Dear Parents,
Last
week, your kids learned about Deborah and Barak. This week, Judges 6 starts out
in a familiar way: “The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”
The period of Judges was not a good time for the Israelites. Their cycle of
sin, bondage, deliverance, and peace clearly showed the law alone could not
save them from sin.
The
Israelites were oppressed by the Midianites, and they cried out to God for
help. God chose a man to save them, and his name was Gideon. Gideon was an
unlikely leader, and he knew this. Gideon said, “Please, Lord, how can I
deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the
youngest in my father’s house” (Judg. 6:15).
God
doesn’t need the biggest and the best to accomplish His plan. In fact, He often
uses the weakest and least of people to fulfill His plans because that is what
gives Him the most glory. God had a plan to empower Gideon in his weakness: “But
I will be with you,” He said. (Judg. 6:16)
Gideon
and an army of men assembled. God told Gideon he had too many men. God didn’t
want the men to think they had the power to defeat the Midianites themselves.
When the army was reduced to just 300 men, they prepared for battle. (See Judg.
7:1-7.)
The
men ran toward the Midianites’ camp, blowing their trumpets and shouting. God
turned the swords of the Midianites against each other. They ran away, but
Gideon and his army chased after them and killed them.
God
was with the Israelites when they went to battle. The Israelites did not win
the battle themselves; God fought for them. As you reflect on this story with
your kids this week, point out that the
Israelites cried out to God because they knew they could not save themselves.
Even Gideon was not enough to save them; God used Gideon to help His people,
but God fought the battle for them. The people needed someone who was mighty to
save. Jesus Christ came to save us from sin because we cannot save ourselves.
Only God, through Christ, can save us.
FAMILY
STARTING POINTS
- Babies and Toddlers
- God helps us obey Him.
- God’s people turned away from Him again.
- God was with Gideon and gave him courage.
- God sent Jesus to be with us forever.
- Preschool
- What is repentance? Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to Jesus.
- God gave Gideon victory.
- Kids
- What is repentance? Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to
Jesus.
- God showed Gideon that victory comes from Him.
