My Monday afternoon girlfriends and I have had the privilege of spending seven glorious weeks immersed in Priscilla Shirer’s Bible study, Gideon Your weakness, God’s strength. In three short chapters of the Bible, Judges 6-8, an incredible story unfolds about a simple man who struggles in his weaknesses, limitations, and insecurities, yet God raises up to lead His people and transforms Gideon into a victorious war hero.

The story of Gideon’s calling and his preparations for battle do not sound very girly, pretty, or poetic, yet I cannot even begin to tell you how any person, whether female or male, will quickly be able to find personal connections within this story through the societal atmosphere in which it occurs, as well as how it clearly relates to each of us today.

Do you ever struggle with your surroundings or feel inadequate? Do you ever feel intimidated? Inexperienced? Or outnumbered? How about fearful? Too young? Or maybe even too old to accomplish a certain task?

Hmmm…then THIS STUDY just might be what your heart needs.

Let me set the stage for you….

When the book of Joshua ends the Israelites had taken a stand for God, excited to be experiencing all the blessings of being in the Promised Land. However, after Joshua’s death, it did not take long for the nation of Israel to lose their spiritual commitment and motivation causing them to enter into a great time of oppression. Yet, with a quick turn of the page into the book of Judges, we see our merciful God raising up 12 individuals, including Gideon, to deliver His people from their enemies.

“And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and leaders who outlived him, those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ehpriam, north of Mount Gaash. After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not know the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord.” Judges 2: 7-12

Pricilla Shirer shares in her Bible study, Gideon Your weakness, God’s strength, that the Judges during this time period were imperfect, ordinary people, just like you and me, who were called and empowered by God so that they could unite the people to stand firm against the enemies of God.

 “Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands. Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judges lifetime.” Judges 2: 16-18

Digging deep into the life of Gideon will not disappoint, I promise. Pricilla not only shows us how Gideon’s weaknesses became the key for unlocking God’s strength in his own life, but how the same is true for each of us. God can use anyone, even with all their shortcomings, to do amazing things for the Kingdom of God. This story is about so much more than a boy threshing wheat in a winepress, wet fleece, or a battle won with only 300 soldiers. You will not want to miss out on what God desires to say to you through the pages of this life-changing study!

So gather up your girlfriends and get to know Gideon. I can’t wait to hear what God reveals to you from this epic story.

From my nest to yours,

Chris