I'm Heather and I'm Susan come along with us on a journey through the book of judges here on the Bible book club.

Welcome to the club.

Well, in chapter four of judges, the cycle of sin continued. And again, the Israelites cry out to the Lord, just like sometimes we do.

The cycle of sin and then we cry out to the Lord, God save me. And he sent him Deborah, a prophet and a judge, but not a warrior. Then Deborah sent Barack, the local military leader, to rescue the Israelites from the Canaanites. Barack was a reluctant rescuer, though, and required Deborah to go with him. Being a fearless female

that she was, she agreed, but told Barack that his reluctance would cost him. Forfeiting his pride,

he became the pickle in the middle of two fearless women, Deborah and J.L., who killed

the opposing Canaanite military leader Cicera all by herself with a tent peg.

Deborah and Barack then in chapter five write a song all about the victory, including some random

information about Cicera's mother who was an intriguing contrast to both Deborah and Jail.

Okay, so far in judges, we have discussed the first three major judges,

Atheneal, Ehud, and Deborah, all of whom who had epic stories.

They defeated their oppressors, delivered Israel, and restored peace to the promised land

for a combined 160 years.

The next three major judges have longer stories and more

character flaws that get worse with each story and with each cycle of sin. This is the story of

Gideon, the weak warrior. Now, Gideon, we will find waffles. His faith is dry and he lacks stickiness. He waffles with doubt,

he waffles with fear, he waffles with God's word, and he waffles with power and control.

In this episode, his weak faith causes him to doubt and fear, and he waffles as he struggles to trust God.

Starting in chapter 6th.

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands

of the Midianites, because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared

shelters for themselves in mountain cliffs, caves, and strongholds.

...