Let Jesus Christ Direct Let Jesus Christ Direct Your PathsYour Paths

In all thy ways acknowledge In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy him, and he shall direct thy

pathspathsProverbs 3:6Proverbs 3:6

  February 15, 2009February 15, 2009Rev. David B. HansonRev. David B. Hanson

Gideon’s CallGideon’s Call• Judges 6:11-12Judges 6:11-12• 11 And there came an angel 11 And there came an angel

of the LORD, and sat under of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. from the Midianites.

• 12 And the angel of the 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.mighty man of valour.– Gideon was timid and Gideon was timid and

uncourageous.uncourageous.– The angel emphasized Gideon The angel emphasized Gideon

by telling him, “The Lord is with by telling him, “The Lord is with thee.”thee.”

Gideon’s ObedienceGideon’s Obedience• Judges 6:25-26Judges 6:25-26• 25 And it came to pass the same 25 And it came to pass the same

night, that the LORD said unto night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: is by it:

• 26 And build an altar unto the 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.grove which thou shalt cut down.– Gideon obeyed the Lord by destroying Gideon obeyed the Lord by destroying

the altar of Baal.the altar of Baal.– Gideon was courageous to obey the Gideon was courageous to obey the

Lord.Lord.

Gideon’s AssuranceGideon’s Assurance• Judges 6:37-40Judges 6:37-40• 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the

floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. mine hand, as thou hast said.

• 38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the 38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. full of water.

• 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. ground let there be dew.

• 40 And God did so that night: for it was dry 40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.all the ground.– Gideon wanted assurance from the Lord to Gideon wanted assurance from the Lord to

fight the enemies.fight the enemies.– Gideon’s faith was needed to be Gideon’s faith was needed to be

strengthened.strengthened.

Gideon’s Dependence on Gideon’s Dependence on GodGod

• Judges 7:5-7Judges 7:5-7• 5 So he brought down the people unto 5 So he brought down the people unto

the water: and the LORD said unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. boweth down upon his knees to drink.

• 6 And the number of them that 6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. upon their knees to drink water.

• 7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By 7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto the other people go every man unto his place.his place.– Gideon depended on the Lord not the Gideon depended on the Lord not the

number of the soldiers.number of the soldiers.

General George General George Washington’s PrayerWashington’s Prayer

• It was winter of 1777-It was winter of 1777-1778.1778.

• American Army was American Army was encamped at Valley Forge.encamped at Valley Forge.

• Isaac Potts treaded and Isaac Potts treaded and heard the sound of a heard the sound of a human voice.human voice.

• Mr. Potts was motionless Mr. Potts was motionless with surprise when he saw with surprise when he saw the Commander-in-chief the Commander-in-chief of the American armies on of the American armies on his knees at prayer.his knees at prayer.