Shep and Lily Talk about Gideon and Samson – Kids Korner

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What do you know about Gideon?

Hi, we're your Bible Buddies. Shep, did you like the story about Gideon?Yes, Lily. Let's ask the boys and girls to read one of the brief stories about Gideon in Bible Characters, "Trumpets and Torches," or "How a Brave Man Tore Down an altar of Baal," or "How the Midianites Were Surprized At Midnight." You can also open your Bibles to Judges 6-8:28.

Lily: This is what I found when I read the story.

The Midianites acted like school bullies. They stole the crops of the Jewish farmers.
Gideon was hiding from the Midianites, so he was surprised to hear an angel call him a "mighty man of valor."
Gideon wasn't so sure that God really wanted him, so he tested God.
- He first asked God to make the sheepskin wet and the ground dry around it. God did just that. Gideon was able to wring water out of the sheepskin.
- Gideon then asked God if He'd reverse the process, keeping the sheepskin dry but making everything else wet. God did just as Gideon asked.
Gideon recruited 32,000 men for his army.
God told him that he needed a smaller army.
- Gideon allowed all those afraid to fight to go back home.
- He took the 10,000 remaining men to the water to drink.
- 9700 got on their knees and lapped from the water.
- 300 men cupped the water in their hands and drank.
Those 300 men were selected for duty.
Gideon gave each man these important supplies:
- Trumpet
- Torch
- Pitcher
Gideon's army went to the Midianites' camp at night.
When Gideon gave the signal, the men broke the pitchers which exposed their torches, and they blew their trumpets.
The Midianites ran in every direction.

So what do we learn from Gideon's experience?

Don't be afraid to trust God.

You must be alert.

You don't need big numbers to win big battles.

Just obey God's direction.

Shep: That's a great story, Lily. Gideon was one of the Judges?

Lily: Yes, he was and so was Samson.

Shep: I know all about Samson. Let me tell his story.

Samson

Lily: First let the boys and girls read one of the stories, "Long and Strong," or "The Story of a Strong Man Who Judged Israel," or "How Samson Came to his Death," or Judges 13-16:31.

Shep: Samson is an interesting guy. He's probably the biggest athlete in the Bible.

Lily: Do you think they'd have a sports card for Samson?

Shep: Yeah, and it might look like this:

Samson

	Age drafted:	before birth
	Agent:	an angel
	Team:	Nazarites
	Years in the Pros:	20
	Position:	Pitcher
	Total Strikeouts:	Over 4000
	Batting average:	1000
	Favorite bat:	donkey's jawbone
	Major strength:	hair
	Major weakness:	Delilah¹

Lily: I think he would have been a great wrestler. Samson killed a lion with his bare hands.

Shep: I think he would have been a weight lifter. Remember when he tore the huge gate of the city off its hinges and carried it to the top of the hill?

Lily: He did that to show the Philistines that someone with God on his side was stronger than a whole city.

Shep: His final act was bringing down the entire temple by knocking out the huge pillars.

Lily: Well, Samson had a strong body, but he let down God and the people of Israel when he allowed Delilah to cut his hair.

Shep: Nazarites were never supposed to get a hair cut.

Lily: What do we learn from Samson?

Shep: I don't need a hair cut!

Lily: No, Shep! We learn that we shouldn't let anyone tempt us to do
something wrong.

Shep: Oh, they may tempt us, but we should say "No" to the temptation and stay close to God.

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