_ An idol is anything we love more, fear more, serve more or value more than God.
GOD USES COURAGEOUS PEOPLE The L ORD said to Gideon, “You 32,000 have too many men. I cannot - 22,000 deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast 10,000 against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. Judges 7.2-3
GOD USES COURAGEOUS PEOPLE When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the L ORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you… Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too.” Deuteronomy 20.1, 8
▪ Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. Billy Graham ▪ He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all. Miguel de Cervantes ▪ It is courage, courage, courage, that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor. Live bravely and present a brave front to adversity. - Horace
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. C.S. Lewis
GOD USES CAUTIOUS PEOPLE But the L ORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there… So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the L ORD told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The L ORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred. Judges 7.4-8
GOD USES CAUTIOUS PEOPLE ▪ Be always on the watch, and 32,000 pray that you may be able - 22,000 to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may 10,000 be able to stand before the - 9,700 Son of Man. Luke 21.36 300 ▪ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5.8
GOD USES A CONFIDENT PEOPLE If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp… Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” Judges 7.10-14
GOD USES A CONFIDENT PEOPLE When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The L ORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” Judges 7.15
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