“Then the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior’…The Lord said to him, ‘Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.’ “ (Judges 6:11-12, 16. NASB).We can learn much from the life and work of Gideon, the fifth major judge of twelfth century Israel. Note that he was at work when the angel appeared to him and gave him an assignment from the Lord: ‘Deliver my people from the Midianites.’ You have heard the saying, “If you want a job done, get a busy person to do it.” The implication is that one who is already at work does not mind the challenge of a new assignment and new work.
We can rightfully say that Gideon’s work was cut out for him. The Midianite and Amalekite raiders came into the nation of Israel riding on camels, robbing and plundering. They did their damage and fled, and the Israelites had a hard time defending themselves. This had been going on for seven years due to the Israelites falling away from Jehovah God and worshipping false Gods. One of Gideon’s first tasks was to destroy the idol shrine to Baal his own father Joash had made in their back yard (Judges 6:25). The community was enraged and wanted Joash to punish Gideon. However, his father said that an authentic God would not have to be defended: “If he (Baal) is a god, let him contend for himself” (Judges 6:31). After this, Gideon was given the name Jerubaal, meaning “Let Baal plead.”
Then we remember the reluctance of Gideon to accept the call God had given him without a sign. First he wanted a wet fleece when all about it was dry. Next, he wanted a dry fleece when all about it was wet. Those signs came to pass. Gideon sent out word and gathered a great army of 32,000. But God had another plan. He first sent home all those with fear and trembling, and 22,000 left. At the Brook Harod Gideon was to choose only those who lapped up water with eyes looking ahead for any lurking danger. After this test, only 300 remained. They were armed with trumpets, with pitchers and with torches. Gideon divided them into three companies. On signal in an unprecedented maneuver, the 300 trumpets sounded, 300 pitchers smashed and 300 torches flamed. “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon” was their battle cry. The encamped Midianites were thrown into panic, they committed suicide or killed each other and many fled. The two leaders, Oreb and Zeeb, were captured and executed. Gideon became an instant hero. Israel wanted to make him king but he declined. Following this victory, Israel knew forty years of peace.
From Gideon we learn that God calls leaders from unlikely places. Gideon was the son of a farmer, just an ordinary person threshing grain when the angel of the Lord spoke to him. God can win victory through a committed minority. Regular worship is necessary to a leader’s spiritual life. Also, in the mistakes Gideon made, we learn that we do not always have to ask for signs but we can move forward on faith when God calls. Then, after the mighty battle, he punished Succoth and Penuel for not helping him in the battle against the Midianites. Gideon also demanded that the rings taken in battle spoil from the Ishmaelites be given to him. From it he made an ephod and used it to lead the people astray. Neither did Gideon’s many children (he had 70 sons) worship the Lord God. It was almost like Gideon allowed his trust in God to lapse after great danger from the enemy subsided. If we do not stay close to God, we will fail after experiencing great victory. “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” must be constant, not just in the midst of battle.
c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, August 18, 2010
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