Nothing is Impossible With God

Children will recognize that nothing is impossible with God, even when it seems impossible to us. God often calls on us to show our faith and take the first step before He performs the “impossible”.

Judges 6-7 “The story of Gideon fighting the Midianites
against overwhelming odds and winning through God’s help.”


SUMMARY:
The Israelites were being picked on by a group of people called the Midianites. The Midianites ruined the Israelites farms, stole their food, and killed their animals. The Israelites hid in caves because they were greatly outnumbered by the Midianites. The Bible says there were so many Midianites that they couldn’t even be counted. The people prayed to God for help and God heard their prayers.


God sent an angel to Gideon. The angel told Gideon that God would make him a mighty warrior to save the Israelites from the Midianites.


The Impossible situation:
God directed Gideon to reduce the size of the Israelite army from 32,000 soldiers to 10,000 soldiers by letting those who were afraid leave. Then the army was reduced from 10,000 to just 300 soldiers. The Israelites were outnumbered by the Midianites. Gideon didn’t believe the message and asked for a sign, which God provided. Then the Lord told him to tear down the idols his father had made. Gideon was afraid and did it at night so as not to be seen. However, he was found out. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and he found new courage. He tested God a second time asking for a sign and God was faithful.


God wanted the Israelites to realize that He was the one who was delivering them from the Midianites, so He told Gideon that he had to reduce the size of his army of 32,000 men. Those who were afraid were told that they could leave and 22,000 left, leaving only 10,000 to fight an unlimited amount of Midianites – still too many to give credit to God. God commanded Gideon to take them to the water and watch how they drank. Those who kneeled were dismissed while those who lapped like a dog remained. Only 300 were left. By surrounding the enemy’s camp at night and blowing trumpets, hiding torches under jars and then loudly breaking the jars and showing the torches, they frightened the Midianites so much that they started running in circles, swinging their swords and killing each other. Gideon’s army defeated them without even fighting. God did the impossible.


The step of faith:
Gideon, trusting God, went into battle with just 300 soldiers against 1,000’s and 1,000’s of Midianite soldiers.


Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

• Two 5-ft. lengths of rope with slip knots at each end for wrist
• A large pan of water
• Optional – cups and spoons

Words that are written in bold are when you, the parent, are speaking. Feel free to use your own words.

1. Familiarize yourself with the story by reading through Judges 6-7.

2. ACTIVITY #1: Put a pan of water on the table and ask each family member to get a drink of water out of it. Watch to see how each person gets their drink. Are spoons, cups, or hands used? Did anyone try to put their face into the bowl? (You may not want to allow this for sanitary reasons.)
    
3. Tell the story giving the following background:

Israel did evil in God’s eyes so God let the Midianites (a group of people who did not follow God) oppress them for 7 years. The Midianites would wait until the Israelite’s crops were grown and then would destroy the crops, leaving no food for the Israelites or their animals. The Israelites cried out to God for help in what seemed an impossible situation. God came to Gideon and told him He would deliver them.

Gideon couldn’t believe God would use his little tiny tribe and tested God several times to make sure. God proved Himself faithful in each test. (The tests are not the point of this lesson so don’t dwell on them.)

The Midianites were a very large nation. The Bible tells us they had more people than the sands of the sea, too many to count. They far outnumbered the Israelites, who only had 32,000 men in their army. God told Gideon to allow anyone who was afraid to leave and 22,000 left because they were afraid.

This was still too many for God’s purpose. He then told Gideon to bring the men to water and have them drink. Gideon was to watch how they drank and whoever lapped like a dog, out of their hands was chosen and those who kneeled were told they wouldn’t have to fight. Now only 300 men were left.

The Bible says that the Midianites numbered even more than the sand of the sea. How does the sand of the sea compare with only 300 men? Does this seem like an IMPOSSIBLE situation?

4. ACTIVITY: Impossible Ropes (The solution to this activity may be too hard for younger children to figure out. Allow your younger child to still try it, but demonstrate the solution to getting untangled before he/she gets too frustrated. This will give you an even greater opportunity to demonstrate to him/her that God is able to provide solutions to situations we feel are impossible. You may want to remind your child of a time he/she said they couldn’t do something and then were able to accomplish it with help.)

Slip the rope around the wrists of one child (Child A) between the openings on each end of the rope, similar to handcuffs.

• Loop the other rope around the middle of the first rope, making a loop and then have a second child (Child B) put their wrists though the second rope’s openings. The two children should be connected by the loop at the center of the two ropes
• Now instruct the children to get separated without untying the ropes or taking them off their wrists.
• After a few minutes of trying unsuccessfully, allow others who haven’t done it to try.
• Explain that what seems impossible to us is very simple for God – Luke 1:37, "For with God nothing will be impossible."
• To untangle the ropes:1) Pull the loop formed from the rope of Child A toward Child B. 2) Note which wrist of Child B the upper rope is attached to and pull toward that arm. 3) Bring the rope under the backside of the arm (palm side) through the hoop and wrist of Child B. 4) Then pull the rope up and over the hand of Child B, lifting up all four hands, and separating the ropes.
• This seemed impossible but it wasn’t. Let’s find out if the Israelites were really in an impossible situation.

5. ACTIVITY #2: Do you think the Israelites were afraid, knowing the size of the Midianite’s army? Who remembers how many men were left in the Israelite army? 300

How many men were in the Midianite army? More than the sand. Do you believe God can

perform miracles in an impossible situation? Let’s find out.

More than the sand. Do you believe God can perform miracles in an impossible situation? Let’s find out. * Tell remainder of story – highlight the following points:

God didn’t just destroy the Midianites. He asked the Israelites to do something first to show their faith. Each Israelite had a trumpet in one hand and a pitcher with a torch under it in the other. While the Midianites slept, they crept to their camp and at the signal they broke the pitchers, revealing the torch, and blew the trumpet

Explain that the Midianites were so afraid they jumped up and started running into each other as others ran away. Still others drew their swords and started killing each other. The Israelites didn’t even fight. They just made a lot of noise.

Was it easy to untangle the ropes? Not at first

Did it seem impossible when it was really very simple? Yes

How do you think the Israelites felt having to fight against the Midianites when it seemed impossible? Afraid, apprehensive

Did God just wipe out the Midianites or did the Israelites have to do something first? Yes, they had to go to the camp and make the noise then God did the rest. They had to show FAITH. God heard their cry and came to their rescue. However, He didn’t just remove the Midianites without them doing something first. God often wants us to step out in faith before He performs the impossible.

Can you see how frightened the Midianites were from all the noise? They thought they were being attacked by a large army and in their confusion attacked each other. The Israelites were completely protected by God.

God provides relief,
When we provide belief.