Page 20 - Divinity_F5

Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

was lying fast asleep from weariness. The call of Gideon came about differently
Thus, he died. And behold, as Barak from other Judges (Judg. 6:11-24).
pursued Sis′era, Ja′el went out to meet The Angel of the Lord appeared and
him, and said to him, “Come, and I sat under the terebinth in Ophrah that
will show you the man whom you are belonged to Joash the Abiezerite while
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seeking” (Judg. 4:22). Therefore, he his son Gideon was beating out wheat to
went into her tent; and there lay Sis′era save it from the Midianites. The Angel
dead, with the tent peg in his temple. told Gideon, “The Lord is with you, you
Thus, on that day, God subdued Jabin mighty man of valour” (Judg. 6:12). The
the king of Canaan before the people of angel told Gideon that he was the one
Israel. to deliver the Israelites from the hands
of the Midianites. Gideon asked for
Under Deborah, we see the importance different signs to prove his call to fight
of the citizens’ effective participation against the Midianites. The signs were
in practising good governance for the a sacrifice to the Angel (Judg. 6:19-22),
state’s welfare. Everyone, without playing with the fleece (Judg. 6:37-40)
exception, has the right to participate and at last, the Lord himself gave Gideon
in bringing peace and development. a sign to strengthen him. The sign was
Deborah played her role as a leader; the dream of the soldier in the camp and
Barak and Jael also played their roles. its interpretation (Judg. 7:9-14).

Gideon Under the leadership of Gideon, the
According to the book of Judges, Gideon Lord promised to deliver the Israelites
was another biblical judge who played a with only three hundred soldiers whose
great role in good governance. Gideon weapons were empty jars with torches
supported a good relationship with inside, implying that the Lord was
God and opposed the oppression of the fighting the battle himself. Gideon
poor. He fought against the Midianites shows that in good governance, one
who oppressed the Israelites (Judg. 6:1- must consider God’s role as the one
8:32). Because the power of Midian was who appoints and strengthens a leader.

so oppressive, the Israelites prepared Gideon also promoted true worship of
shelters for themselves in mountain God, showing that people should be
clefts, caves and strongholds. Whenever faithful to God for the state’s well-being.
the Israelites planted their crops, the
Midianites, Amalekites and other Jephthah (Judges 11-12)
eastern peoples invaded the country. Jephthah was one of the ancient Israeli
Gideon was to save the Israelites from judges who governed God’s people and
these oppressors. led them against their enemies. The

Form Five Student’s Book 11