Daily Bible Devotion - JUDGES 6:1–24
The Book of JUDGES
28. September 2026
Devotion by Reverend Joseph Antwi
Theme: Raising Godly Families
Sub-theme: New Directions Scripture Reading: JUDGES 6:1–24
INTRODUCTION
Church, we are grateful to God for what He has done during our three-day fast of New Direction. We thank God for what happened during the prophetic night on Wednesday, for what He did in Basel, for the Prayer Factory at Deletmon City Church, and for the powerful Gospel Experience on Sunday. Indeed, our Sunday service was powerful, and we give all the glory to God. If you were unable to attend, please watch the YouTube playback. Our Communication Team will continue to make the recordings available, and after this devotion they will also share the playback so that everyone can be blessed by what God did.
Now we go straight into today’s devotion.
JUDGES 6:1–24
Yesterday, we went through Judges 5 and saw the song of Deborah and Barak after Israel’s victory. The chapter ends with a beautiful statement:
“So the land had rest for forty years.” — Judges 5:31
Forty years is a long time. Sometimes when the people or circumstances that have been oppressing us leave the scene, God gives us a season of rest.
My prayer for somebody today is that every obstacle, every oppression and everything that has been fighting your progress will be removed, and may the Lord give you a season of rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
But then we come to Judges 6.
After forty years of rest, the Bible says:
“The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight.” — Judges 6:1
Notice those words carefully: “in the LORD’s sight.”
What human beings consider acceptable is not always what God considers acceptable. Something can look normal in the sight of people and still be evil in the sight of God. That is why we must constantly examine our lives according to God’s Word and not merely according to the standards of society.
Again, we see the cycle:
Sin → Oppression → Crying to God → Deliverance.
The Israelites did evil, and the Lord allowed them to fall into the hands of the Midianites for seven years.
THE MIDIANITE OPPRESSION
Judges 6:2–6 gives us a picture of how severe the situation became:
“The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel. They camped in the land and destroyed the crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts. They arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count, and they stayed until the land was stripped bare. So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.”
Israel was not simply losing a battle. Their livelihood was being destroyed.
They planted; the enemy came.
They produced; the enemy consumed.
They worked; the enemy took.
Eventually they had to hide in caves and strongholds.
AND THEN THEY CRIED OUT TO THE LORD.
Church, whenever we fall, let us cry out to God.
Don’t run away from God because you have sinned.
Don’t hide from God because you failed.
Don’t allow shame to separate you from the One who can restore you.
The ability to fall is not the end of the story. The ability to rise again and cry out to God is what matters.
Israel had fallen again, but they knew where to go.
When you fall, run to God, not away from God.
GOD SENDS A PROPHET
Something interesting happens when Israel cries out.
God does not immediately send Gideon.
First, God sends a prophet.
Judges 6:8–10
“The LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all those who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. I told you, “I am the LORD your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live.” But you have not listened to me.’”
God reminded them of their history.
“I brought you out.”
“I rescued you.”
“I drove out your enemies.”
“I gave you the land.”
But then came the painful statement:
“But you have not listened to me.”
This is important for raising godly families.
Our children must know what God has done.
They must know the testimonies of their parents.
They must know how God provided.
They must know how God answered prayer.
They must know the stories of God’s faithfulness.
Gideon was about to become a deliverer partly because he had grown up hearing what God had done for Israel.
WE MUST TRANSFER THE TESTIMONY.
If we don’t tell our children what God has done, the next generation may know the story of the world but not know the story of God’s faithfulness.
That is why Raising Godly Families matters.
We are not only raising children.
We are transferring faith.
NEW DIRECTION
And here is where today’s sub-theme becomes powerful.
Israel was asking God for deliverance.
But God was preparing to give them a new direction.
Sometimes we pray:
“Lord, change my situation.”
But God responds:
“I am going to change your direction.”
Sometimes we ask God to remove the enemy.
God says:
“I am raising you to confront the enemy.”
Sometimes we ask:
“Where is the answer?”
And God says:
“You are part of the answer.”
That is exactly what happens with Gideon.
GIDEON WAS THE ANSWER HE DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS CARRYING.
Judges 6:11 says:
“Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the Abiezrite. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites.”
Look at Gideon’s situation.
He was not standing on a battlefield.
He was hiding.
He was threshing wheat in a winepress because he was afraid the Midianites would see his harvest and take it.
But God saw something different.
Judges 6:12
“The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!’”
God called him:
“Mighty hero.”
Gideon was hiding.
God saw a warrior.
Gideon saw weakness.
God saw potential.
Gideon saw his family background.
God saw his assignment.
God does not always call you according to what you currently look like.
He calls you according to what He has purposed you to become.
GIDEON’S QUESTION
Gideon responded:
“If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The LORD brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” — Judges 6:13
Gideon had heard the stories.
He knew the history.
He had been told about Egypt.
He had heard about God’s miracles.
He knew what God had done for previous generations.
THIS IS RAISING GODLY FAMILIES.
Gideon’s parents and previous generations had passed down the testimony.
He knew:
“God brought us out of Egypt.”
“God performed miracles.”
“God gave us the land.”
But Gideon needed his own encounter with God.
This is important.
We must tell our children what God has done for us, but we must also pray that they encounter God for themselves.
OUR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT ONLY INHERIT OUR TESTIMONY; THEY MUST HAVE THEIR OWN TESTIMONY.
GOD’S NEW DIRECTION FOR GIDEON
Then God says something extraordinary.
Judges 6:14
“Then the LORD turned to him and said, ‘Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!’”
Gideon was asking:
“Where is God?”
God was saying:
“I am sending you.”
He was asking:
“Why has this happened?”
God was saying:
“Go.”
He was looking for someone to rescue Israel.
God said:
“I AM SENDING YOU.”
That is NEW DIRECTION.
Sometimes the answer to our prayer is not something God will send from outside.
Sometimes God sends us.
GIDEON’S EXCUSE
Gideon replied:
“But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family!” — Judges 6:15
Gideon had an identity problem.
He looked at:
His clan.
His family.
His position.
His weakness.
But God looked at:
His calling.
His potential.
His future.
His assignment.
How many people have disqualified themselves because of where they came from?
“My family is not strong.”
“I don’t have enough education.”
“I am too young.”
“I am not talented enough.”
“Nobody knows me.”
But God does not need the strongest family in the city to raise someone He can use.
GOD CAN RAISE A DELIVERER FROM A WEAK CLAN.
GOD’S RESPONSE
Judges 6:16:
“The LORD said to him, ‘I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against only one man.’”
God did not give Gideon a long explanation.
He gave him one promise:
“I WILL BE WITH YOU.”
That is enough.
Your strength is not in your family name.
Your strength is not in your resources.
Your strength is not in your position.
YOUR STRENGTH IS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
And this is what we should teach our children.
Don’t only tell them:
“You can do it.”
Teach them:
“God will be with you.”
A NEW DIRECTION FOR THE FAMILY
This is where the theme Raising Godly Families and the sub-theme New Direction meet.
We must raise families that do not simply repeat old cycles.
If previous generations struggled with prayer, we must establish prayer.
If previous generations struggled with discipline, we must establish discipline.
If previous generations struggled with finances, we must teach stewardship.
If previous generations struggled with broken relationships, we must teach forgiveness and healthy relationships.
If previous generations did not intentionally disciple their children, we must become intentional discipleship families.
NEW DIRECTION MEANS THE CYCLE STOPS WITH US.
We don’t have to repeat everything we inherited.
In Christ, God can give our families a new direction.
THE GOD WHO USED GIDEON
Gideon began the story hiding.
He ended the story leading.
He began with questions.
He moved toward faith.
He began seeing his weakness.
God taught him to see his assignment.
THAT IS WHAT GOD DOES.
He takes ordinary people and gives them extraordinary assignments.
He takes people who are hiding and teaches them to stand.
He takes people who feel insignificant and gives them influence.
He takes families that have known cycles and gives them a new direction.
And church, that is our prayer today:
LORD, GIVE OUR FAMILIES A NEW DIRECTION.
Let our children know You.
Let our homes become places of prayer.
Let our families become places of discipleship.
Let our children know the testimonies of what You have done.
Let them also encounter You personally.
Raise Gideons from our homes.
Raise Deborahs.
Raise Jaels.
Raise men and women of valor.
Let our families become instruments through which You will bring transformation to the Church, our cities and the nations.
PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You that even when we fall, You give us the grace to cry out to You. Thank You for the new direction You are bringing into our lives and our families. Break every repeated cycle that is contrary to Your will. Help us not to repeat the mistakes of previous generations. Give parents wisdom to raise children who know You, love You and obey Your Word. Let our children hear our testimonies, but more importantly, let them have their own encounters with You. Raise Gideons from our homes, men and women of valor who will stand for their generation. Where we see weakness, help us see calling. Where we see limitations, help us see possibility. Where we see our past, help us see the future You have prepared. May the Lord go before us and give our families a NEW DIRECTION. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
DECLARATION
“My family is receiving a new direction. We will not repeat destructive cycles. We will serve the Lord, teach His Word, walk in His ways and raise a generation that knows God. What God begins in my family will become a blessing to the Church, our cities and the nations.”
If this devotion has blessed you, share it with your family, friends and loved ones. Leave your testimony or comment in the group chat, and let us continue to spread the Gospel together.
Shalom,
Rev. Joseph Antwi
Author: Rev. Joseph Antwi
Rev. Joseph Antwi is the District Pastor of the Basel City Churches District. He is passionate about teaching God’s Word, raising young disciples, and empowering believers to live purposefully and impact their generation through Christ.
Out now!
Rev. Joseph Antwi has released his first book called; "How to know if he or she is the right one" in which he dives into seven biblical keys to a succesfull relationship.
@revjosephantwi
+41 79 663 63 24
What did you learn from today’s devotion?
Leave a comment below and share what spoke to you. Scroll down to the comments section and inspire others with what God revealed to you!
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This is so true, often we pray that the circumstance or situation around us will change, but I belive that sometimes we need to pray that God changes *Us* while we are in the situation!
And also reading about Gideon, where he was when God called him. That God saw past the weaknesses and saw the potential... so beautiful❤️
May we all start to see what God has called us for in this new Direction!
Thank you Pastor for speaking to me this morning❤️
What I learned today is not to look at the possibilities whether we have the capacity, the resources, the status, or whatever else because we tend to put our trust in these things. But these are not the things that qualify us to be used by God.
What I liked was when the pastor said:
““He takes ordinary people and gives them extraordinary assignments.”
extraordinary ass
What I learned is that, in order to find my strength, I don’t have to look at the factors around me, but I should look within. The Lord is our strength. This is a reminder for us to find our strength in God, not in possibilities.
Thank You Pastor Joseph for this powerful devotional…