1. Lesson 11 Gideon

2. The Cycle Begins Again Israel again does evil God delivers them to the Midianites – Who were the Midianites? – Who were their allies? The Midianites would come into the land and take all the Israelites harvest They would take everything! The Israelites were hiding in dens and caves The Midianites were “numerous as locusts”

3. Israel Cries Out Israel cried out to the Lord The Lord sent a prophet The prophet reminded them of why they were in this situation

4. Ophrah?

5. Gideon Is Called The Angel of the Lord came to Gideon in Ophrah Gideon was in the winepress threshing wheat because he was afraid of the Midianites You “mighty man of valor”! “Where are the miracles we have heard about?” “Go in this might of yours”

6. Gideon Is Called How can I save Israel? “I will be with you.” “Show me a sign” Wait for me here and I will bring back for you an offering When Gideon brings back the meat and the unleavened bread, what happened?

7. Gideon Is Called Gideon knew then that he had been in the presence of the Lord Gideon was afraid and feared that he would die The Lord assured him that he would not die Gideon built an altar Gideon called this altar “The LORD is peace”

8. The Altar of Baal The Lord instructed Gideon to tear down the altar to Baal and the Asherah pole Replace them with an altar to Jehovah Offer a burnt offering from your father’s bull on this altar using the wood from the Asherah pole Gideon did this, but he did it at night

9. The Altar of Baal The men of the city rose early to see what had been done The sacrifice was still burning They wondered who had done this, but figured it was Gideon They wanted Gideon to be put to death! Joash, Gideon’s father, said, “Let Baal kill him if he is a god and doesn’t like what has been done.” Gideon is called Jerubbaal

10. Gideon Seeks a Sign Gideon asks for another sign if he will save Israel Gideon places a fleece outside and there was dew on the fleece only Again, Gideon humbly asks for another sign Gideon places the fleece outside and there was dew on the ground, but not the fleece

11. Gideon’s Army Gideon and the people with him camped just to the south of the camp of the Midianites The Midianites were camped in the valley of Jezreel

13. Gideon’s Army The Lord said that the 32,000 that Gideon had were too many to deliver the Midianites to him How many Midianites were there? Gideon said “Whoever is afraid, depart.” 22,000 left The Lord said, “That is still too many”

14. Gideon’s Army Bring them to the water and ask them to drink Whoever laps like a dog with his tongue, separate Whoever gets down on his knees, separate 300 men lapped, bringing his hand to his mouth The Lord said, by that 300 men, I will deliver Israel

15. Gideon’s Army The Lord told Gideon that He had delivered Midian into his hands this night If Gideon were afraid, he could take Purah and go and listen to the Midianites. Gideon and Purah went there and heard the dream of the barley loaf This is the sword of Gideon!

16. Gideon’s Army Gideon took the 300 and divided them into three companies Each man had a trumpet, a pitcher, and a torch Gideon told the companies to watch him and to do what he did They came to the camp at about 10:00 PM (the middle watch) and blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers and shouted!

17. Gideon’s Army The Lord turned the Midianites against each other and they killed one another They fled Then, men from other tribes joined in pursuit of the Midianites Gideon requested help from Ephraim to prevent them from getting to water and crossing the Jordan

18. Gideon’s Army Ephraim captured and killed Oreb and Zeeb, princes of Midian The men of Ephraim were angry that they were not involved earlier Gideon says “The gleaning of Ephraim is greater than the harvest of Abiezer.” God delivered Oreb and Zeeb to Ephraim

19. Abel – Mehola