April 1

Judges 6-7 (biblegateway.com)

From Fear to Faith: Gideon’s Journey to Victory

Judges 6-7 introduces Gideon, an unlikely hero called by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. Israel, once again trapped in the cycle of disobedience and suffering, cries out to God for help. In response, God chooses Gideon—a man filled with doubt and insecurity—to lead the charge. Through a series of events, including Gideon’s hesitant obedience and God’s miraculous confirmation, we see that victory does not come from human strength but from trusting in God’s power. Gideon’s story reminds us that God often calls ordinary, hesitant people to accomplish extraordinary things when they are willing to step out in faith.

Judges 6 recounts the beginning of Gideon’s story, a man called by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. The chapter opens with Israel once again falling into sin, doing evil in the sight of the Lord. As a result, God allows the Midianites to oppress them for seven years (v. 1). The Midianites were a nomadic people descended from Abraham and his second wife, Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2). Throughout Israel’s history, they remained a constant adversary. Years earlier, while still in the wilderness, the Israelites had waged war against the Midianites and nearly wiped them out (Numbers 31:1-20). However, because they were not entirely destroyed, the Midianites were able to repopulate. Now, once again, they were oppressing Israel.

The Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, invade Israel, leaving them impoverished and desperate. The harsh oppression of the Midianites drove the Israelites to seek refuge in mountain clefts, caves, and strongholds, hiding both themselves and their produce (v. 2-5). Unlike the previous occupation by the Canaanites, this was not a permanent takeover but rather seasonal raids that occurred during harvest time. Each time the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites would invade, seizing the harvest for themselves and their livestock. Over time, these repeated attacks devastated Israel’s agriculture, leaving the people struggling to survive.

The Israelites cry out to the Lord for help, and in response, the Lord sends an unnamed prophet (the only prophet mentioned in the book besides the Prophetess Deborah) to remind Israel of her covenant obligations to the Lord, who had delivered them from Egypt. God commanded them not to worship the gods of the Amorites, but they did not listen. Thus, the prophet rebuked them for their continued disobedience (v. 7-10).

Once again, the Israelites had to reach their lowest point before finally turning back to God. How much pain and hardship they could have avoided if they had trusted Him from the start. Turning to God should never be our last resort. It should be our first response. Seeking Him daily doesn’t mean life will always be easy; challenges and struggles are inevitable. However, God promises to give us the strength to endure and overcome them. Don’t wait until you have nowhere else to turn. Call on God first, in every situation, and trust in His guidance.

After the prophet’s message, God calls Gideon to be Israel’s deliverer. The Angel of the Lord appears to him while he is secretly threshing wheat in a winepress to avoid detection by the Midianites (v. 11). Many scholars believe this Angel of the Lord was a theophany—a visible manifestation of God in human form—and possibly a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ (Christophany).

Additionally, threshing was the process of separating the grains of wheat from the useless outer shell called chaff. This was normally done in a large area, often on a hill, where the wind could blow away the lighter chaff when the farmer tossed the beaten wheat into the air. On the other hand, grapes were normally trodden in a winepress, a square or circular pit carved into rock. Gideon’s secret threshing inside a winepress, when he already had access to a true threshing floor (v. 37), shows the desperate measures taken because of Midianite oppression. If Gideon had worked in the open area, he would have been an easy target for the bands of raiders who were overrunning the land. Therefore, he was forced to thresh his wheat in a winepress, a pit that was probably hidden from view and that would not be suspected as a place to find a farmer’s crops.

The Angel addresses Gideon as a “mighty man of valor” (v. 12), despite his fearful circumstances. Gideon questions why God has allowed such suffering if He is truly with Israel (v. 13). He also expresses doubts about his ability to save his people, highlighting his weakness and his family’s low status in Manasseh (v. 15). However, God reassures him, saying, “I will be with you and you shall strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive” (v. 16). The Angel of the Lord commissions Gideon to “Go ... and save Israel out of Midian’s hand” (v. 14).

I will be with you,” God assured Gideon, promising to give him the strength needed to overcome his enemies. Yet, despite this clear promise, Gideon hesitated, focusing on his own weaknesses and limitations rather than on God’s power. Like Gideon, we are each called to serve God in specific ways. Though He promises to equip us with the strength and resources we need, we often respond with excuses. But when we dwell on our limitations, we are, in effect, questioning God’s wisdom and His ability to work through us. Instead of wasting time making excuses, step forward in faith and do what God has called you to do.

Still uncertain, Gideon asks for a sign to confirm God’s calling. He then prepares an offering, and the Angel of the Lord miraculously consumes it with fire before disappearing (v. 17-22). Overwhelmed with fear, Gideon realizes he has seen the Angel of the Lord face to face. This is reminiscent of Moses’s relationship with God (Deut. 34:10). The Israelites believed that no one could see God and live (Exodus 33:20). But God reassures him with peace, leading Gideon to build an altar named “The Lord is Peace” (v. 23-24).

That same night, God commanded Gideon to take a bold first step: destroy his father’s altar to Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, then build an altar to the Lord and sacrifice a bull on it (v. 25–26). This was a test of obedience. If Gideon was to deliver Israel from the Midianites, he not only needed to achieve military victory but also had to remove the idolatry that had led God to hand Israel over to their enemies. His first task was to begin at home by tearing down his father’s pagan altar. Then, using the wood from the Asherah pole to kindle the fire, he was to build a proper altar to the Lord and offer one of his father’s bulls (likely intended as a sacrifice to Baal) as a burnt offering to God.

Fearing retaliation, Gideon obeys God’s command but does so under the cover of night (v. 27). Dismantling a Canaanite altar was no small task, so he enlists ten servants to help. Had he attempted it during the day, the Baal-worshipers would have surely stopped him. Moreover, if caught, Gideon would have faced severe social backlash and likely physical attack. His obedience came at great personal risk. The next morning, when the townspeople discover the desecrated altar, they demand Gideon’s execution. However, his father, Joash, intervenes, challenging them by saying that if Baal is truly a god, he should be able to defend himself. As a result, Gideon earns the name Jerubbaal, meaning “Let Baal contend with him” (v. 28–32).

When the townspeople discovered what Gideon had done, they wanted to kill him—and many of them were fellow Israelites. This highlights just how far God’s people had strayed into immorality. According to Deuteronomy 13:6-11, idolaters were to be stoned to death, yet these Israelites were ready to stone Gideon for destroying an idol and worshiping the true God.

This serves as a powerful reminder that when you step out to do God’s work, opposition may come from the very people who should be supporting you. Whether you are serving in church, leading a ministry, or standing for truth in a difficult situation, you may face criticism—even from fellow believers. But like Gideon, remain faithful, knowing that God is the one who calls, equips, and ultimately vindicates those who serve Him.

As the Midianites and their allies prepare to attack again, Gideon is empowered by the Spirit of the Lord. He blows the trumpet, summoning the tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali to join him in battle (v. 33-35). However, he remains uncertain and asks God for further confirmation. In the famous sign of the fleece, Gideon lays a wool fleece on the threshing floor and asks God to make the fleece wet with dew while keeping the surrounding ground dry. When God grants this request, Gideon asks for the opposite—to have the fleece dry while the ground is wet. God graciously answers both signs, reassuring Gideon of His divine support (v. 36-40).

The cycle of sin and oppression continues in Israel, yet God remains faithful to His people. Even when Israel turns away from Him, He responds with mercy when they cry out for help. This demonstrates that God’s discipline is meant to lead His people to repentance, not destruction. In choosing Gideon, an unlikely and fearful leader, God demonstrated that He does not call the qualified but rather equips those He calls. Like Gideon, we may feel insignificant or unqualified, but our strength comes not from ourselves but from God’s presence. When He calls us, He also equips us, so we must trust His power over our limitations. Are you hesitating to follow God because you feel unqualified? Take a step of faith, knowing that God’s strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

However, before stepping into greater assignments, we must first take the initial step of obedience. Gideon’s first mission was not to defeat Midian but to tear down the idols in his own household. Likewise, we must remove any spiritual hindrances—whether sin, distractions, or fear—before we can serve God effectively. What in your life is competing for your devotion to God? Identify and remove anything that may be hindering your spiritual growth. Spiritual renewal begins with personal obedience.

Though Gideon struggled with doubt and repeatedly sought confirmation from God, God was patient with his weakness, meeting him where he was and strengthening his faith. Gideon’s request for signs wasn’t about rebellion but about discerning God’s will. While we shouldn’t rely on signs alone, we should actively seek God’s direction through prayer, Scripture, and wise counsel. Are you actively seeking God’s guidance in your decisions? Set aside intentional time this week to pray and read Scripture before making any major choices.

Finally, peace comes from God’s presence. Gideon built an altar and named it “The Lord is Peace,” recognizing that true peace isn’t found in circumstances but in trusting that God is with us through every challenge. In what areas of your life do you need to surrender your fears to God? Ask Him to give you His peace, knowing He is in control.

Judges 6 reminds us that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. He calls ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things through faith, obedience, and dependence on Him. Like Gideon, we must overcome fear, tear down idols, and trust in God’s faithfulness to lead us to victory.

Judges 7 continues the story of Gideon as he leads Israel against the Midianites. The chapter begins with Gideon and his army encamped at the spring of Harod, while the Midianites are camped in the valley below (v. 1). However, God tells Gideon that his army is too large, explaining that if Israel wins with such numbers, they may boast in their own strength rather than recognizing that victory comes from God (v. 2). To reduce the army, God instructs Gideon to announce that anyone who is afraid may leave. As a result, 22,000 men depart, leaving only 10,000 remaining (v. 3).

Despite this reduction, God says the army is still too large. He instructs Gideon to bring the men to the water for a test. Those who lap water like a dog are separated from those who kneel to drink. Only 300 men lap the water with their hands, and God tells Gideon that these will be the ones to defeat the Midianites (v. 4-8). This drastic reduction ensures that Israel understands that the victory is solely God’s work, not their own military strength.

That night, God reassures Gideon by sending him to the Midianite camp, where he overhears a Midianite soldier recounting a dream in which a loaf of barley bread rolls into the camp and collapses a tent. The soldier interprets this dream as a sign that Gideon will defeat Midian (v. 9-14). Encouraged by this divine confirmation, Gideon worships God and returns to his camp to prepare for battle (v. 15).

Gideon divides his 300 men into three groups and arms them not with swords, but with trumpets, empty jars, and torches inside the jars (v. 16). He instructs the army to follow his lead and do exactly what he does (v. 17-18). As they reach the edge of the camp, at Gideon’s signal, they break the jars, revealing the torches, and blow their trumpets while shouting, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” (v. 19-20). This tactic causes panic in the Midianite camp. In the confusion, the Midianites turn on each other with their swords and flee in terror (v. 21-22).

As the enemy scatters, Gideon summons reinforcements from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh to pursue them (v. 23). He also calls on the Ephraimites to seize the Jordan River crossings, cutting off the Midianites’ escape. The Ephraimites capture and kill two Midianite princes, Oreb and Zeeb (v. 24-25). The chapter ends with the Midianite forces in full retreat, setting the stage for Gideon’s final victory in the next chapter.

Judges 7 is a powerful reminder that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. By reducing Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300, God made it clear that victory does not come from human ability but from His power alone. This echoes other biblical truths, such as Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God works through those who depend on Him rather than their own abilities. Are you relying on your own strength to face life’s battles, or are you trusting God to work through your weakness? Surrender your struggles to Him and lean on His power.

Gideon had to trust God’s unconventional battle strategy, which involved reducing his army to a seemingly inadequate number and using an unusual method of attack. This demonstrates that God’s ways often do not align with human logic, and faith requires obedience even when the plan seems uncertain. Is there an area in your life where God is calling you to take a step of faith? Even if His plan doesn’t make sense to you right now, choose to follow Him in obedience.

Despite seeing miracles and receiving direct guidance, Gideon still needed reassurance. God, in His kindness, provided him with encouragement through the overheard dream of the Midianite soldier. This shows that God understands our weaknesses and graciously strengthens our faith when we seek Him. When fear and doubt creep in, do you turn to God for reassurance? Take time this week to seek Him through prayer and His Word, asking for the faith to trust His promises.

Finally, the ultimate victory belonged to the Lord, not to Israel’s strength, reminding us that spiritual battles are won through faith, prayer, and reliance on God. Are you trying to fight battles on your own, or are you relying on God? Make a habit of bringing your struggles before Him and trusting that He is fighting for you. Victory comes not by our might, but by His power working through us.

Judges 7 reminds us that God works through our weaknesses, calls us to trust Him in uncertain situations, and grants victory to those who rely on Him. Like Gideon, we must step forward in faith, knowing that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).