What leadership lessons might you take from the story of Gideon? If you don’t have a Christian worldview, how does this perspective integrate with your worldview?
Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal and Jeruuesheth) was a well-known judge and military leader in the Bible. He led a battle, freeing the Israelites from Midian. As told in Judges 6-8 ( New International Version), Gideon defeated large armies with only 300 men. He reflected confidence, checked his sources, and knew how to use his resources.
As leaders, we would be wise to learn from Gideon. He understood his calling from God – to save Israel and help them turn from idolatry – and his mission – to defeat a large army with 300 men. To make sure he understood his mission, he asked God to provide three signs, which God did. As leaders, we need to check our sources and make sure we understand our vision and mission.
As Gideon prepared for battle, God instructed him to pare down the number of men in his army. With only three hundred men, Gideon led an attack that began with the sound of trumpets and defeated the Midianites. Have you ever been asked to lead what seemed like an impossible task?
Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:
· Foster self-reflection on personal willingness to lead others.
Background Information
To set the stage for our remaining devotions, view this short article (new tab) on the judges of the Bible.
Access the drop-down below to read or listen to Judges 6-8.
Gideon-Judges 6-8
Instructions
1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Review the information in the Getting Started section.
3. You may want to refer to your personal Bible for a preferred translation of the story of Gideon in Judges 6–8.
4. Write a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares what stands out to you about how Gideon led the Israelites to victory over the Midianites.
5. How would you have responded to God’s call if you were Gideon?
a. What would have motivated you to go into battle against an army with only 300 men?
b. What leadership lessons might you take from the story of Gideon? If you don’t have a Christian worldview, how does this perspective integrate with your worldview?
6. Reflection papers are to be written in accordance with APA Guidelines (7th ed.) (new tab) including format guidelines. Papers must be logical, well organized, grammatically correct, and have correct spelling and sentence structure. Write in complete paragraphs.
