CHARACTER LESSON 6: Gideon
- Hal Habecker
- May 23
- 1 min read
Updated: May 27
Selected Studies in Aging – How Did Characters in the Bible Finish in Life?
Hal Habecker, Finishing Well Ministries
The attached video watching guide below is designed to follow the study. Every Scripture I mention is already included, but please feel free to take your notes as you listen and think about what is being said.”
Hal Habecker
DOWNLOAD THE VIDEO WATCHING GUIDE
Lesson intro
Gideon: The Danger of Success
"Spiritual failure is never a blowout, but always the result of a slow leak." Howard G. Hendricks
CALLED BY GOD
The angel visits him and gives him a sign
MILITARY VICTORY
He defeats the Midianites with just 300 men
TEMPTATION OF POWER
He refuses to be king but creates a golden ephod
Gideon's story shows how even those who experience great victories can stumble in their later years. Though he declined the invitation to be king, saying "the Lord shall rule over you," he requested gold from the spoils and made an ephod (idol) that "became a snare to Gideon and his household."
He named his son Abimelech, which means "my father is king" 3 revealing perhaps his inner conflict. After Gideon's death, his sons did not follow their father's faith, and Abimelech killed 70 of his brothers to seize power.
Though Gideon is included in the "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11:32, his story reminds us to stay the course in our aging years and not get sidetracked by success, wealth, or power.
