Leader Guide

Bible Study

Have children look up the following passage in their Bibles, and have five children each read a verse aloud.

Judges 6:36–40:

³⁶ Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised,³⁷ prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.”³⁸ And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. ³⁹ Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.”⁴⁰ So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.

God showed Gideon patience and understanding. He graciously provided sign after sign to increase Gideon’s faith and trust. Even on the night before the battle, God told Gideon to go, but if Gideon needed one more sign, God would give it to him!  Let’s take a look and discuss “putting out a fleece,” or in other words, asking God for a sign so you can believe and trust that He is speaking to you.

Lead a discussion with the children using the questions below.

Ask:

1. Why do you think Gideon asked for so many signs from God? Remember, too, that Gideon also asked for a sign from the Angel of the Lord to show that God was really speaking to him. Lack of trust, unusual during that time for God to speak, Israel in captivity, no confidence in self, afraid, confused, huge assignment.
2. Do you think Gideon was right or wrong to ask for the signs?
3. Why do you think God was willing to give a second sign by causing the fleece to be dry, right after He had given Gideon the first sign, making the fleece wet? God is patient, loving, forgiving, understanding, knows our needs.
4. We have two powerful tools to use when discerning God’s will for our lives. Can you think of what they might be? The Bible, God’s Holy Spirit living in us.
5. How else can we know God’s will for our lives? Our parents, pastors, teachers, Christian friends, the peace we have in our hearts when we know we are doing the right thing.
6. What do you think are some things that can prevent us from knowing God’s will? Sin, our fears, being too concerned about what others think, not spending time with God.
7. Do you think we should always ask for a sign from God before we obey Him? Why or why not? We can find guidance for most of the decisions we will ever need to make in our lives from the Bible, the Holy Spirit gives us peace and joy in our hearts as we obey the Lord.

Read 2 Timothy 3:16–17:

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

Yes, God has given us all we need to do mighty works for Him when we have faith in His Word! Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “God gives me His strength.”

Let’s pray: God, You have given us Your Word in the Bible and Your Spirit to live inside of us. Thank You for revealing Your will to guide and direct us. Help us to trust You so that we can do mighty works for You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.