[What we're skipping:
* Deborah and Barak sing a song. Seriously, that's about it.]
OK…so next…
1. What do you know, Israel turned their backs on God again. So, Midian takes over. They oppress the Israelites by stealing all their crops (see the grasshoppers in “A Bug’s Life.” The Israelites cry out. God sends a prophet…”I told you this would happen.” It’s almost a broken record at this point.
2. Notice what Gideon is doing when the angel comes–he’s hiding food. He’s resisting the enemy, but he’s not really doing anything but sneaky disobedience. Kind of reminds me of the men of Sherwood Forrest before Robin Hood comes along. But now, the angel tell him that he is to lead his people against the Midianites. He will be Robin Hood!
3. Gideon just wanted to make a meal, and the angel blew it up to prove he was special! Would you believe now?
4. God told Gideon to tear down his dad’s altars to Baal and Asherah. Imagine tearing down your dad’s religious items like this. I’d be scared too. That’s why he build the new altar at night. Do you consider Gideon to be brave here?
5. Interesting how Gideon’s dad steps up for him. He tells them that Baal can stand up for himself. They don’t need to kill Gideon. Does this mean that Gideon’s dad never really believed in Baal in the first place?
6. Gideon’s fleece is kind of a famous thing. Some people considering it testing God. I’ll let you be the judge of that. Do you think Gideon is testing God here? Make the fleece moist while the ground is dry. Ok, now make the fleece dry while the ground is moist. God does it. And He doesn’t kill Gideon. So…what can you learn from his story?
