Objectives:
– To help participants to reflect on past (and present) goodness of God despite current world and life challenges
– To encourage participants to hold on to God in the midst of contradictions and life challenges
Judges 6:1-15ff
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. Jdg 6:12-13
Introduction- a similar context
God has been good to all of us. Despite all the challenges of life that we may have faced, we can still look inward and around and see the grace and mercy of God in our individual lives, families and life endeavors. The challenges of the last days will be overwhelming as the Scriptures had spoken in Lk 21:25-26 (… and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth). The last days will be full of darkness, evil and wickedness. This was a similar context of Gideon’s generation. It was a time of hopelessness; there was fear within and without.
Discuss some of the similarities of Gideon’s time and our time (1-6)
However, the Lord challenges His children to always encourage one another (Heb 10:25) lest there be in any (of us) an evil heart of unbelief (Heb 3:12).
Because God cares for us He always would point our hearts to all His goodness and saving grace in the past to remind and encourage us to truth and faith in the midst of lies Satan perpetrates in our distressing circumstances. Why do we forget so quickly God’s goodness in the past and what can be done to maintain faith in the face of defeat? Discuss
Check out how God encouraged His people in the midst of their distress. Vs 7-9
But let us remind ourselves how we got here! All these evils have come upon us because of (our) disobedience.
In what ways have you, like the people in Gideon’s day, disobeyed God? Vs 10
Remembering God’s goodness
1. The blessings of God are from His goodness Ps 21:3; 33:5; 2 Thess 1:11
2. The goodness of God always seeks a way (a man) to help His people vs 11; Reason? Ex 34:6; Ps 33:5
– God’s help is usually packaged differently from our expectations. Learn to discern it!
3. It is always present vs 12; As God does not change so His goodness Ps 52:1.
– Learn to recognize God’s presence in difficult times.
– Learn to accept God’s encouragement in difficult times
4. God’s goodness can be misunderstood vs 13. Rom 8:28. How do you explain God’s goodness in times of loss, deprivation, denial, delay?
– Trust in God’s goodness even when evidence is contrary Ps 27:13
5. Forgiveness and repentance are possible because of God’s goodness Rom 2:4; Ps 130:4
6. It is the source of all our joy and gladness 1Kgs 8:66; 2Chr 6:41; 7:10; Ps 107:8
7. Without hope or confidence in the goodness of God, people’s faith fails or faint Ps 27:13
Challenge and application
– Continue in the goodness of God-Rom 11:22. Appreciate, receive, accept, testify and enjoy God’s goodness
– In challenges don’t allow your emotions to rule you.
Prayer
– Where applicable repent of all ingratitude and wrong utterances that portrayed God as not being good
– Exodus 33:19
– 2 Thess 1:11