How does God help us obey Him?

God is always with us.

The Israelites once again turned away from God. This time, God handed the Israelites over to the Midianites. The Bible says the Midianites would swarm the Israelites like locusts, devouring all of their livestock and crops. The Israelites hid in caves and were reduced to poverty.

 

The Angel of the LORD personally delivered a message to Gideon as he was threshing grain in a wine vat to hide it from the Midianites. God called Gideon to deliver His people from the Midianites. Gideon told the Angel that he was the youngest son of the weakest house in the tribe of Manasseh. God had a solution, though: “I will be with you,” He said. (Judges 6:16)

 

Not only did God choose an unlikely hero for this Bible account, but God also reduced Gideon’s army to only 300 soldiers. People would know that God defeated the Midianites, not the might of the Israelite army. In battle, God turned the Midianites’ swords against each other, and Gideon and his army pursued the enemy troops.

Gideon alone could not defeat the Midianites. In the same way, we aren’t able to save ourselves from sin. Jesus came to save us from our sin because He is enough. Only God, through Jesus Christ, can save us.

Preschool Day Camp! for age 3 - (just completed) Kindergarten. Session 1, God Loves Me Here, is June 6 - 10. There’s something different every day, starting on June 6 with Main Street Monday. Loads of fun with friends, crafts, experiments, and Bible teaching. Campers will Travel Around Louisiana Tuesday, Whistle While You Work Wednesday, Thundering Thursday, and Fun in the Sun Friday. Register online at knowlovereach.tv/pscamp16. Sessions are from 9 AM - 1 PM; bring a sack lunch. Cost is $95 per session per child, and you can register for one or both at the same time. Session 2 is July 25 - 29: God Loves Me Everywhere.

How does God act?

God does what is good for us.

 

Everything God does is for His glory and our good. God used Deborah, Barak, and Jael to help the people of Israel win battles against Canaan. God also uses people to help us and teach us about Jesus. God sent His Son Jesus to do what is very good for us: to save us from sin.

The First Judges

How does God make His plan happen?

God uses people in His plan.

The Israelites had God’s laws to help them live their everyday lives, but without a leader they fell into a cycle of sin. They turned away from God and worshiped idols, which led to bondage and oppression by foreign kings. Then they remembered God and cried out to Him. God raised up a judge to deliver them, and finally there was ease in the land.

“The First Judges,” describes how God raised up Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar to deliver His people when they cried out to Him.  As long as the judge was alive, the people followed God and experienced peace and prosperity. When the judge died, however, they would fall back into the cycle of sin.

The Israelites needed someone better than a judge; they needed a king who would save them not only from the consequences of their sin, but from sin itself. That was all part of God’s plan. God did send a true Deliverer: His Son, Jesus, who died for our sin and delivered us forever from the oppression of sin and death.

 

Joshua's Final Encouragement

How can we show we love God? 

We can serve God and worship Him. 

Joshua was very old. He talked to God's people and told them to obey God even after he, Joshua, died. After Jesus died and was raised from the dead, He talked to His friends. Jesus wanted them to tell other people about Him. Now Jesus lives in heaven, and He wants us to tell other people about Him too.