I. Introduction (Judges 6)

• Israel had become an evil nation that had forgotten God’s laws (v 1a)
• God allowed the Midianites to conquer Israel for seven years (v 1b)
• The Midianites treated the Israelites very badly, robbing them and destroying their fields and crops (vv 2 – 5)
• The Israelites prayed to be freed from the Midianites (v 7)

II. God calls Gideon to free Israel (Judges 6)

• Gideon was a farmer – in His own eyes he was unqualified to lead the army (v 11)
• But God saw Gideon’s potential – He saw him as a mighty warrior (v 12)
  • God knows us better than we know ourselves (Psalm 139:1 – 4 & Luke 12:7)
• Gideon doubted God’s call (like Moses and others in the Bible)
  • He felt that God had abandoned the Israelites (v 13)
    • God never leaves us or gives up on us (Hebrews 13:5)
  • He felt that his background was not good enough (v 15)
    • God gives us all we need to be successful (Philippians 4:13, 19
• God responded that He would be with Gideon (v 16)
• Gideon still doubted and asked for confirmation with the fleece (vv 36 – 40)

III. God selects Gideon’s army (Judges 7)

• Gideon started with 32,000 men
• God weeded out those who were fearful (v 3) – 10,000 men remained
  • We should not fear when God is with us (2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:4)
• God weeded out those who were not dedicated (v 4 – 6) – only 300 men remained
  • We should never turn back from our call to serve God (Luke 9:62)
• God confirmed His promise to win with only the 300 (v 7)

IV. God Gives Gideon The Victory

• Gideon waited on God’s command to begin the attack (vv 9 & 15)
  • We should wait for God to guide us (Isaiah 40:31)
• Gideon believed God’s promise, and proved that he had faith by attacking a huge army with only the 300 men God had selected
• Gideon’s force attacked by God’s instructions when each of the 300 men blew their trumpet (much like Joshua at Jericho) (vv 18 – 22)
  • Our own knowledge and wisdom will cause us to make mistakes and fail. God’s knowledge and wisdom are perfect. (Proverbs 3:5 – 6)

V. Summary

• Gideon did not start out as a professional soldier or leader, but “God does not call the equipped, He equips the called!!!”
• Gideon’s small army defeated the much larger and stronger Midianite force because they trusted in God and relied on His strength instead of their own
• We should not be afraid of our weaknesses, because God’s strength is with us. (2 Corinthians 12:9 – 10)