The Tree Parable

By Mary Vee
Judges 9

Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon told this parable

to the people of Shechem:

One day a group of trees decided to meet to talk talking about their problems. They shouted, whined and complained.  After several hours, one tree suggested, "Lets appoint a king to rule over us. If we had a king, he could solve our problems." 

The other trees clapped their leaves together. "Great idea! Let's ask Olive to be our king."


Not one of those trees remembered the great Lord God who created every root, trunk, branch, and leaf. 

The leaders of the trees wandered up the hill to speak with Olive.  "We need a king to rule over us. Will you be our king?"


Olive rolled his branches. "Seriously? You want me to stop making olives which are pressed into oil and used to honor God and men and go to sway over sway over trees?  I think not!"


The leaders of the trees lumbered back to the meeting. "He said, 'No.'"

The trees grumbled for a few minutes until one suggested, "Lets ask Fig to be our king."


Once again, not one of those trees remembered the great Lord God who created every root, trunk, branch, and leaf. 


The leaders hiked up the mountain to speak with Fig. "We need a king to rule over us. Please be our king and solve our problems."


Fig smiled and shook his trunk in his usual kind way. "I couldn't stop making sweet figs to be your king. What would the people eat instead of my good fruit?" His branches shook as he gently laughed. "I am not your king."


The leaders of the trees shuffled back to the meeting. "He said, 'No.'"


The trees twiddled their branches for a few minutes until one suggested, "Lets ask Vine to be our king."

Once again, not one of those trees remembered the great Lord God who created every root, trunk, branch, and leaf. 


The leaders of the trees proudly paraded through the valley to speak with Vine. "We need a king to rule over us. You must be our king."


Vine crept toward the tree trunks and wound himself around their trunks. He looked into their knothole eyes. "You want me to stop making juicy grapes which cheers both God and men to sway over you trees?" The vine squeezed a little tighter. "No way."


The leaders tugged free of the vine then trudged back to the meeting. "He said, "No.'"


The trees at the meeting wrung their branches. "Who is left to ask?"


One tree answered, "Let's all go to ask Bramble to be out king."  The trees clapped their leaves to the great idea.


Sadly, not one of those trees remembered the great Lord God who created every root, trunk, branch, and leaf. 


The trees hiked through the swamps to speak with Bramble. "You must come and reign over us!"


Bramble snickered. "If in truth you anoint me as king over you then come and take shelter in my shade. But if not, let fire come to burn all trees."


The trees chose their king.


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1. Why did the trees want a king?
2. Why did Olive tree say, "No"?
3. Why did Fig tree say, "No"?
4. Why did Vine say, "No"?
5. Who did the trees forget and as a result didn't want for their king? 
6. What did the trees choose?


One of Gideon's sons, Abimelech, decided he wanted to be king. He managed to kill all of his brothers except Jotham. He convinced the people of Shechem to make him king. Jotham used this parable to let them know they did not choose wisely.

Gideon's Jealous Brothers

By Mary Vee
Judges 8

Gideon's Thoughts

The battle ended. 


We'd conquered the Midianites but some of their soldiers had fled beyond our reach.


While we rested by the Jordan river my brothers from the tribe of Ephraim took over the conquest with fresh energy. They overpowered the enemy who stole all the watering places and took prisoner Oreb and Zeeb, two Midianite princes. Without their help, the Midianites could have regrouped and come back to attack.

After their victory, my brothers from Ephraim returned to the Jordan river. Instead of smiles and proud shoulders pressed back, they frowned, some sighed like they had been hurt--not their bodies, but their heart. Something made them sad.

I ran to my brothers to greet them. Their leader stepped forward. He didn't greet me with a hug, in fact, he stayed a few steps away. That's when I knew he and the others from Ephraim had been hurt--by me. What did I do?


I waited for him to speak. His eyes moved side to side and he lowered his head. He didn't need or want to be asked to speak. He needed my patience. 


I didn't look at anyone else, only him. I didn't sit or say a word to my brother, I'd only hoped he'd noticed I would wait for him to speak his heart.


A long moment later he took a deep breath and showed me his angry eyes. "Why didn't you call us to help when you went to fight the Midianites? We would have come." He shook his head and took a deep breath. He pinched his lips together, probably to hold back hurting words.


I wanted to hug him, but he wasn't ready. He would have pushed me away. I stayed where I'd stood and gently spoke, "Who am I, dear brother in comparison to you? What I have done is nothing."


He raised his head and studied my face. His shoulders and fist relaxed. I took a step closer and set my hand on his shoulder. "Don't you see what God did?  He delivered the Midianite princes into your hands. Not mine. What was I able to do compared to you? God chose you to seal the victory."


All my brothers from Ephraim stepped closer, their eyes wide. "Us? God chose us?"


I smiled and laughed. "Yes, my brothers. God gave the final victory to you."


The leader came close and hugged me. We, brothers from Naphtali, Asher, Manasseh and Ephraim celebrated our freedom the rest of the night, praising God and thanking him for our family.


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1. Who was angry?
2. Why were they angry?
3. What did Gideon do?
4. What had God done for the brothers from Ephraim?
5. How do you think God included this story in the Bible?

Gideon's Battle

By Mary Vee
Judges 7

Gideon's Thoughts

Each man had his trumpet, clay pot, and torch.  We were ready to march.

Not far away stood a rim of cliffs in the shape of a half circle. I sent one unit of soldiers to the right, and another to the left.


I signaled my unit of 100 men to follow me. We moved toward the central position on the cliff overlooking the Midianites. When I nodded, my men spread out into a line along the edge. 


The moon had faded behind clouds darkening the sky.  In the valley below, thousands of Midianite tents held their soldiers.  From the lack of sound, I knew they were asleep except a few guards. 


The Lord promised me we'd no longer be their slaves. That night we would be free.


My blood tingled. My muscles twinged, ready to get started. I couldn't see the other units in the dark and wanted to give them enough time to get into position. Seemed like a good time to talk with the Lord.


"Lord, I have done all you said. In a few moments the three hundred men you chose will follow my lead. The trumpets will sound and the torches revealed. Bless us with your victory."


Then the middle watched sounded their change down in the Midianite camp.  


I raised my trumpet with my right hand and signaled my men to blow. The sound blasted out to the valley. I broke my clay pot. The light from my torch sprang from its hiding place. Our one hundred torches lit the sky around us. 


Instantly the units to my left and right blew their trumpet and broke their clay pots. Light flared on both sides.  My men and I shouted "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!." The other units echoed the same. We all continued to shout, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" again and again.


Then we watched the Lord work.


Men ran out of their tents with their swords like bees in a hive swarming about, confused. With all the noise, their leader couldn't give instructions. Their soldiers ran into each other with their swords raised wounding and killing each other.


I signaled my men to blow their trumpets again. The other units copied right away. 


The Midianites shouted at each other. Some started to run from the camp, others followed. They looked like a flock of scared chickens clucking and squawking to get away from a wolf.


I turned to my unit. "Men, the Lord has given us the victory. See, the Midianites are afraid of us. Go get your brothers. Run to Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh and tell them what has happened. Say, "Come down against the Midianites and take every watering place from them."


Israelite soldiers came from all of the northern mountains and villages. Together we fought the Midianites with the Lord's power and won our freedom.  


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1.  What did each man have.
2.  What did Gideon's men do?
3.  There were only ______ soldiers with Gideon. 
4.  Why were the Midianite's afraid?
5.  Who actually fought this battle?
6.  After the Midianites ran away, what did Gideon have his men do?
7.  What did the Israelite soldiers win?

I Was A Chosen Soldier in Gideon's Army

By Mary Vee
Judges 7

An Israelite Soldier's Thoughts

Gideon yelled for us to wake up.  It was the middle of the night! 

I'd finally fallen asleep and walked into the best dream ever. Well, such was the life of a soldier.

I grabbed my weapons and hurried with the other 299 men to meet with Gideon. How did I know we had 300 all together you ask? Gideon was no ordinary leader. Here's what happened:

Thirty two thousand men answered the call to fight this battle. One night during training, Gideon surprised us all. He called a meeting then announced: "Anyone who is afraid may go home. No question will be asked."


We lost 22,000 men that night. How would we win a battle with only 1000 men?


The next day Gideon took us to the river and watched each man drink. He sent those who lapped water like a dog home! 700 soldiers! I'm glad I scooped water into my hand then brought it to my mouth to drink. Only 300 men became the chosen soldiers.

Gideon didn't think of these ideas on his own. The Lord gave him these instructions. To think, I had passed the Lord's tests to be a soldier in Gideon's army.


All the men assembled around Gideon with their weapons as fast as a lightening bolt.  Our leader folded his arms and glanced at our weapons. "Leave you weapons here. The Lord has instructed us to use a different battle strategy." 

We immediately dropped our weapons and stood ready to obey.

Gideon nodded. "Good." He walked through our group sorting us into units of 100 men. Each unit had a commander assigned. Gideon chose me as commander of my unit. I promised to faithfully follow his instructions, no matter how odd they seemed.

He pointed to a pile of trumpets, empty pitchers, and torches. "Give your men one of each."  I immediately went to the piles, gathered our supplies, and gave each of my men one trumpet, one empty pitcher, and one torch. We stood before Gideon ready to hear the next instruction.


Gideon pressed his shoulders back. "Watch me and do what I do. When I come to the edge of the camp I and those in my unit will blow the trumpets then you blow your trumpets from your positions. I will then shout 'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.', you do the same."


I understood his plan right away.  Usually a whole unit of men would have only one trumpet blow and one torch lit.  Three hundred trumpets and torches would look like a mighty army to the Midianites. Since we would stand on the cliffs and hills surrounding their army, they would think thousands of soldiers stood behind our men.  The dark sky would help confuse our enemy.


This was a great battle plan.

I had heard about the Jericho battle when the Lord caused the city walls to fall. The Lord told the soldiers to walk around the city for seven days. After they obeyed, the city walls fell giving the Israelites an easy victory. All we have to do is obey. The Lord will take care of giving us the victory.  Oooooo I can't wait to see what happens.


Come back next week, I'll tell you what the Lord did during this battle.


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1. What did the soldiers do when Gideon told them not to use their weapons.
2. Gideon divided the men into what groups?
3. What did Gideon give each man?
4. What did Gideon tell the men to do first? Second?
5. Who's battle plan was this?
6. What important action did the soldiers do? (hint did they question Gideon's orders?)
7. God will sometimes ask us to do unusual things. Why should we obey like today's soldiers obeyed?

Scary Dream

By Mary Vee
Judges 7

Purah's Thoughts

My master, Gideon, and I first hid in bushes behind a Midianite's tent while the moon stood over that tree; it now rests behind the terebinth tree.  So far, I've learned they snore really loud!


I don't really care about the bush poking me in the back or bugs crawling over my legs since I've been the one chosen to help spy. How did I get here? This is my last journal. Maybe this is their general's tent. We might hear changes in their battle plan, or the location of his strongest soldiers, or where he plans to attack first. It would be nice, of course, if one of them would wake up and talk; I'm getting cold.


Then--


One man's shadow sprang upward. "Wake up! Wake up you fool."


A second shadow rolled to a sitting position. "What? Are you mad?"


The man threw his hand into the air. "No. I had a horrible dream. Listen to this: a loaf of barley bread tumbled into our camp and crashed into a tent.  The tent wobbled then collapsed to the ground." 


The second man leaped to his feet and pressed his hands on the first man's shoulders. "Do you realize what you're saying?"


"We're dead."


The second man nodded. "Only the Israelite, Gideon, and his sword could attack with such force. God will give the victory to the Israelite soldiers."


The two men pulled their hair and tore at their clothes. They pushed through the tent flap and ran throughout the camp to warn others.


Gideon's eyes relaxed. He sighed and whispered, "Thank you Lord for letting me hear this news. You are a great a mighty Lord, Holy, and worthy of praise." He turned to me and tugged on my tunic. "Let's go, Purah. The Lord has work for us."


We sneaked back through slivers of remaining shadows to our camp. Once there, Gideon shouted, "Wake up, men. Get up, now. The Lord will give us the victory over the Midianites tonight!"


Unbelievable. I spied on the enemy. I watched them panic. My master is ready to attack. And I saw everything! Wow! God has blessed the Israelites, His people.


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1. Who is Purah?
2. What did he and Gideon hear?
3. What did the news mean?
4. What did Gideon do?
5. The Lord showed his understanding, patience, and willing to help Gideon gain the confidence needed for the battle. How did he do that?
6. How has the Lord helped you?

I Wouldn't Normally Spy on the Midianites

By Mary Vee
Judges 7

Purah's Thoughts

If you saw me writing this story, you'd understand why my hand shook--no it trembled.  I had never spied on anyone before, much less an army so vast it covered every inch of the valley. Who'd expect a servant to be an army spy?

My master, Gideon, woke me in the middle of the night and told me to follow him.  Once we walked away from our camp he whispered, "The Lord spoke to me a few moments ago. He told me to lead our army into battle."

I stopped and looked in his eyes. "I know, my Lord.  You told us about the fleece, and how the Lord instructed you to make the army smaller from thousands of soldiers to only three hundred."  

He pushed his hand through his hair. "Purah, I don't want to make a mistake. I want to obey the Lord, but--I--in truth, I'm afraid. There's thousands of Midianite soldiers camped in that valley, and only three hundred of us.  What if I made a mistake?"

I shook my head. "I don't have an answer. What would you like me to do?"


Gideon took a deep breath and smiled. "The Lord also told me to take you with me to spy on the Midianite camp.  He said we'd hear words that would bring strength and encouragement."

The Lord chose me to find secret information?  

Me, a simple servant? 

My feet sprang forward, my heart raced, and I couldn't keep the smile off my face! 

I took a deep breath and tried to be serious and stealth, but I hungered for the adventure, the thrill of sneaking into the enemy camp, the danger in hearing words from the enemy's tents, and delivering the news back to our camp.


Gideon turned back to me. "Purah, keep up."


"Yes, my Lord." We wormed our way from shadow to shadow silent as a lion. Years of sneaking around Midianites to find food taught us to move about undetected.


Gideon stopped behind a large bush banked against a Midianite tent.  He signaled me to join him.  We sat on the ground and waited for the Midianites to tell us their secrets.


*********************
This story will continue next Wednesday.


1. Who is Purah?
2. Why did Gideon wake Purah?
3. Why was Gideon afraid?
4. How did God show His love in this story?
5. What did the Lord tell Gideon and Purah to do?
6. God could have told Gideon to pick a strong, trained soldier. Why did He tell Gideon to take Purah?
7. What do you think will happen next?

Wittling Gideon's Army

By Mary Vee
Judges 7

Gideon's Thoughts

My muscles had more energy than a cheetah out for a run.  The Lord showed me He'd lead the Israelites to victory by setting my bone dry fleece in a puddle of water.  Not one drop on the fleece!

Israelite soldiers traveled from near and far to fight for Israel. I'd say thirty-two thousand men came ready to conquer the Midianites.  We camped together on the south side of the Midianites. Many soldiers couldn't sleep-could you the night before something exciting would happen?

I walked away from the camp to have a quiet time with the Lord. I'd hoped He share a fantastic battle plan. 

To my surprise the Lord said,  "Gideon, you have too many men with you for Me to give Israel a victory. The men will think they won the battle by themselves."

I listened to His words. I could see His point, but wondered how Israel could win with less men.  He then said, "Call the soldiers and say, 'Whoever is afraid can leave. Go to Mount Gilead.'"

My heart pounded louder with each step the departing soldiers took.  Twenty-two thousand men left!  Just like that!  How could God win the battle with only ten thousand soldiers? 

I looked at the camp. So few men left! I decided to talk with the Lord again. Maybe I misunderstood the directions.  I returned to the same place and sat, waiting to see if the Lord would speak to me.  He said, "Gideon you still have too many men."

Ten thousand soldiers--too many?  The Lord then said, "Take the men down to the water. I will tell you who should stay and who should go home."

I grew quite curious about the battle. God must have had a big miracle in mind. I instructed the men to go to the water. Soon after we arrived the Lord said to me, "Everyone who laps water like a dog by scooping water with a hand to their mouth must be set aside. Those who bend low on their knees to drink should be sent home."

I walked along as the men drank and told all who lapped the water to stand by the tree. I sent the other men home after they finished their drink.  

The small group of men who stood by the tree had great strength and skill. I counted three hundred men. 

Only three hundred to conquer thousand of Midianites! Now this will take a miracle!

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1. What did the Lord tell Gideon the first time?

2. What happened when Gideon obeyed?

3. What did the Lord tell Gideon to do the second time?

4. What happened when Gideon obeyed?

5. Who do you think will win the battle?

Come back to read what happened next.

Gideon's Fleece

By Mary Vee

Judges 6

Gideon’s Thoughts

Not long after I’d destroyed Dad’s Baal altar, Midianites and Amalekites swarmed to the Valley of Jezreel where we lived. 

Good grief. One altar destroyed and those armies thought they needed to come pound us?

And did thousands of soldiers need to come? Are we so important? 

The Midianites moved about setting up tents and their battlefield like bees in a hive. One jostle and the armies might have gone crazy-buzzing out of their camp to attack. I must admit all those tents scared the confidence right out of me.

Still, the Angel of the Lord recently spoke to me. He sat under the terebinth tree over there and called me a mighty man of valor. It surprised me. He caused me to believe He’d rescue us from this mess. 

I grabbed my trumpet to call every warrior in hearing range then sent messengers throughout Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali requesting their warriors to help. Thousands of Israelite soldiers met on our mountain within a day, ready to go to war.

I had an army and the battlefield, but I didn’t have assurances from the Lord. Without Him we’d lose this battle. I needed to know if He'd really help us win.

I stepped away from the men to be alone with God. In a nearby field I looked toward the heavens. “Lord, I need to know Your will. If it is OK with You, I’d like to set a piece of wool on the threshing floor. If there's dew on the fleece only, and the ground is dry, then I’ll know You’ll save Israel by my hand as You’ve said.”

I went back to my cave, grabbed a fleece and set it on the threshing floor before going to bed.

The next morning I grabbed a bowl and ran to the threshing floor. Even before I reached the fleece it looked soaked. I squeezed the wool and filled the bowl with water then touched the ground, it felt desert dry. 

Still, I didn’t feel sure of myself. I asked the Lord again, “Please don’t be angry with me, Lord. I want to make sure I know Your will. Would You show me again? This time if the fleece is dry and the ground is wet, I’ll know You’ll save Israel by my hand as You’ve said.”

I set the fleece back on the threshing floor and went to bed. 

The next morning I ran to the threshing floor and found the fleece desert dry, and the ground-soaking wet.  I turned the fleece around in my hands; not a drop of water on it anywhere. I touched the water soaked ground. Only God could have done this.

“OK, Lord, I now know You’ll give us the victory.

I called the soldiers to gather around for instructions.

Come back to see what happens next.

**************

Who came to the Valley of Jezreel?

Why did this scare Gideon?

Who did Gideon call? Why?

What did Gideon ask God?

What did God do?

What did Gideon ask the second time?

What did God do?’’

Why do you think God did this for Gideon?

Guts to Do What is Right

By Mary Vee

Judges 6

Gideon's Servant's Thoughts

Gideon never sat around. He wanted to force the Midianites off our land, but didn't know how. Midianite soldiers stole our food before we had a chance to harvest one grain then they stole our animals.

Every day Gideon looked for some way to find food for his family without being caught by some Midianite soldier. One summer he harvested the crop early then hid the grain bundles in his cave. At night he threshed the grain on his father’s winepress.

Last night, Gideon called ten of us servants. We followed him to the woods where he could speak without others hearing. He waved us close. “An Angel of the Lord spoke to me last night.”

We were surprised. No one had heard a message from the Lord in seven years. “What did He say, Gideon?”

Gideon pointed to his father’s altar of Baal. “The Lord told me to take my father’s young bull up there. I am to tear down the Baal altar and cut down the wooden image next to it. Next I’m to build an altar to the Lord our God on the same ground in the proper way we’ve been taught and offer the bull as a sacrifice using the wood that once was the image.”

He looked behind himself and beyond us then leaned forward. “I need your help. This must be done quickly and quietly.”

I suppose if the Lord said to smash the altar and Gideon wanted my help, I needed to obey.  “I’ll gladly help.” The other nine nodded and said, “Me too.”

Gideon wanted to wait until after everyone slept. A few men from his father’s household and some men from the village had proven, more than once, to be untrustworthy. If the Midianite soldiers caught us, we could be killed.

We crept up to the altar and took it apart piece-by-piece until not one stone stood on top of another. We moved over to the wooden Baal image and cut it down. Gideon led the building of the altar for the Lord showing us how and where to put each stone.

We finished our work by dragging that heavy bull to the altar, heaving it up and setting it on top. After Gideon offered the bull as a sacrifice we sneaked back to our sleeping areas.

I woke to loud screams. Men from the city found the smashed altar and broken Baal. “Who did this?” one man shouted? Apparently someone had seen what we did last night and told  

They yanked Gideon’s father to the altar. “Bring us your son that he may die because he torn down the altar of Baal and torn down the wooden image of Baal.”

Gideon’s father’s eyes closed for a moment. He opened them and squared his shoulders back, which made him seem taller. “You men are crazy. Would you defend this useless hunk of wood once carved and called a god?  Let the first one of you to say yes be put to death by morning.  If this thing is a god, let it plead for itself.”

That day I felt proud to be a servant in Gideon’s household.

****************

Why did the Gideon gather ten servants together?

Why did he keep this a secret?

What did they do?

Who told Gideon to do this? and why?

Who became angry at Gideon’s work and why?

What did Gideon’s father say?

Why did he defend Gideon?

What did you learn from this story?

Midian Locusts

By Mary Vee
Judges 6

Gideon's Thoughts

For seven long years I'd helped my father plant seed and take care of a new flock. Yup a new flock.

Each year, right before harvest, Midianites traipsed into our land like a swarm of locusts, attacked our people then destroyed our crops and animals. I'm tired. Tired of working for nothing. 

We moved out of our home into a nearby cave for protection. Others lived in dens or built homes using rock from the side of the mountain. Can you imagine leaving your home, your nice comfy bedroom, and your neighborhood to live in a musty cold cave?  

With little food available I'd been hungry for seven years. Well, something had to be done. I sneaked to the fields and gathered wheat before the Midianites came, hid the bundles out of sight, and used our winepress to thresh the wheat. Pretty smart, eh?  

One day as I threshed the wheat, I saw a man sitting under our terebinth tree. I had no idea who he was or when he sat there. He didn't look like a Midianite.  I set my wheat down and walked to him.


He smiled and said, "The Lord is with you, Gideon. You are a mighty man of valor!"


How did he know my name. And why did he call me a mighty man of valor? What makes him think the Lord is with us.  I haven't seen any proof of that.  

I cleared my throat and said, "If the Lord is with us, why do the Midianites attack every year and steal our food? Where are the miracles? My father says the Lord rescued our people from Egypt." I shook my head. "Now--well--I think the Lord has left us. We're slaves and prisoners of the Midianites."


He watched me sputter out angry words. His eyes were soft, like he cared what I thought. He nodded. "You have great strength, Gideon. I have chosen you to save Israel from the hand of the Midianites."


Me? Save Israel?  I picked up a piece of chaff and pulled it apart.  "My Lord, how can I save Israel? My family's from the weakest clan in Manasseh. Not only that, but I'm the least important person in my father's house." I threw the piece of chaff on the ground.


He said, "Gideon, don't be afraid. I'll be with you and you will defeat the Midianites."


Maybe this man was a prophet. Why else would he talk like that? Then I realized, if he was a prophet, I'd better bring him a gift. "Would you show me a sign to let me know for sure it is You who talks to me? Wait right here. I'll bring you an offering."


He nodded. "I'll wait until you come back."


I prepared meat and placed it in a basket, took the broth still in the pot, and some unleavened bread and brought it to the man.  He said, "Lay the meat and bread on this rock, and pour out the broth."


I did as he said then stepped back. He held out his staff until the end touched the meat and bread. A flame of fire popped up from the rock and burned both the meat and bread. Poof!


The fire disappeared as quickly as it came. I turned to where the man sat under the tree and saw he'd disappeared too! 

Oh no! He had to be the Angel of the Lord. I actually spoke with the Lord face to face! I'm gonna die for sure. No one spoke to the Lord and lived. 


I grabbed at my clothes and paced before the tree like a wild man. But then a calm voice spoke, "Gideon, peace be with you. Don't be afraid, you won't die."


I heaved a big sigh. "Really?"

I grabbed all the rocks nearby and built an altar to the Lord and called it The Lord is Peace.  That night, I thought about the Angel of the Lord's words and wondered how our people could defeat the large Midianite army.


I'll tell you more next time.


Gideon


The photo is of a winepress courtesy of Visual Bible Images

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1. What was Gideon unhappy about?
2. Where did he live? and why?
3. How long had he lived there?
4. Who invaded their land each year?
5. Who visited Gideon, and why?
6. What did Gideon ask to bring the visitor? 
7. Why did he want to do that?
8. God asks us to do things for Him everyday? What did He ask you to do today?