We first encounter Gideon in Judges 6, attempting to hide his harvest from the Midianites by threshing it in the recesses of a winepress. Because of Israel’s rebellion, God had allowed the Midianites to ravage their harvests and herds for seven years. Now God was ready to break Midian’s yoke and to use Gideon to lead the charge. To prepare Gideon for this assignment, God took him through specific steps. God uses similar steps to mature believers in our relationship with Jesus.
- Getting used to a new name
God sent an angel to make first contact with Gideon. “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12) When first called a mighty warrior, Gideon didn’t feel like one, but God was addressing him as he would become.
When we first accept Jesus, we immediately become a child of God. It takes time to understand and accept the truth that we have become a son or daughter of the King. It is a name of royalty and great responsibility. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) It is critical that we understand our identity in Christ. It’s not as important to know who you are, as to know Whose you are.
- Smaller assignments
God told Gideon to tear down his father’s idol to Baal. “But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.” (Judges 6:27)
One of the first things God wants us to do is tell our parents and friends that we have decided to follow Jesus, which may or may not be received well. In my life, the morning after receiving Jesus, I told my dad, who was a very gentle soul, that he was also a sinner and that he needed Jesus. That was the first time I recall that my dad ever raised his voice at me. Fortunately, he also accepted Jesus as his Savior years later.
- Building confidence
As Gideon set his sights on relieving Israel from Midian’s stranglehold, he asked God to confirm His direction with two miraculous signs. God graciously answered his request, as well as gave him a third sign to build his confidence.
Now, we have the written Word of God before us. Our confidence in God’s will comes through its pages rather than by outside miraculous signs. But it takes believers time to become familiar with God’s intentions toward the lost. We grow in our confidence as we study the Bible and tell others about Jesus.
- God is enough
Calling troops from throughout the land, Gideon raised an army of 32,000 men against 135,000 Midianites. Outnumbered already, God reduced the number even more, till Gideon had only 300 men. And each of these he armed with only a torch and a trumpet.
This is the important stage of getting involved in ministry, doing our part in extending the name of Jesus. We may not be the leader of the ministry, and only play a small part, but it is important and an encouragement to the leader. We also learn that God’s presence is enough for us. He is able to do far more than we imagine.
- You can’t depend on the crowd
After leading the defeat of Midian, some wanted Gideon to be their king (to which he declined). But not everyone agreed. After he died, the people of Israel “failed to show kindness to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for them.” (Judges 8:35)
As followers of Christ, we must learn to rely on the fact that God sees our sacrifices for Him, and He will reward us. We mustn’t obey Him, looking for a pat on the back from others. “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)
Gideon led a miraculous deliverance from Midian’s aggression. An even greater miracle is the deliverance from sin that Jesus accomplished through His crucifixion and resurrection. “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13–14) Receive Him and His gift of eternal life soon.
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