Hello, my wonderful young friends! Today I want to share with you an incredible Bible story about how "Gideon defeats the Midianites" with God's amazing help - Judges 7. This exciting adventure from the book of Judges shows us how God can use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things when they trust and obey Him.

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The Israelites were facing a terrible problem. For seven years, the Midianites had been raiding their land, destroying their crops, and stealing their animals. The people were so afraid they hid in caves. They cried out to God for help, and He answered by calling an unlikely hero – Gideon, a young man who was hiding while threshing wheat. Through Gideon's story, we'll discover that with God, even the weakest person can become strong and courageous.

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

Chapter 1: Israel's Trouble

The people of Israel had a terrible problem. They had turned away from God and started worshiping idols. Because of this, God allowed a neighboring people called the Midianites to oppress them.

The Bible tells us in Judges 6:1-2, "The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds."

The Midianites would wait until the Israelites had planted their crops and then they would sweep in like a plague of locusts, destroying everything. Judges 6:3-4 describes it: "Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys."

The people of Israel became very poor and hungry. Finally, they remembered God and cried out to Him for help. God heard their cries and prepared to send them a deliverer.

Chapter 2: God Calls Gideon

God chose a young man named Gideon to save Israel. Gideon didn't seem like a mighty warrior. In fact, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him, Gideon was hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat so the Midianites wouldn't see him and steal it!

The angel greeted him with surprising words: "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12). Gideon must have looked around to see who the angel was talking to! He certainly didn't feel like a mighty warrior.

Gideon questioned the angel: "Pardon me, my lord, but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about?" (Judges 6:13). Gideon was confused about why God had allowed the Midianites to oppress them.

The Lord looked at Gideon and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (Judges 6:14). Gideon protested that his clan was the weakest and he was the least important in his family, but God reassured him: "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive" (Judges 6:16).

Chapter 3: The Sign of the Fleece

Although God had promised to be with him, Gideon was still uncertain. He wanted to be absolutely sure that God was really speaking to him. So Gideon asked for a sign.

"Gideon said to God, 'If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said'" (Judges 6:36-37).

The next morning, Gideon checked the fleece. It was soaking wet with dew, while the ground around it was completely dry! But Gideon was still doubtful. He asked God for one more sign, this time making the fleece dry while the ground was wet with dew. God patiently granted his request.

"That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew" (Judges 6:40). Now Gideon was convinced! God had answered his request exactly as he asked. This confirmation gave Gideon the courage to move forward with God's plan.

This story teaches us that God is patient with our doubts and understands when we need reassurance. He met Gideon where he was, giving him the signs he needed to build his faith.

Chapter 4: Too Many Warriors

Gideon sent messengers throughout the land, calling for men to join his army. Thirty-two thousand men responded! That seemed like a good start against the mighty Midianite army, which had "so many camels they could not be counted; they invaded the land to ravage it" (Judges 6:5).

But God had a surprising message for Gideon: "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, 'My own strength has saved me'" (Judges 7:2).

God wanted to make sure that when victory came, everyone would know it was His doing, not because of Israel's military might. So He told Gideon to make an announcement: "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead" (Judges 7:3).

What happened next was shocking! Twenty-two thousand men left, leaving only ten thousand soldiers. But even this smaller number was too many in God's plan. God told Gideon to take the men down to the water to drink, and to separate them based on how they drank.

"So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, 'Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.' Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink" (Judges 7:5-6).

Only 300 men remained! From 32,000 down to 300 – that's less than 1% of the original army! Now everyone would know that the coming victory would be God's alone.

Chapter 5: God's Unusual Battle Plan

With just 300 men against a vast Midianite army, Gideon needed a truly special battle plan. God provided one that was most unusual!

That night, God told Gideon to go down to the enemy camp. If he was afraid, he could take his servant Purah with him. There, Gideon would hear something that would give him courage.

At the camp, Gideon overheard a Midianite soldier telling his friend about a dream: "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed" (Judges 7:13).

The friend immediately interpreted the dream: "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands" (Judges 7:14).

When Gideon heard this, he worshiped God. Then he returned to the Israelite camp with a brilliant battle strategy from the Lord. He divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a trumpet and an empty jar with a torch inside it.

"Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon'" (Judges 7:17-18).

This was certainly not a conventional battle plan! But Gideon trusted God completely now, and his men trusted Gideon's leadership.

Chapter 6: Victory in the Night

Around midnight, Gideon and his three hundred men reached the edge of the Midianite camp. The enemy soldiers were sleeping, feeling secure with their vast numbers and watchmen posted.

At Gideon's signal, all three hundred men blew their trumpets at once and smashed their jars, revealing the blazing torches. They shouted "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:20).

The sudden noise of three hundred trumpets blasting and jars breaking, accompanied by the shouts and the sight of torches surrounding the camp, created complete chaos among the Midianites. They couldn't tell what was happening or how many Israelites were attacking them.

"While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords" (Judges 7:21-22).

In their confusion and panic, the Midianites began fighting each other! They didn't know who was friend or foe in the darkness. Many were killed by their own fellow soldiers, and the rest fled in terror.

Gideon then called out the other Israelite tribes to pursue the fleeing Midianites. They captured and killed the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb, and pursued the remaining forces across the Jordan River.

The Israelites had won a tremendous victory without even fighting! God had defeated the mighty Midianite army through noise, light, and confusion, using just 300 faithful men.

Chapter 7: The People Want a King

After this amazing victory, the people were so grateful to Gideon that they asked him to become their ruler: "Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian" (Judges 8:22).

This was a tempting offer. Gideon could become like a king, with power and wealth. But Gideon gave a wise answer: "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you" (Judges 8:23).

Gideon understood that God alone had given them victory. He didn't want to take credit for what God had done, and he recognized that God was the true ruler of Israel.

Despite this good answer, Gideon made a mistake. He asked each man to give him a gold earring from their plunder. With this gold, Gideon made an ephod (a special garment usually worn by priests). He placed it in his city, and sadly, "All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family" (Judges 8:27).

This shows us that even heroes of faith can make mistakes. The gold ephod became something like an idol that drew people's hearts away from worshiping the true God.

The Bible tells us that after Gideon's victory, "Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon's lifetime, the land had peace forty years" (Judges 8:28). For the rest of Gideon's life, the Israelites enjoyed peace from their enemies.

Chapter 8: Remembering God's Deliverance

When Gideon died, the people quickly forgot the lessons they should have learned. "No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side" (Judges 8:33-34).

How quickly they forgot! God had performed an amazing miracle, defeating a huge army with just 300 men, trumpets, jars, and torches. Yet the people turned back to false gods who had never done anything for them.

Even more sadly, "They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them" (Judges 8:35). They didn't even remain loyal to the memory of Gideon, who God had used to save them.

This pattern of forgetting God after He rescued them happened repeatedly throughout Israel's history. The people would worship idols, face trouble as a result, cry out to God, be rescued by a judge God raised up, enjoy peace for a while, and then return to idols again.

God continues to be faithful even when His people are not. He is always ready to forgive and restore those who turn back to Him. That's why He kept raising up judges to deliver Israel, even though the people kept turning away from Him.

What Can We Learn from This Story?

1. God uses unlikely people - Gideon was hiding in fear when God called him a "mighty warrior." God sees our potential, not just our current state. He often chooses people who seem weak or unimportant to do great things.
2. God understands our doubts - God was patient with Gideon's doubts and requests for signs. He knows we sometimes need reassurance and is willing to provide it to help build our faith.
3. God's ways are not our ways - God's battle plan (reducing the army to 300, using trumpets and torches) seemed strange, but it was perfect for showing His power. God often works in unexpected ways that reveal His glory.
4. Victory comes from God, not our strength - God deliberately reduced Israel's army to make it clear that He alone was responsible for the victory. When we face challenges, we should rely on God's power, not just our own abilities.
5. We must remember God's faithfulness - The Israelites quickly forgot what God had done for them. We need to intentionally remember and thank God for His help and blessings in our lives.

Fun Activities for Kids

1. Trumpet, Jar, and Torch Craft
   Make simple trumpets from paper towel tubes covered with aluminum foil. Create "jars" from paper cups decorated with markers. Make "torches" by gluing yellow and orange tissue paper flames to popsicle sticks. Act out Gideon's nighttime attack with these props, having everyone blow their trumpets, break their "jars" (crumple the cups), and wave their torches while shouting "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" As biblefunforkids.com shows, kids love interactive props that help them connect with the story.
2. Fleece Prayer Activity
   Give each child two paper cutouts shaped like fleece. On one side, have them write or draw something they're unsure about or a decision they need to make. On the other side, have them write a prayer asking God for guidance. Discuss how God answered Gideon's requests for confirmation and how we can pray for God's guidance in our lives.
3. From 32,000 to 300 Game
   Start with a large number of items (like beans, buttons, or small stones) representing Gideon's original army. Have children take turns removing items based on God's instructions (first removing two-thirds, then all but one percent). This visual demonstration helps children understand how dramatically God reduced Gideon's army and why - so the victory would clearly be from God, not human strength.
4. Midianite Camp Confusion
   Divide children into groups in a darkened room representing the Midianite camp. Give a few children flashlights (torches) and noisemakers (trumpets). When the "attack" begins with lights and noise, the Midianites must move around in confusion without bumping into each other. This helps them experience how God used chaos and confusion to defeat Israel's enemies.
5. Remember God's Victory Chain
   Give each child seven paper strips. On each strip, have them write or draw something God has done for them or their family. Connect the strips into a paper chain as a visual reminder not to forget God's goodness, unlike the Israelites who forgot God after Gideon died. Encourage children to add new links to their chains as they see God working in their lives.

If you enjoyed learning about "Gideon Defeats the Midianites," I think you'll also love exploring "David and Goliath"! This exciting story shows how a young shepherd boy named David faced a giant warrior named Goliath with just a sling and five smooth stones. With his complete trust in God, David defeated the terrifying giant that all of Israel's army was afraid to fight. It's another wonderful example of how God can use someone young and seemingly weak to accomplish something amazing when they have faith in Him. Check it out next time for another thrilling Bible adventure!