In our study this week, we are looking at Gideon’s life. We followed Joshua into the Promised Land last week, and life was good. Now, we will learn that in the years after Joshua died, the Israelites turned away from God several times and repeated the cycle of sin and repentance.
We begin with the Israelites once again doing evil and disobeying God. They worshiped idols and did their own thing. As a consequence of their disobedience, God would allow neighboring nations, in this case, the Midianites, to oppress Israel. The Midianites’ oppression often brought economic hardship, loss of security, and suffering.
Finally, after seven years, the Israelites cried out to God. They had had enough and were ready to repent and return to God. God heard their cries and sent them another deliverer.
One day, an Angel of the Lord visited a young man threshing wheat in a winepress, an unconventional and fearful act. Typically, wheat was threshed on elevated open-air threshing floors to catch the wind and separate the grain from the chaff. Threshing in a winepress was an act of caution, an attempt to hide from the Midianites who might seize the grain.
Gideon was the youngest of his family, and they were the weakest of their tribe. But God had big plans for Gideon and greeted him,
The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor. Judges 6:12
The encounter between Gideon and the Angel of the Lord marked a pivotal moment in Gideon’s life and the unfolding of God’s plan. When the Angel addressed Gideon as a “mighty man of valor,” it was a divine affirmation of Gideon’s untapped potential.
This title starkly contrasts Gideon’s self-perception as an ordinary, fearful individual. The Angel’s appearance and words conveyed God’s perspective, highlighting that He saw something extraordinary in Gideon—a potential leader and deliverer of Israel.
When Gideon hears the Lord’s message that he will be the one to save Israel, he is afraid and doesn’t believe it. He begins giving God excuses and tries to convince God he is not the right guy for the job. (Sound familiar?)
To seek reassurance and confirmation of God’s call, Gideon requested a sign from God using a fleece. He asked that the fleece be wet with dew on one occasion while the ground around it remained dry, and then dry while the ground around it was wet on another.
This fleece test demonstrated Gideon’s need for tangible proof and his desire to ensure that he was indeed following God’s will. God responded to Gideon’s requests for signs with patience and understanding. He granted both signs as Gideon had requested, even though one might have sufficed.
During the night, God speaks to Gideon and instructs him to destroy the idols in his father’s house. Gideon’s journey toward obedience and preparation began with this bold and symbolic act—tearing down the altar of Baal in his father’s house.
This act signified a turning away from idolatry, a pivotal step in reestablishing Israel’s commitment to the one true God. Baal worship had become prevalent among the Israelites, and it represented a departure from their faith in Yahweh.
Gideon’s courage to confront this idolatry in his own family (even though he was afraid and did it at night) marked the beginning of a spiritual revival.
Following the destruction of the altar of Baal, Gideon, guided by God’s direction, gathered an army of 32,000 men to confront the Midianites. This army was a powerful force, and it seemed logical to rely on sheer numbers for victory. However, God had different plans.
God initiated a unique process of elimination, instructing Gideon to reduce his army. First, God allowed those who were fearful to leave, reducing the army by thousands. Then God tested them with water, selecting only those who drank in a specific way.
This process ultimately reduced Gideon’s army to a mere 300 men. God’s purpose in this dramatic reduction was to demonstrate that victory would come not through human strength or numbers but through His intervention and power.
The smaller, more vulnerable army would magnify the glory of God when they triumphed over the Midianites, showcasing His miraculous provision and strength. Gideon’s obedience extended beyond the composition of his army; it also encompassed following God’s unconventional battle plan.
God instructed Gideon to equip his men with torches, trumpets, and empty pitchers. At night, they were to surround the Midianite camp and, at a signal, break the pitchers, reveal the torches, and blow the trumpets. This unconventional approach emphasized that victory would come from God’s strategy rather than human military tactics.
Gideon watched and trusted as God reduced the number of men to be in the army. Compared to the Amalekites and Midianites, who were as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. Judges 7:12, the Israelites were a small army.
The Battle of Midian with a small, unconventional army of 300 men, Gideon embarked on the Battle of Midian. Their strategy was unlike anything the Midianites had encountered before.
Gideon divided his men into three companies, each carrying torches hidden in pitchers and trumpets. They surrounded the Midianite camp during the middle watch of the night. At Gideon’s signal, they broke the pitchers, revealing the torches, and blew the trumpets, creating a sudden and startling noise.
This unexpected attack caused confusion and chaos among the Midianites. They awoke to the sound of trumpets, saw the surrounding lights, and believed they were under attack by a massive force. Overwhelmed by fear and disorientation, they fled and turned on one another in the darkness.
Gideon’s unconventional tactics and God’s supernatural intervention created a decisive moment in which the Midianites were defeated by their panic. God’s direct intervention was central to Gideon’s victory.
It was not the brilliance of the military strategy or the strength of Gideon’s army that routed the Midianites, but rather God’s sovereign power. The Lord caused the Midianites to turn on each other in fear and confusion. This divine intervention displayed God’s supremacy over human circumstances and emphasized that the victory belonged to Him.
The astonishing victory over the Midianites profoundly strengthened Gideon’s faith and trust in God. Gideon, who initially doubted his abilities and questioned God’s presence, now witnessed firsthand the Almighty’s remarkable power. His faith journey mirrored a transformation from insecurity and hesitation to unwavering trust and confidence in God’s promises.
The victory at the Battle of Midian marked the end of the Midianites’ oppressive seven-year rule over Israel. The Midianite oppression ended, and the Israelites enjoyed a peaceful period that lasted forty years.
During this time, Israel experienced relief from the hardships and suffering it had endured. This period of reprieve highlighted the significance of Gideon’s leadership and the impact of his obedience and faith.
It demonstrated that when God raises leaders willing to trust Him and follow His guidance, entire communities can experience freedom and peace.
Just as Gideon was called to a specific purpose, each of us has a unique calling from God. It might involve our careers, relationships, or service to others. Trusting God’s plan for our lives is not always easy, especially when it appears improbable or challenging.
However, Gideon’s story reminds us that God sees potential in us that we might not recognize in ourselves. To apply this today, we should seek God’s guidance, pray for clarity, and step out in faith even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Trusting God’s calling often leads to unexpected and remarkable outcomes.
Gideon’s initial doubts about God’s presence, power, and plan are relatable to many of us. Doubt can be a natural part of our journey of faith.
Yet, God is patient and willing to confirm His calling to us, just as He did with Gideon. When doubt arises, we should pray, seek God’s Word for reassurance, and remember past instances of His faithfulness.
God uses our doubts as opportunities for growth and to deepen our faith. We can learn from Gideon to trust God’s character even in uncertainty.
Gideon’s obedience in tearing down idols and preparing for battle underscores the principle that we must be obedient in small matters before God entrusts us with more significant responsibilities. This applies to our spiritual growth and service.
We should be faithful in the small tasks God places before us, whether practicing kindness, studying His Word, or serving in our communities. As we prove faithful in these smaller areas, God can entrust us with more significant influence and impact in His kingdom.
Gideon’s victory with a small, ill-equipped army underscores that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Today, we should learn to rely on God’s strength, recognizing that our limitations can be a canvas for God’s miraculous work.
When we face insurmountable challenges, we can turn to God, seeking His guidance and strength. His power shines through our weaknesses, demonstrating His glory to the world.
Gideon’s unique battle strategy challenges us to trust God’s wisdom rather than relying solely on conventional wisdom or human methods. Often, God’s ways are not our ways, and His solutions may seem unconventional.
To apply this principle today, we should be open to God’s guidance even when it appears counterintuitive. This means seeking His direction in prayer, consulting His Word, and stepping out in faith, even if it means going against the norm.
Gideon’s unconventional faith teaches us that God’s wisdom transcends human understanding and that His plans are always for our good and His glory.
Judges 6, 7 and 8
Check out my FREE study guide to dig deeper!!
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JDG.7.12
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JDG.6.12
https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/trivia/detail/1193
