As we begin the story of Israel’s fifth judge, the Israelites have again chosen to do turn away from God to follow sin instead.

Judges 6:1 | The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years.

The cruel treatment of the Midianites had the Israelites hiding in mountains, caves, and anywhere they could to get away from their vicious oppressors. Even worse, the Israelites were starving because their enemies would attack to steal their crops, sheep, and cattle. God’s starving people cried out to Him for help.

We find Israel’s fifth judge hiding from the Midianites and the way God raises him as judge is truly amazing—

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Jeremiah 17:7-8 | “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

• What does it mean to have the Lord as your hope and your confidence? (Younger kids: What does it mean to trust the Lord?)

• Why is the person who trusts God as their hope and confidence blessed? In what ways won’t they struggle?

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Psalm 37:4-5 | Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

• Do you trust God to give you the desires of your heart? Why or why not?

• Do you ever feel like God probably doesn’t want for you what you want for yourself? Why or why not?

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Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

• What does it look like to trust God with your whole heart? Do you trust God in this way? Why or why not?

• How is trusting God different then leaning on your understanding?

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Psalm 112:1, 7 | Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

• Would you describe yourself as someone who trusts the Lord to care for you? Why or why not?

• Would you describe yourself as someone who fears bad news? Why or why not?

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Psalm 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

• Historically (like Deborah’s story), what would people have trusted horses and chariots for?

• In present day, what are some things that the world puts their trust in? Which of these things are you tempted to rely on?

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Psalm 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

• Historically (like Deborah’s story), what would people have trusted horses and chariots for?

• In present day, what are some things that the world puts their trust in? Which of these things are you tempted to rely on?

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Consistent with the cycle of judges, peace among the Israelites is eventually disrupted because they turn away from God to follow sin instead.

Judges 4:1 | After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight.

The Lord turns over the Israelites to King Jabin of Canaan. The commander of Jabin’s army was Sisera.

Judges 4:3 | Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.

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