FAITH
Text: Hebrews 11
Lesson Eighteen – V.32
Examples of the ancients who were commended for their faith: (Cont’d.)
GIDEON [Part 2]: V.32 – And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
See Judges 7.
Judges 7:1 – Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
Jerub-Baal – Definition: Let Baal contend. See Judges 6:25-32.
Camped at the spring of Harod – The Matthew Henry’s Commentary states: “He pitched near a famous well, that his army might not be distressed for want of water …”
Let us thank the Lord for: Matthew 11:28-30 – 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
John 7:37-39 – 37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Judges 7:2 – The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her,
In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her – Note:
1 Corinthians 1:27-31 – 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It 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. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Galatians 6:14 – May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–9not by works, so that no one can boast.
Judges 7:3 – announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
Let us thank the Lord that in “fighting the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12), we are required to be guided by: Romans 8:15 – For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Judges 7:4 – But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
Note: 1 Samuel 16:6-7 – 6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”
7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 – “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Jeremiah 17:10 – “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
Let us therefore ask the Lord to help us in accordance with Psalm 139:23-24 – 23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Judges 7:7 – The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.”
Note: 1 Samuel 14:6 – Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
2 Chronicles 14:11 – Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.”
Let us thank the Lord for Luke 1:37 – For nothing is impossible with God.”
See Judges 7:9-25 – These verses outline the method used by Gideon, from the instructions of the Lord, for the defeat of the Midianites.
Note Judges 7:17 – “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do.
Let us thank the Lord for using this to direct us to Hebrews 12:2-3 – 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
As with the fall of the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:3-27), the method used in this conquest is an example of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (Contemporary English Version) – 3We live in this world, but we don’t act like its people 4or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments 5and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people’s thoughts and make them obey Christ.