Willing
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Scripture Reference
He responded, "But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The Lord said to him, "But I will be with you...."
-- Judges 6:15-16a
Materials Needed
Card stock printed with Judges 6:15 on one side and Judges 6:16a on the other
Telling The Story
Have you ever heard the story of Gideon? We find it in the book of Judges, in the Old Testament. At that time in history, the people of Israel were being attacked by the people of Midian. The Midianites would come in and kill the Israelites' animals, steal their food, and burn their crops.
One day a man named Gideon was threshing his wheat. In Bible times, a farmer would toss the wheat plants in the air, letting the wind blow away the parts that couldn't be eaten and letting the edible parts fall to the ground. The problem is that the Midianites would attack anyone they saw threshing wheat, so Gideon came up with a plan. He hid in a wine press, which was a deep hole in the ground used for pressing the juice out of grapes. Gideon probably thought that no one would think of looking for a thresher there!
Of course, someone did: an angel sent from God. The angel told Gideon that God was sending him to rescue the people of Israel from the Midianites! Do you know what Gideon said? (Show the card stock printed with the scripture reference and verses and read Judges 6:15.) In Judges 6:15 we read, "He responded, 'But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.' "
In our country today, we think of ourselves as residents of our city or citizens of our state or country, but in Israel in Bible times, the people thought of themselves as members of tribes. Each tribe was made of people who were descended from one of Jacob's twelve sons, and each tribe was divided into smaller family groups. Some tribes were thought to be more important than others.
Gideon was a member of the half-tribe of Manasseh, or a descendent of one of Joseph's sons. He told the angel that his family was the least important clan in Manasseh and that he was his parents' least important son. Gideon didn't understand how God could use him when he was so unimportant; what did the angel say? (Show the card stock printed with the scripture reference and verses and read Judges 6:16a.) Judges 6:16a tells us, "The Lord said to him, 'But I will be with you....' "
"I will be with you." Why did God choose Gideon instead of a trained soldier? The Bible doesn't tell us exactly. Maybe God was looking for someone creative. If you read the rest of Gideon's story in Judges, you learn that God had an unusual battle plan. A trained soldier might have heard God's plan and said, "That won't work! Here's how we should fight!" But Gideon had already come up with the creative idea of threshing wheat in a wine press. No one else thought of it. Maybe God saw Gideon's creative side and knew that he would see the possibilities in God's plan.
Or maybe God was looking for someone who would trust completely. Military training is no match for God's hand, and God needed someone who would understand that. Whatever the reason, God didn't care that some people thought Gideon was unimportant. God knew that Gideon could do the job if Gideon was willing to trust and follow, and that was what was truly important.
Whenever you're tempted to think that God can't use you because you're "too little," "untalented," or "unimportant," think about Gideon. God saw potential in Gideon because God looks for characteristics that humans sometimes overlook. More importantly, however, God was able to use Gideon because he was willing to be used. Always remember that. God can use you, no matter what anyone else thinks, because the most important thing God is looking for is your willingness to trust and follow.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for this beautiful day. Thank you for seeing Gideon's potential and his willingness to serve. Please help us to remember that when you see us, you see our willingness to follow first and our other characteristics second. Please help us to remember that you can use anyone, no matter how unimportant we might feel, so long as we trust you. Thank you for your confidence in us.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
He responded, "But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The Lord said to him, "But I will be with you...."
-- Judges 6:15-16a
Materials Needed
Card stock printed with Judges 6:15 on one side and Judges 6:16a on the other
Telling The Story
Have you ever heard the story of Gideon? We find it in the book of Judges, in the Old Testament. At that time in history, the people of Israel were being attacked by the people of Midian. The Midianites would come in and kill the Israelites' animals, steal their food, and burn their crops.
One day a man named Gideon was threshing his wheat. In Bible times, a farmer would toss the wheat plants in the air, letting the wind blow away the parts that couldn't be eaten and letting the edible parts fall to the ground. The problem is that the Midianites would attack anyone they saw threshing wheat, so Gideon came up with a plan. He hid in a wine press, which was a deep hole in the ground used for pressing the juice out of grapes. Gideon probably thought that no one would think of looking for a thresher there!
Of course, someone did: an angel sent from God. The angel told Gideon that God was sending him to rescue the people of Israel from the Midianites! Do you know what Gideon said? (Show the card stock printed with the scripture reference and verses and read Judges 6:15.) In Judges 6:15 we read, "He responded, 'But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.' "
In our country today, we think of ourselves as residents of our city or citizens of our state or country, but in Israel in Bible times, the people thought of themselves as members of tribes. Each tribe was made of people who were descended from one of Jacob's twelve sons, and each tribe was divided into smaller family groups. Some tribes were thought to be more important than others.
Gideon was a member of the half-tribe of Manasseh, or a descendent of one of Joseph's sons. He told the angel that his family was the least important clan in Manasseh and that he was his parents' least important son. Gideon didn't understand how God could use him when he was so unimportant; what did the angel say? (Show the card stock printed with the scripture reference and verses and read Judges 6:16a.) Judges 6:16a tells us, "The Lord said to him, 'But I will be with you....' "
"I will be with you." Why did God choose Gideon instead of a trained soldier? The Bible doesn't tell us exactly. Maybe God was looking for someone creative. If you read the rest of Gideon's story in Judges, you learn that God had an unusual battle plan. A trained soldier might have heard God's plan and said, "That won't work! Here's how we should fight!" But Gideon had already come up with the creative idea of threshing wheat in a wine press. No one else thought of it. Maybe God saw Gideon's creative side and knew that he would see the possibilities in God's plan.
Or maybe God was looking for someone who would trust completely. Military training is no match for God's hand, and God needed someone who would understand that. Whatever the reason, God didn't care that some people thought Gideon was unimportant. God knew that Gideon could do the job if Gideon was willing to trust and follow, and that was what was truly important.
Whenever you're tempted to think that God can't use you because you're "too little," "untalented," or "unimportant," think about Gideon. God saw potential in Gideon because God looks for characteristics that humans sometimes overlook. More importantly, however, God was able to use Gideon because he was willing to be used. Always remember that. God can use you, no matter what anyone else thinks, because the most important thing God is looking for is your willingness to trust and follow.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for this beautiful day. Thank you for seeing Gideon's potential and his willingness to serve. Please help us to remember that when you see us, you see our willingness to follow first and our other characteristics second. Please help us to remember that you can use anyone, no matter how unimportant we might feel, so long as we trust you. Thank you for your confidence in us.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
