Gideon Learnings

A few quick jottings of things we might learn from Judges 6-8:

Failure to listen to and obey God can lead to his judgement and to obvious defeat

We should worship God our Redeemer alone

When we are in distress we should cry out to God

God is all powerful and in control

With God, all things are possible

God can make the weak, fearful and insecure, strong and bold

God + 1 always = a majority!

God works through weakness so that he gets the glory (cf. Christ, the cross)

But God may also use our skills and abilities, such as cunning, planning, diplomacy etc. Sometimes these things are good and necessary.

We ought to trust God, take him at his word, believe his promises and do as he says, not demand miraculous signs

God is gracious and kind even in the face of weak, imperfect faith. He knows about our weakness and fear and may choose to encourage us.

We need to always remember our dependence on God. It is no good acknowledging him (formally with our words) when it’s too late if our actions, attitudes and words (or silence) have tended to deny him.

Even great and godly leaders can have serious weaknesses, character flaws, sins and problems. We must beware of worshiping our leaders or trusting in human beings.

Leaders should beware of arrogance, pride, love of money etc.

Believers can be terribly inconsistent and still be real believers.

We can be ensnared by the (lovely, precious) things we think we want.

Lessons from Judges 1:1-2:5

God is in control and uses even the messy and the inexplicable.

God's power.

Victories come from God not ultimately from superior skills or numbers.

God's people can expect triumph when they do his will in his way.

God's work does not depend on any human being, not on our leaders or heros.

Total obedience to God's Word even when it feels hard or strange.

Don't think you know better than God. No pragmatism at the expense of principle.

No compromise with sin or with Godlessness.

The seriousness of sin and the reality of the coming judgement. The justice of God.

The need to throw in one's lot with God and his people.

God's blessing come when we work together in unity. Mutual help.

God is patient and merciful. He warns and stands ready to forgive.

Sin has painful sometimes disasterous sometimes unintended consequences.

Emotional repentance is good and fine as is expression of faith and devotion, but they must be real and lasting and applied in action.

We need new hearts, the power of the Spirit, forgiveness, rescue, a Saviour-King, Christ.

(With thanks to my homegroup, Dale Ralph Davis, Judges - Christian Focus - & The Good Book co., The Good The Bad and The Ugly).