Judges 6:1-24

Judges 6:1-24

As the cycle continues in Judges 6, a clear picture is given of how much Israel was suffering under the hands of the other nations. In those times of enslavement, Israel was experience the direct opposite of what the Promised Land had to offer. God had always told them how great the Promised Land was and how much they would have. They would be blessed beyond measure and have the best food and land ever. Joshua and Caleb had experienced this when Moses sent the spies to the land. The initial generation of Israelite inhabitants experienced these blessings when they first arrived. Now, however, under the control of the Midianites, Israel was experiencing the direct opposite. Had God abandoned His children? Remember that God had warned Israel through both Moses and Joshua about the consequences of becoming a disobedient people. As a result, they experienced some really hard times. For instance, these people came in each year as they planted their crops and destroyed their fields so that Israel would not have a steady food supply.


Israel was indeed suffering once again, and again they called out to God for help. Instead of sending immediate help, God reminded them of what He expected from them. He reminded them of where they had been as a people. Although this particular group of Israelites had not been in Egypt, through the Wilderness, or lived through the Conquest, they had heard the stories. Whether they chose to believe the stories or not was completely up to them, but they had been told how God had provided for them in the past. Furthermore, many of these people probably lived during the time of Deborah and Barak and had seen God’s protection then. Ultimately they had no excuse for their disobedience, but in their distress, they finally showed faith in God and called out to Him.

So God began to call His next judge, Gideon. It is interesting to note that Gideon was the youngest and weakest in his opinion. He tells the messenger that God sent, which goes back to the question of who the angel of the Lord is (for even in this passage it refers to him as both an angel and later as the Lord), that he is the youngest of the weakest clan of Manasseh. Just as God had done with Moses, he did not take Gideon’s excuses. Although Gideon saw himself as weak and not fit to be put in the role God was calling him to, God had big plans for him. So God assured Gideon that He would be with him, giving Gideon peace and confidence to take that step of faith and serve God. Sadly God’s promise of protection was not enough for Gideon. He asked the angel of the Lord for a sign, and the angel did just that when Gideon presented him with some food. The angel consumed it with fire and disappeared from Gideon’s sight all at once. At that moment, Gideon realized who he had been talking to and cried out to God in recognition. God was pleased with his faith and once again assured him that He would be with him.

At this point in Gideon’s story it is easy to criticize Gideon. Why did he not believe? Why did he ask for a sign? What was so hard about following God? We must not forget, however, that we do the same thing to God. Has God ever asked you to do something for Him: encourage a hurting friend, share the Gospel with your neighbor, financially help someone you know who is in need, etc.? Has God ever called you to a position in life that you were afraid to accept? I think we can all think of times in which we were afraid to accept the call or task that God had laid before us. We must learn to trust God no matter what. Gideon was human just like us and had some fears, but we must work past the fear and fully rely on God in life.

Matt