Need to Know: I Can Change

One day, God sent an angel to a man and woman with some important news—“You will have a son, and he will begin to save God’s people.” The news surprised the man and woman, but they trusted God. When the baby was born, the couple named the baby Samson. Samson grew and God blessed him. When Samson became a man, he grew very strong. Once, some soldiers tied up Samson with ropes, but God helped Samson break out of the ropes. No one was as strong as Samson. A woman asked Samson how he could be so strong. “How could you be tied up, then get away?” she asked. But Samson did not tell the woman the answer. The woman kept on asking day after day. Finally, Samson said that as long as his hair grew and he never cut it, God would make him strong. Then the woman secretly cut Samson’s hair. People wanted to see Samson show how strong he was. But Samson had lost his strength because his hair had been cut. Samson prayed, “God, please remember me. Strengthen me once more.” And God did.

Need to Know: Love will never end!

God had a special job for Gideon. God wanted Gideon to help God’s people, the Israelites. At first Gideon was not sure he could do this job. But God told Gideon He would be with him and help him. So, Gideon and all the people with him traveled to a place called Midian. Gideon’s men camped near a spring. Now Gideon waited. Then God told Gideon he had too many soldiers. So Gideon told the men who were afraid that they could go back home. Many men chose to leave the camp and go back to their families. Then God told Gideon to send the rest of the men to the spring to drink water. God had a plan—God told Gideon to look carefully at the men while they drank water. Everyone who drank water using his hands like a cup would stay to help Gideon. All the rest of the men would go home. Gideon followed God’s instructions. Now just a few men would work together to help the Israelites. But Gideon knew God would help him. Later, God told Gideon to divide the men into three groups. The men carried trumpets and blew them loudly. That day God showed Gideon what to do to help God’s people. God showed the people that God’s plan was best, and God can do anything.