Skip to main content

Judges-7

Gideon's Faithful Few: A Devotional Study on Judges Chapter 7​

Introduction​

The chapter of Judges tells the tale of Israel's rise and fall as a nation. A hero arises, delivers the people, and then the people return to their former ways. It's a story we find cyclical throughout the book. However, Judges chapter 7 recounts the story of Gideon, who receives a most unexpected answer to his prayer. Let's embark on a devotional journey to explore the rich truths and spiritual insights in this passage.

Section 1: Introducing Gideon (Judges 6:11-24)​

Devotional Thought: Gideon's story begins with his encounter with the Angel of the Lord. In his weakness, Gideon's response to the Angel's calling is hesitant. He questions how he, a weak and insignificant man, could deliver Israel from the Midianites. Today, let's reflect on how we too have responded to God's call with hesitation and doubt.

Reflection Questions:

  • How have you hesitated or doubted God's call in your life?
  • In what ways can you draw strength from Gideon's moment of weakness when responding to God's call?

Section 2: God's Discipline (Judges 7:2-8)​

Devotional Thought: God's Word declares that God often disciplines His children to draw them closer to Him. Gideon's initial army of 32,000 set out to deliver Israel. However, God's message to Gideon was to reduce his army by three-fourths. Today, let's contemplate how God's discipline draws us closer to Him.

Reflection Questions:

  • How has God disciplined you in the past and what spiritual lessons have you learned?
  • How can we receive and respond to God's disciplinary messages in a faithful and obedient manner?

Section 3: God's Surprise (Judges 7:9-15)​

Devotional Thought: After reducing Gideon's army, God instructs Gideon to gather those who lapped and those who bowed in response to his command. This small group of 300 men left out in the wild with trumpets, pitchers, and torches. Let us contemplate the ingenuity and divine strategy in God's surprising solution.

Reflection Questions:

  • How might you have responded to such an ingenious and unexpected plan from God?
  • What insights does this moment teach us about God's strategy and creativity?

Section 4: God's Victory (Judges 7:16-23)​

Devotional Thought: With the surprise plan and Gideon's faithful few, the Midianites were routed. Gideon and his army captured the city of Succoth, where the blow of a single threshing sledge broke down the city's gate. Today, let's lift up our hearts as we contemplate God's victories in our lives.

Reflection Questions:

  • How have you seen God's victories in your life?
  • How can we remember and celebrate God's victories and faithfulness, leaving space for His ingenious and unexpected plans?

Conclusion:​

As we close our devotional study on Judges chapter 7, let's let Gideon's faith story inspire us. In our weakness, when we feel insignificant, let's remember that God's call is for us. In those moments of hesitation and doubt, let's draw strength from God's discipline to draw us closer to Him. Most fundamentally, let's trust in God's surprising and ingenious plans for our lives, leaving space for His victories to manifest themselves.