The story of Gideon in Judges 6 helps answer a couple of common questions new Christian believer’s have about God's character. These are also questions that arise when a veteran Christian’s faith is being put to the test under struggle, loss and failures. Gideon was a judge of Israel given by God. The writer of Judges presents Gideon as sort of a second Moses in his calling. Both men were reluctant to lead God's people. Gideon's name means "Hewer." It is ironic that God used him to cut down the altar of Baal and then the Midianites the very people that were currently attacking the Israelites viciously and repeatedly.
In calling Gideon to deliver the Israelites, God commanded Gideon to destroy the Baal worship and renew worship of Yahweh. He called on Gideon to acknowledge Him as his God. Instead, Gideon dragged his feet and doubted God in a lack of faith. It is through God’s use of him that Gideon becomes a man of faith just as Moses did. The Angel of the Lord addressed Gideon as the man he would become by God's enablement, not the man he was at the time. In the same way God had called Moses who would confront Pharoah and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. One of the great truths of Scripture is that when God looks at us, He does not see us for what we are, but for what we can become. Gideon isn’t necessarily doubting that God, more likely he is doubting his own ability. Most Christians do the same at one time or another. If God calls us out, answer. Its not like you could hide from him anyway.
The mightiness of Gideon to which the Angel referred (Judges 6:14) was what God's promised presence and commission guaranteed (Judges 6:14, 16). Gideon did not disbelieve the Angel as much as he failed to understand how he could be God's weapon of deliverance. There were plenty of reasons he could doubt but God allayed those fears over time building Gideons faith over time and reinforcement. In Gideon’s story we see God ally Gideons fears over time. We should also see how the answers to the following questions about Gideon’s predicament will ally our fears when we encounter similar questions about situations in or lives.
Does God Care About Me?
Judges 6:12-13 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor. And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
Let’s be honest, Gideon is basically saying that God had forsaken them and left them to their fate in response to the angel’s message. God had in fact provided just the opposite. God had given Gideon and Israel proof of his concern for them by the very angel that was giving this message to Gideon. In the darkness of despair God sends light.
What Gideon and Israel face is a chastening not their doom. Chastening is not the evidence of hatred for his people but rather evidence of His hatred for sin and the His love for his people. God would not sit back and watch His people destroy themselves so he used this chastening by Midianite invasions to straighten them out. The chastening made God’s people more receptive to His word since they had few other places to turn. God in turn comes to their rescue. Gideon’s response to the Lord is a complete lack of faith. Sadly, this form of lack of faith itself stems from sin in a person’s life. It is apparent God would have to spend considerable time with Gideon turning his doubt into courage and indomitable spirit. Yet, that is exactly what happens. By the time of Hebrews 11, Gideon is listed among the heroes of the Faith. This should give Christians strong encouragement even in their weakest hour.
The answer to the first question is a resounding and clear, yes.
Does God Know What He’s Doing?
Gideon then questions God’s wisdom in choosing him to be the nation’s deliverer. To outward appearances to another human this question would’ve been valid but not coming from God. The Lord gave Gideon all the assurance he should’ve needed, but he wouldn’t believe God’s Word. Again he is being like Moses (Exodus 3:7–12). If God tells us to do something He assuredly will provide the path and means to see it completed. In God’s very nature, He cannot lie and He never fails. Faith understands this and obeys.
Faith means obeying God in spite of what we see, how we feel. This second one seems to be the biggest stumbling block for believers as they are often too tied up into how they feel rather than what Scripture teaches us about the nature and reliability of God. Regardless, Gideon’s faithless responses seemed to allude to the fact that God could do little or nothing. Gideon asks for a sign to assure him that it was really the Lord who was speaking to him and surprisingly the Lord was gracious enough to accommodate Gideon’s unbelief. Christians shouldn’t expect this as God has since revealed Himself through His Son Jesus Christ.
We must understand that whenever God calls us to a task that we think is beyond us it very well may be. We need to remind ourselves that we must look to God and not to ourselves in these situations. If the task is beyond us, He will also enable it. If we are not capable at the time of our commissioning for the task God will act in our lives as He did in Gideons to make it feasible. Even if it means completely changing us and remaking us in the process. Trust me, I speak from experience on this one. I am not the man I was when I came into the faith. Nor will you be in the end.
The answer to the second question is a resounding and clear, yes.
Does God Keep His Promises?
The Midianites and their allies made their annual invasion with more than 135,000 men (8:10; 7:12). The equivalent of about five (5) modern divisions. They moved into and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. It was time for Gideon to fulfill his destiny and the Spirit of God gave him the wisdom and power that he needed. The same will be said of us as we seek to do God’s will. Gideon blows his trumpet first in his hometown of Abiezer and men rally around him. God’s reformation of Gideon and many of His people has taken hold. Those called then put out further calls to arms throughout the tribes of Manassah, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. At Gideon’s call, 32,000 men responded. There were 32,000 of God’s men against an army of 135,000 pagan men. The Jews were outnumbered and would be outmaneuvered, except for one thing: God was on their side and promised them victory. What chance did Gideon and his men have? It was going to be a rout…against the Midianites. It is understandable that there might be doubt of lack of faith in this situation. The odds were staggering. It is here we see the true nature of the believers battle. It is not a battle against an earthly for but one in the spiritual realm. Gideon questions to God reveal that this battle is a more a battle of faith then a battle of men.
Did God really want him to lead the Jewish army? Does God really want me to be a teacher of the Gospel? What did Gideon know about warfare? What did I know about Scriptures and the nature of God? After all, Gideon was only an ordinary farmer, and there were others in the tribes who could do a much better job. After all Andy was just an ordinary Quality Engineer that focused on systematic processes, rules and regulations not systematic theology and God’s laws and God’s commandments. The story of the fleece then begins and the miracle of the wet fleece occurs. The fact that God agrees to Gideon’s weakness only proves that God is extremely gracious and understands how lacking in faith sinful men really are (Ps. 103:14). The fact that we would hold out for proof when he has already given us not only his word but also the life of his absurd.
The answer to the third and final question is also resounding and clear, yes.
Gideon’s and our story are stories about victory of faith over doubt. The real enemy is unbelief in a very serious and real war. The world and men contribute to that unbelief but they are not the real enemy. That is why our faith and belief of Christ’s work on the cross becomes so important and comes into such sharp focus. The real battle is a war over sin and death. Everything else becomes a moot point. The real and absolute victory therefore is won or lost on faith. If we hold out against the enemy and accept the victory at the cross, we realize that this victory is the one that has overcome the world. If we do not persevere to the end, we end up as casualties on that field.
1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has
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