Tom Samson Rg No: STS0047
Who is your role model among the youth in the Bible, and why?
My Role model is Gideon who is listed as one of the prophets of God. The Bible introduces Gideon in the book of Judges 6:11 … as the son of Joash the Abiezzrite from Ophra.
Why Gedion is my Role Model
1. Gideons’ Had list of Excuses but finally accepted Gods mission
Then Gideon doubted and wondered how he could save Israel. The angel of the Lord tells Gideon Go, have I not sent you?” When God calls you regardless of excuses we make He has a purpose and will give you the power to accomplish the task. God does not look at people as men see them and God can use anyone for His service.
2. Gedion wanted God to prove He was with hm so he wanted a Sign
Then Gideon confirms that it was God speaking to him. He pleaded with the angel of the Lord saying, “show me a sign”. Let me bring a sacrifice before you and the Angel of the Lord responded by saying “ I will wait until you come back”. Gideon returns with the sacrifice and the angel of the Lord uses the staff in His hand and touches the offering, immediately fire came out of the rock and consumed the offering. Then the angel of the Lord departed. With this sign, Gideon confirms that it is the angel of the Lord and exclaims “Alas Oh Lord for I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face”. The basis of his fear stems from exodus 33:10. But the angel assured him that he would not die saying “Peace be with you, you shall not die”. Gideon erected an altar of the Lord there and called it The- Lord- Is –Peace. God is patient with our unbelief and will provide an opportunity for us to believe in Him.
3. Tear Down the Altar of Baal and Cut Down The Images of Baal
Then the Lord commanded Gideon to tear down the altar of Baal that his father had and sacrifice his fathers’ second bull of seven years. The men of the village wanted to kill him for destroying the altar of Baal but his father defended him, asking the men instead to let Baal plead for himself, because it was the altar of Baal that was torn down. On that day his father called him Jerubbaal because he tore down the altar of Baal Judges 6:32. We note here also the role of fathers as defenders and protectors of their children against external aggressors. The key lesson here is we cannot worship both God and Baal. Like Elisha, Like Joshua if God is God then worship Him.
4. Gedion wanted more evidence, Sign of the Fleece
Then Gideon sought validation from God again, he pleaded with God saying “ Lord if you will save Israel by my hand as you have said, look I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor, if there is dew on the fleece only and it is dry on the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand as you have said”. The scripture says… and it was so. The next morning when he woke up he wrung a bowl full of water from the wool and everywhere else was dry. Then Gideon pleaded with the Lord again and said “Please do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more. Let me test, one more time with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece and everywhere else be wet on the ground with dew”.Again the scripture records that…. it was so that night. It was dry on the fleece but there was dew on all the ground. The key lesson here is that God is patient.
5. Gideon Enlists an Army He accepted God direction on how to select the best men
Then Gideon enlisted an army of 32000 men. But God had other plans. The 32,000 men were too many and the Israelites might think that it was their army that saved them Judges 7:2. So God told Gideon to announce to the fearful and afraid to go back. A whopping 22,000 of the men returned leaving behind 10,000men Judges 7:3. But the Lord said to Gideon that the 10,000 men were still too many. So God gave them a test by making them drink water from the stream. Those who lapped water like a dog were the right team while those who knelt to drink were rejected. Only 300 men lapped water on their hands like a dog, 9,700 men got down on their knees and knelt to drink water. So the 9,700 men were sent home. Don’t fear even if you are few God can bring deliverance even by one man. He did it for Gideon. He can do it again for you. Remember the song dare to be a Daniel. It resonates well with this theme.
6. The Midianite Dream and Its Interpretation, He was always obedient to Gods direction
The Lord told Gideon to take his servant whose name was Purah to go to the Camp of the Midianites which was in the valley by the Hill of Moreh. God wanted to prove to Gideon one more time that He was going to use him to save the Israelites. When he reached there, he found people lying in the valley. They were as many as locusts and their camels were as the sand of the seashore in multitude Judges 7:12. When Gideon arrived a man was telling a dream. below is how the story went:
After this Gideon did not doubt God any further. He returned to the camp of Israel and planned the attack strategy. God will use numerous ways to prove his purpose. Learn to listen to the still small voice.
7. Gideon Attack Strategy: The Sword of the Lord and Gideon.
To win a war you need a strategy tactics. So Gideon divided the 300 men into three companies. He put a trumpet into every man’s hand with empty pitchers and torches inside the pitches. Then he shows great leadership and mentorship to the men. He says, “ look at me and, do likewise”. Here is a lesson for every leader to show the way. The men blew their horns and broke the pitches. At the sound of the mighty noise, the Midianites thought that a mighty army had attacked them. Then the Lord set every mans’ sword against his companion throughout the camp, and the army fled. That is how God used Gideon to deliver Israelites from the Midianites. Take action for the Lord.