Gideon and the Mighty Army

Directions for Young Readers:

Welcome, young friends! Today, we’ll embark on an exciting adventure with Gideon, a brave hero from the Bible. Join us as we learn about his remarkable story and the mighty army God helped him lead to victory. Pay close attention to the adventure, as there will be a question for you to answer at the end!

Story:

Once upon a time, in the land of Israel, there lived a man named Gideon.

He was just an ordinary farmer, threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites, who were oppressing the Israelites.

One day, as he was working, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” he was surprised by the angel’s words because he did not see himself as a mighty warrior. But the angel had a special message for him—he was chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites.

God instructed him to gather an army and lead them into battle against the Midianites. But Gideon was unsure and asked for a sign to confirm that it was truly God’s will. So, he placed a fleece of wool on the ground and asked God to make it wet with dew while keeping the ground dry. The next morning, Gideon found the fleece wet with dew, just as he had asked.

But Gideon wanted to be absolutely sure, so he asked God for another sign. This time, he asked God to make the fleece dry and the ground wet with dew. Once again, God answered Gideon’s request, and the fleece was dry while the ground was covered in dew.

With these signs, he knew that God was with him, and he gathered an army of thirty-two thousand men. But God had other plans. He told Gideon that the army was too large and that he would deliver the Midianites into Gideon’s hand with only three hundred men.

Gideon obeyed God’s command and divided his army into three groups. Each man was given a trumpet and a clay jar with a torch inside. In the middle of the night, they surrounded the camp of the Midianites and, at Gideon’s signal, broke their jars, blew their trumpets, and shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”

The noise and confusion caused by the trumpets and the torches frightened the Midianites, and they fled in panic. God had delivered them into Gideon’s hand with just three hundred men!

Question:

What did he ask God to make wet with dew to confirm His will?

Story:

After the victory over the Midianites, Gideon and his small but mighty army pursued the fleeing enemy. With God’s help, they captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb, and put an end to their oppression once and for all.

The Israelites were overjoyed at their deliverance, and they asked him to rule over them as their king. But he refused, saying, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”

His humble and faithful leadership inspired the Israelites to worship God and serve Him faithfully. And so, his story teaches us that God can use even the most unlikely people to accomplish His purposes, and that with God on our side, we can overcome any obstacle that stands in our way.

Answer:

He asked God to make the fleece wet with dew to confirm His will.

Ending:

As we conclude our adventure with Gideon, let us remember the power of faith and obedience. Just like him, we can trust in God’s promises and follow His guidance in our lives. May his story inspire us to be brave and faithful, knowing that with God on our side, we can achieve great things!