We have a full cast of characters to study this week. Deborah, Gideon, Sampson, Ruth and Samuel. Each found themselves in pivotal positions at times of conflict and crisis. God used them to do extraordinary things. These are heroes of the Bible, but all heroes are first ordinary people just like you and I.

Image © Frank Gampel from GoodSalt.com

Let’s look at the life lessons we can take away from each one of these characters. 

We begin with Deborah, an influential judge in Israel. After many years of being dominated by a foreign power, the Israelites were crying out to be delivered. She gave the charge of leading the army to Barak. It was no small charge. Not only his life, but the lives of the men he would lead into battle would be at stake. His doubt of victory is shown in his response.

And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” Judges 4:8

Her response reveals much about her character and it is here where we will gain our first life lesson.

“So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.” Judges 4:9

Lesson one: Only ask others to do what you yourself are willing to do. How easy it is to give others advice and counsel that we are not willing to follow ourselves. How easy it is for us to tell people to attempt lofty things for God, or to make serious changes in their lives yet our own lives are a contradiction to our words. Deborah shows us that she was willing to “put skin in the game.” So should we.

Next we have Gideon who is one of our favorite heroes. Tasked with a difficult undertaking, we see the turmoil of Gideon as he tried to make certain that he was hearing clearly the direction of God. We learn a lot about Gideon the man from his first conversation with the Angel of the Lord.

Gideon has just been told that he would lead the deliverance of his people. I tried to imagine myself in his sandals. On what was probably a typical day, Gideon was threshing wheat for his family’s food. Suddenly a heavenly being approaches him and gives him the most important job of his lifetime.  His response is where we gain our second life lesson.

So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:15

Lesson two: Humility in the sight of God is worth more than any credentials man can earn on his own. When we lose sight of dependence on God for everything, we begin to trust ourselves. Like Peter walking on the water, we begin to believe the press about ourselves and sooner or later, the waves and the wind will block our view of our Saviour. Our trust must be in God alone and not ourselves, regardless of our perceived qualifications.

Our third subject is Sampson. He is one of a few whose parents were told beforehand the role he was to play in life. His parents were diligent to train him properly. However, Sampson had proclivities that would lead him in a path far removed from his true purpose. He saw a woman he wanted and over his parent’s remonstrance, he demanded:

And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.” Judges 14:3

Lesson three: We should listen to our parents (or the aged blessed with wisdom). Had Sampson denied himself and submitted to his parents’ guidance, his story would have had a better end. Some people are not blessed with godly parents, but I believe that God always puts into our lives someone who can give us the guidance we need at the time when most needed. The battle to deny one’s self is real and Sampson shows the price for ignoring the will of God in order to follow his own desires.

Ruth is next. Hers is a story of devotion and amazing providence – an improbable story that led to her name being placed in the lineage of the word’s Redeemer. Our life lesson begins when we hear her first speak. Calamity has befallen the family and her mother-in-law entreats her to go home and begin again. But Ruth has other ideas.

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.” Ruth 1:16

Lesson four: Family relationships matter. Love, kindness and sweetness between family members gives us little slices of heaven here on earth. No one on their deathbed will look back with regret for showing love and kindness to others. And no one going through life is made stronger by ignoring the ties of family. We should do all in our part to keep the family relations strong and loving, even when our principles and directions in life may be different. Family is family.

We close with Samuel. From his youth we see the power of a praying mother. Raised in the home of Eli the priest, Samuel saw firsthand the inner working of those who represented God. He could have easily imitated the profane example of Eli’s sons – but he didn’t.

We get our last life lesson from the words of Samuel as a child. One night he hears a voice calling his name and his response is telling.

“And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10

Lesson five: Our ears and our hearts must be open to the voice of God. When Samuel said that he hears, it shows by his life that with hearing he received understanding. They were not just words – It was the voice of God speaking to him. That must be the attitude of our lives and by the grace of God, we must do all in our power to make sure we hear that voice.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27

Here are a few Hit the Mark questions for this week’s lesson discussion:

• What did Jesus mean, speaking of the Pharisees, when He said: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not (Matthew 23:3)?
• What does the word humility mean to you?
• To be truly humble must a person consider themselves as “filthy rags” in the sight as God? Explain your answer.
• Does the Bible teach that we all have greatness within that only needs to be realized, developed and acted upon? Explain your answer.
• What does the 5^th commandment mean when it says to honor your father and mother?
• Does the 5^th commandment to honor our father and mother include parents who are non-believers? Why yes or no?
• What should be my attitude and actions towards family members who don’t believe as I do or are antagonistic towards my faith?
• What does it mean to listen to God’s voice?
• Is it true that the main way one hears God’s voice is through the preacher/teacher during a church service? Explain your answer?
• Is the following statement True, Mostly True, Somewhat True or Not True: Studying the Bible is optional in order to hear God speak to you and for Him to guide you. Explain your answer.

We close this week’s lesson on Conflict and Crisis: The Judges with a familiar text that reinforces the reason why we read and study these stories. Let’s apply their lessons to our lives.

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11

Until next week, let’s all continue to Hit the Mark in Sabbath School. 

Audio version available for listening HERE

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