PRIMARY
AGE: 6 - 7
YEARS
STANDARD
(GRADE): I & II
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LESSON – 13
JERUB-BAAL
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In the
previous lesson we learnt how the Israelites had entered the land of Canaan and
had to capture many Canaanite cities before they could live in the promised
land. Many years passed, the leader of the Israelites, Joshua, who led them
into the promised land also became old and died. In those days the leader of
the Israelites was called as a “Judge”.
Once it happened that a neighbouring tribe called the
“Midianites” cruelly oppressed the Israelites for 7 years. A large army of the
Midianites would suddenly invade the Israelite cities and take away all the
harvested grains. The Israelites were greatly worried, because if their grains
were all stolen, it could lead to hunger and death. After seven years the
Israelites confessed their sin and asked God for help. God was merciful and
gave them a new Judge who would deliver them from the Midianites.
God
chose Gideon, the son of Joash as a Judge to deliver Israelites from the
Midianites. During the wheat harvest season, Gideon went to thresh the wheat. To
thresh the wheat, a threshing stick called flail was used to hit the wheat so
that the grain came loose from the straw; the wheat grains would be used to
make bread. While he was working, the angel of the Lord came and sat down under
an oak tree right beside Gideon. The Lord spoke to Gideon and told him to go
and fight against the Midianites and deliver the Israelites.
Gideon
was doubtful. He was not mighty or powerful and his family was the weakest and
he was the least in his family. How could God use him? His family also did
not worship Jehovah, the one true God of the Israelites. They worshipped Baal
and had even built an altar to worship it. But God assured him by saying that
He will be with Gideon and would help him to defeat the Midianites.
That same night, the Lord told Gideon to tear down the altar his father had built for Baal and to cut down an Asherah pole (Asherah pole was a sacred tree or pole that was planted to honour a Goddess called Asherah). Gideon took ten of his servants at night (because he was afraid of getting caught from the people in the town) and tore down the altars and cut the Asherah pole. The people of his town were mad when they came to know that the altar they had built for Baal had been destroyed. They wanted to kill Gideon. They went and complained to Gideon’s father Joash about what had happened and told him to bring Gideon to be punished.
Joash
replied and told the people to let Baal take revenge against Gideon. Hearing
this, the people left Gideon without harming him and Gideon was called as
"Jerubbaal," meaning "Let Baal take action." Of
course, there was no revenge against Gideon by Baal and he went on to deliver
Israelites from the Midianites.
Bible Reference: Judges 6:1 - 32
Memory Verse: The LORD will rescue his servants; no
one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm 34:22)
ASSESSMENT
ACTIVITIES
Answer the following
questions:
1.
Who
cruelly oppressed the Israelites?
......................................................................................
2.
Who
was chosen by God to deliver the Israelites?
......................................................................................
3.
Why
were the Israelites greatly worried?
......................................................................................
4.
Who
came and sat down near Gideon?
......................................................................................
5.
What
was the new name given to Gideon?
......................................................................................
Match the Following:
1. Joshua - Built an altar for Baal
2. Angel of the Lord - Threshing wheat
3. Gideon - Let Baal take action
4. Joash - Sat down under oak tree
5. Jerub – baal - led Israelites into Canaan.
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