C.A.C Sunday School Manual For April 20, 2025, Lesson 14 : Topic - God Prepares Gideon And Jephthah

C.A.C Sunday School Manual For April 20, 2025, Lesson 14 : Topic - God Prepares Gideon And Jephthah

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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria And Overseas

 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

Theme *PREPARING GOD'S PEOPLE for LEADERSHIP* 

 JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2025

 APR 20, 2025.

 Easter Sunday: LESSON 14* 

 Unit 2: Leadership Preparation In The Old Testament (1)* 

 Topic: GOD PREPARES GIDEON AND JEPHTHAH* 

Memory Scripture* 

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27). 

God uses ordinary people like Gideon and Jephthah to become extraordinary leaders, showing His power to use unlikely persons for His purposes.

BRIEF COMMENT* 

The Memory Scripture emphasises the paradoxical nature of God's choices. It suggests that God intentionally chooses what the world may perceive as foolish or weak to demonstrate His power and wisdom, just as He did during the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the context of God using weak and imperfect things, the Memory Scripture underscores God's ability to work through seemingly insignificant, individuals and situations. It challenges human notions of strength and wisdom, highlighting that God's ways are often contrary to worldly expectations. This perspective encourages humility and reliance on God's transformative power, reminding believers that God can use the seemingly weak and imperfect aspects of our lives for His divine purposes. On this Easter Sunday, we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ; another of God's acts shaming the powers of death and tomb and heralding the victory of Jesus Christ. 

 *DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS* 

 *Mon. 14:* God Calls Gideon From His Hiding (Jdg. 6:11-16) 

 *Tue. 15:* Gideon Seeks Confirmation From God (Jdg. 6:36-40) 

 *Wed. 16:* God Guides Gideon To Defeat The Midianites (Jdg. 7:19-22) 

 *Thur. 17:* Jephthah Called Upon By Gileadite Elders (Jdg. 11:1-11) 

 *Fri. 18:* Jephthah Makes A Vow To God (Jdg. 11:29-40) 

 *Sat. 19:* Jephthah Becomes Victorious Over The Ammonites (Jdg. 11:32-33)  

 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS* 

 1. God savours the use of weak and imperfect individuals for His purposes.

 2. His grace, which perfects strength in weakness is always available and poured out. Reliance on His strength rather than human abilities must be upheld.  

 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE:* Psalm 8:2. 

 AIM AND OBJECTIVES* 

 AIM:* To show God as sovereign in the affairs of men as He uses seemingly unexpected persons/things to confound the 'wise'world. 

 OBJECTIVES:* By the end of this lesson, learners should be:

 i. able to discuss God's choice of Gideon and Jephthah and how God prepared both characters; and

ii. showing signs of fully depending on God in any situation we find ourselves. 

 INTRODUCTION 

TEXTUAL SOURCE: Judges 6:1ff; 7:1ff; 11:1ff* 

Lesson 13, "Moses Prepares Joshua to Lead God's People," was a source of enlightenment last week, a last week, and we give thanks to God for the insights gained. May we remain steadfast in adhering to the principles discussed for preparing leaders in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Today's lesson, titled "God Prepares Gideon and Jephthah," focuses on the stories of Gideon and Jephthah to deduce lessons from how God prepared and raised these individuals to deliver the Israelites from oppression. These narratives reveal God's transformative work in shaping unlikely leaders who play pivotal roles in the nation's deliverance. Despite their initial doubts and shortcomings, God equipped and empowered them for their tasks, demonstrating His ability to use ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Through obedience, faith and the unfolding of His divine plan amidst adversity, the stories of Gideon and Jephthah inspire us to trust in God's providence. 

May we humbly glean wisdom from these accounts as we delve into today's lesson. Amen. 

LESSON OUTLINE

I. GOD PREPARES GIDEON

II. GOD PREPARES JEPHTHAH

LESSON EXPOSITION* 

I. GOD PREPARES GIDEON (Judges 6:1ff; 7:1ff)* 

Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" (6:14) 

a) 6:1-11: The Israelites had again turned away from God, and as a consequence, God allowed the Midianites to oppress them. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites when the Angel of the LORD appeared to him (cf. Exod. 3:1-4). 

b) vv. 12-13: The Angel of the LORD greeted Gideon and addressed him as a mighty man of valour. Despite this positive affirmation, Gideon expressed doubt. Leaders in training may doubt their abilities. Yet, God chooses the unlikely to display His power through weakness (1 Cor. 1:27-29). 

c) vv. 14-21: God assured Gideon of His presence and promised victory. God's presence with any leader makes all the difference (cf. Acts 18:9- 10). Trusting in His promises empowers leaders to face challenges with confidence (Isa. 41:10; Php. 4:13). 

d) vv. 25-27: God instructed Gideon to tear down his father's idols, which he did at night to avoid confrontation. This act showed Gideon's commitment to God's command and marked a turning point in his leadership journey. 

e) vv. 36-40: The fleece test teaches us to seek God's guidance. Leaders encounter uncertainty but must trust God's timing and methods (Prov. 3:5-6; Jas. 1:5). 

f) 7:1ff: God's reduction of Gideon's army and his subsequent victory teach the importance of leaders relying on God's strategy, and strength (cf. Psa. 20:7, Prov. 16:9; Heb. 11:6; Eph. 6:10). 

g) In studying the preparation of Gideon, one can observe God's patient guidance, Gideon's initial doubts, the signs God provided, and Gideon's eventual obedience and faith in leading the Israelites to victory. Be reminded also that Jesus Christ arose on this day to give us victory over every arrogant power. 

 *II. GOD PREPARES JEPHTHAH (Judges 11:1ff)* 

Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him (v.3). 

a) vv. 1-11: Jephthah, born to Gilead and a prostitute, faced rejection and expulsion from his family due to his birth circumstances (vv. 2-3). 

b) vv. 1-3: God chose him to deliver Israel, his seemingly faulty origins and rejection notwithstanding. This shows God's sovereignty in choosing unlikely leaders (cf. 1 Cor. 1:27-29). 

c) vv. 1,3: As a mighty man of valor, he united and led a force; a testament to his leadership and strategic acumen, honed through God's preparation (cf. 1 Sam. 16:18). 

d) v. 6: The elders of Gilead sought Jephthah's leadership in battling the Ammonites. They recognised his notable skills and military prowess (Acts 4:13). 

e) vv. 6-11,29-31: Like Gideon, Jephthah trusted in God's presence and guidance (vv. 6-11) and sought confirmation before the battle (vv. 29- 31), showing he had been built to rely on divine direction.

f) vv. 12-28: He proved strategic leadership by negotiating before resorting to military action. He displayed the diplomatic skills and pursuit of peaceful solutions he had garnered over the yea 

g) vv. 32-33: Obviously, God's empowerment enabled him to succeed despite past challenges. His victory led to unequivocal recognition as a leader. 

h) Jephthah, chosen by God despite humble origins, fearlessly led Israel against their enemies. His leadership, military skill and pursuit of peace brought victory. These are obviously evidences of God's transformative power. 

 LESSONS DERIVED

1. God empowers those He calls, turning their weaknesses into opportunities for His strength to shine.

 2. Despite Jephthah's challenging background, God saw his potential, teaching us that He can use anyone, regardless of their past, or social status. 

 QUESTIONS

 1. Discuss circumstances behind Gideon and Jephthah's call.

 2. What lessons might one grasp from the choice of both Gideon and Jephthah as leaders of the people? 

 *SUGGESTED ASNWERS TO QUESTIONS* 

 *ANSWER TO QUESTION 1* 

* In the case of Gideon, it was oppression of Israel. The Israelites had turned turned away away from fro God and committed evil in His sight. As a consequence, He allowed the Midianites to oppress them for seven years. Then, they cried out to the Lord, who sent a prophet to remind them of His faithfulness is faithfulness and their disobedience (Jdg. 6:8-10). In response to their cry, the Angel of the Lord appeared and said to Gideon, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor" (cf. Exod. 3:1-4). 

* In Jephthah's case, the Israelites needed victory against the Ammonites. Jephthah, born to a prostitute mother and Gilead, faced rejection from his half-brothers due to the circumstances surrounding his birth. However, when the Ammonites attacked Israel, the elders of Gilead sought Jephthah's assistance based on his renowned leadership skills and military prowess. 

 *ANSWER TO QUESTION 2* 

The choice of both Gideon and Jephthah as leaders of the people has a lot of lessons for the contemporary believers: 

* God has the power to prepare and elevate anyone to fulfil His plans for delivering His people. 

* Through divine transformation, God shapes individuals into leaders who play essential roles as directed by His will. 

* God's preparation and empowerment of individuals for specific tasks highlight His ability to use unlikely candidates to achieve His purposes. 

* God equips those He calls, turning our weaknesses into showcases of His strength. 

* While others may perceive us as insignificant, God sees our value and potential. 

* Regardless of our past, upbringing, or societal status, God can use us for His purposes. 

* Ultimately, we witness the unfolding of God's divine plan amid challenging circumstances. 

 *LIFE APPLICATION* 

As Easter approached that year, two of the brethren, Tide and John, rogramme. They faced were chosen to lead a church outreach programme. The doubts and challenges like Gideon and Jephthah. Yet, through prayer and seeking God's guidance, they gained courage and confidence to take the lead. Relying on God's wisdom, they saw significant success, imparting lives and bringing hope to their audience. Their journey mirrors how God prepares and empowers leaders, ensuring they fulfil their purposes despite obstacles. How well are you cooperating with the Christ of Easter to hone the leadership skills He has graciously deposited in you? 

 *CONCLUSION* 

We praise God as we conclude lesson 14. The stories of Gideon and W Jephthah impart valuable lessons about God's transformative power, His choice of unlikely individuals for important tasks, and the significance of trusting and obeying Him despite our doubts and limitations. These narratives instil faith, resilience and the recognition that God's plans often exceed our understanding. We must cooperate with Him as He systematically develops the potentials in us. To God be all the glory. 

 *NOTE*