The Story of Gideon - Bible Stories for Kids

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The Story of Gideon

Judges 6:1-40

It did not take long before the people forgot their promises again. Becausethey worshiped other gods, God could not make them strong. A terrible tribecalled the Midianites conquered them.God chose a man named Gideon tohelp His people. He sent an angel whotold Gideon he must knock down thealtar and statue to other gods. God'speople were worshiping this statue onthe hill.

Gideon knew the other men in thevillage could kill him for this. He wasafraid to tear down the altar of theirgods, but he did it anyway since Godhad asked him to.

Gideon and ten of his servants climbed the hill. They went to theplace where the foreign gods wereworshiped. There they smashed thestone altar and the statue to othergods.

Then they very quietly built a newaltar. They killed one of the bulls theyhad brought with them and burned iton the altar. They prayed to God.

"Please, Lord, please take care of us."The next morning when the men ofthe village found the broken altar,they said, "Who dared to do this? We'll kill him!"

But Joash, Gideon's father, toldthem, "If your god is really a god, lethim punish the culprit. You stay out ofit." The men agreed. So Gideon wassafe and the altar of the Lord remained.

Soon the Midianites were planning to attack Israel again. Gideon askedGod, "Lord, if You are really going tohelp Israel win, then please show me. Iwill put this sheepskin on the groundfor the night. If it is wet with dew, andthe ground around it is dry, then I willknow we should go into battle."And it was so. The next morningthe sheepskin was wet, but the groundwas dry. Gideon still wanted to besure. "Lord, forgive me, please. Butmay I test You yet one more time?Tonight, could You please make theground wet with dew, but keep thesheepskin dry?"

And it was so. This way Gideon hadno doubt at all that he was doing whatGod wanted.

Many men followed Gideon. They allwanted to fight against the Midianites.So Gideon led the people to a river.On the other side was the Midianitearmy.

But the Lord said, "Gideon, thereare too many soldiers with you. If youwin, the people might become proud.They will think they did it all bythemselves. I want to teach them torely on Me and trust Me. Tell thosewho are even a little bit afraid to gohome." Gideon did so and about half the people went home.

"But there are still too many," Godsaid. "Take them down to the river.Those who kneel and drink will gohome. Those who cup the water intheir hands and drink will fight thebattle."

Gideon did what God told him.And almost all the people knelt todrink. "You," Gideon pointed at thepeople on their knees, "all of you goon home."

After the people left, Gideoncounted how many remained. Therewere only three hundred men. "Godwill fight' Gideog_ said.

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