1. GIDEON: FROM ZERO TO HERO

2. Judges 6 (NIV) The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, Gideon: From Zero to Hero

3. the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. Gideon: From Zero to Hero

4. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. Gideon: From Zero to Hero

5. They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. Gideon: From Zero to Hero

6. Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, Gideon: From Zero to Hero

7. “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land Gideon: From Zero to Hero

8. I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” Gideon: From Zero to Hero

9. The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. Gideon: From Zero to Hero

10. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. ” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Gideon: From Zero to Hero

11. Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” Gideon: From Zero to Hero

12. The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, Gideon: From Zero to Hero

13. “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. ” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Gideon: From Zero to Hero

14. 4 Things to learn as we look at the story of Gideon: 1.Gideon had the Promise of God’s Presence 2.Gideon saw the Performance of God’s Plan 3.Gideon saw the Provision of God’s Power 4.Gideon saw the Proof of God’s Possibilities Gideon: From Zero to Hero

15. 1. Gideon had the Promise of God’s Presence Gideon: From Zero to Hero

16. 6:16 “The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Gideon: From Zero to Hero

17. However, Gideon began to make EXCUSES for himself: I am the least in my family. My family is the least in my clan (tribe) My tribe is the least in Israel When the angel said go in the strength you have, Gideon must have thought what strength? Gideon: From Zero to Hero

18. Many other people in the Bible made excuses: Moses asked “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt.” (Ex 3:11) Jeremiah said “Ah, Lord God! I cannot speak, for I am a child.” (Jer 1:6) But, God promised that He would be with them if they put their trust in Him. Gideon: From Zero to Hero

19. 2. Gideon saw the Performance of God’s Plan Gideon: From Zero to Hero

20. After reluctantly accepting the challenge to lead the Israelites against the Midianites, Gideon then met the army: Midianites: 135,000 Israelites: 32,000 Israelites (fearful): 22,000 = 10,000 Isrealites (at the waterside): 9,700 = 300 135,000 Midianites against 300 Israelites!!! Gideon: From Zero to Hero

21. 3. Gideon saw the Provision of God’s Power Gideon: From Zero to Hero

22. Gideon’s army was divided into three companies of one hundred each, and they were given trumpets, jars with torches inside and told to shout “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” when ordered. Gideon: From Zero to Hero

23. 4. Gideon saw the Proof of God’s Possibilities Gideon: From Zero to Hero

24. Gideon went from Zero to Hero: A timid farmer became a national hero! The one who said he was the least achieved through God a great victory! God can work similarly through you and me as we give our lives to Him today! Gideon: From Zero to Hero

25. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” Gideon: From Zero to Hero