Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. {He is Who He said He is and will do what He said He'll do.}

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets...

I. Gideon: The Weak-kneed Worrier becomes a Warrior (6-8)

6:12 The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? 15 "But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." 16 The Lord answered, "I will be with you..." 17 Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." 27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night 7:10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp and listen... Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack.

Gideon, in time of uncertainty, took steps to establish his faith in observing the acts of God.

II. Barak: The Wimp becomes a Winner (4-5)

4:6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor.:8 Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." 9 "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, s the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh,

Barak, in the face of fear, took steps to stimulate his faith in the company of the people of God.

III. Samson: The Womanizer becomes a Wiseman (13-16)

16:28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, "O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." 29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

Samson, in the belly of failure, took steps to revive his faith in calling upon the grace of God.

IV. Jephthah: The Warmonger becomes Worthy of Honor (11-12)

11:9 Jephthah answered, "Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me_will I really be your head?" 12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: "What do you have against us that you have attacked our country?"

11:23 "Now since the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over? 24 Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess.

11:29 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break."

Jephthah, regardless of the cost, took steps to finish in faith in knowing the person of God.

Questions for Discussion/Reflection:

1. Can one demonstrate faith in the midsts of the mundane? Or is a crises always needed?

2. Why do some people seem to have an easier time with the concept of living by faith?

3. With which of the four judges do you most identify? What would be your advice to them?

ACTION POINT: What steps do you need to take to ensure a place among those who please God?