Judges – Teach Them Jesus

Deborah and BarakJudges 4:1-24; Judges 5:1-31A cruel king with 900 iron chariots ruled over Israel. God told Deborah that Barak should lead an army against him, and God would give them the victory. Barak was afraid to go alone, but he went. God sent a storm, and the chariots got stuck in the mud! We can be brave because God goes before us.Old TestamentCourage

Kings and ProphetsGideon’s Small ArmyJudges 6:1-40; Judges 7:1-22God chose fearful Gideon and shrank his army to just 300 men, so everyone would know the victory came from God's strength, not theirs.Old TestamentStrength

With Building BricksGideon’s 300: HumilityJudges 7:1-22; James 4:10; 2 Corinthians 4:7The Midianites had a huge army, like a swarm of locusts. God chose Gideon to save Israel. Gideon gathered 32,000 men. But God said, "You have too many! Israel might brag that they saved themselves." So God sent men home until only 300 were left. One night, God let Gideon sneak down to the enemy camp. He heard a soldier tell a dream. A loaf of barley bread rolled into the camp and knocked a tent flat! The soldier said it meant God would give Gideon the victory. Gideon worshiped God. With trumpets, jars and torches, the 300 shouted, and God made the enemy run. Humility means knowing God is great and giving Him the glory.Old TestamentHumility

Samson: Strength Comes From GodJudges 13:1-5; Judges 16:4-30Before Samson was born, God chose him to begin saving Israel from the Philistines. God made Samson very strong, as a sign of a special promise his hair was never cut. But Samson didn't take God's gift seriously. When Delilah tricked him into telling his secret, his hair was cut, the LORD left him and the Philistines captured him. But in prison, his hair began to grow again. At a great Philistine feast, Samson prayed, "Strengthen me just once more," and God answered. Real strength comes from God, and He gives it to the weak who call on Him.Old TestamentStrength