The Story of Gideon: The Unwilling Hero

Introduction: A Time of Desperation
The Israelites had once again turned away from God, and their disobedience led to dire consequences. For seven long years, the Midianites terrorized the land. These raiders didn’t simply wage war; they plundered. Every harvest season, they swooped down like locusts, stealing grain, livestock, and anything of value. They came with allies, riding swift camels, leaving destruction in their wake. The Israelites were forced to hide in caves and hills, powerless to resist (Judges 6:1-6).

When they had no hope left, the Israelites cried out to God for help. God, in His mercy, heard their pleas and set His sights on an unlikely hero: a young man named Gideon.

1. Gideon’s Call: A Reluctant Warrior

Gideon was threshing wheat in secret, hiding from the Midianites, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him. The angel greeted him with unexpected words: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12).

Startled, Gideon looked around, unsure if the angel had the right person. “Pardon me, Lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all His wonders our ancestors told us about?” (Judges 6:13).

The angel did not waver. “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14).

But Gideon protested, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (Judges 6:15).

The angel reassured him, saying, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive” (Judges 6:16).

Despite the promise, Gideon’s faith wavered. He asked for proof, preparing an offering of meat and bread. When the angel touched it with his staff, fire consumed the offering, and the angel vanished. Awestruck, Gideon realized he had been speaking with God’s messenger.

2. Tearing Down the Altar of Baal

Before leading Israel into battle, Gideon had to address a spiritual issue. God commanded him to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and replace it with an altar to the Lord (Judges 6:25-26).

Fearing the townspeople, Gideon carried out this task at night. He destroyed the altar, cut down the Asherah pole beside it, and built a new altar to God. When morning came, the townspeople were furious and demanded Gideon’s death.

But Gideon’s father, Joash, defended him, saying, “If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar” (Judges 6:31).

This act of courage marked a turning point for Gideon. He was no longer just a fearful young man; he was becoming a leader willing to stand for God.

3. Gideon’s Fleece: Seeking Assurance

Despite his growing faith, Gideon still doubted. Before going to battle, he asked God for a sign. He placed a fleece on the ground and prayed, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised, let the fleece be wet with dew and the ground dry” (Judges 6:37).

The next morning, the fleece was soaked, but the ground was dry. Still unsure, Gideon asked for the reverse: the fleece dry and the ground wet. God granted this second request, patiently reassuring Gideon (Judges 6:39-40).

4. Reducing the Army

With renewed confidence, Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 men to fight the Midianites. But God had a surprising instruction: “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast that their own strength saved them” (Judges 7:2).

God told Gideon to send home any soldiers who were afraid. Twenty-two thousand men left, leaving just 10,000. But God said the army was still too large. He instructed Gideon to bring the men to a spring and observe how they drank water. Only 300 men scooped water with their hands; the rest knelt and drank directly from the stream.

“With the 300 men that lapped, I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands” (Judges 7:7).

5. A Dream of Victory

That night, God gave Gideon one final encouragement. He told Gideon to sneak into the Midianite camp and listen. Gideon and his servant Purah crept close to the camp, where they overheard a soldier recounting a dream: “I dreamed that a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the Midianite camp. It struck a tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”

The soldier’s companion interpreted the dream: “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands” (Judges 7:13-14).

Gideon worshiped God, now fully confident in the victory to come.

6. The Battle: Trumpets and Torches

Gideon divided his 300 men into three groups. Each man carried a trumpet, a torch hidden inside an earthen jar, and nothing else. At Gideon’s signal, they surrounded the Midianite camp.

When the time came, they blew their trumpets, smashed their jars to reveal the torches, and shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” (Judges 7:20).

The sound of the trumpets, the sudden blaze of light, and the war cries caused chaos among the Midianites. In their panic, they turned on each other, and those who survived fled in terror. Gideon and his men pursued them, securing a complete victory (Judges 7:22).

7. Gideon’s Humility and Israel’s Peace

After the battle, the Israelites wanted Gideon to rule over them, but he refused. “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The Lord will rule over you” (Judges 8:23).

Under Gideon’s leadership, Israel enjoyed peace for 40 years. However, after his death, the people once again turned away from God, worshiping idols and falling back into the cycle of sin and oppression (Judges 8:33-34).

Moral of the Story: Trust in God’s Power, Not Your Own

Gideon’s journey teaches us that God often chooses the unlikely to accomplish His purposes. Here are the key lessons from his story:

1. God Uses the Weak: Gideon started as a fearful young man, yet God saw his potential. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2. Faith Requires Obedience: Despite his fears, Gideon followed God’s instructions, whether tearing down the altar of Baal or facing the Midianites with only 300 men. Faith is shown through action.
3. God Deserves the Glory: By reducing the army to 300, God made it clear that the victory was His. Proverbs 21:31 reminds us, “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
4. God Understands Our Doubts: Gideon’s repeated requests for signs show that God is patient and compassionate toward our fears, as long as we ultimately trust Him.
5. True Leadership Points to God: Gideon refused to take credit or rule over Israel, directing the people to worship God alone.

Final Reflection
The story of Gideon is a testament to God’s power working through human weakness. It reminds us that no matter how inadequate we feel, God’s strength can accomplish the impossible. As the angel declared to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). That same assurance is for anyone who steps out in faith, trusting in God’s plan.