Heroes of Faith Part 12 - Gideon

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Like how we ourselves struggle constantly with our faith, Gideon is not much different. While we have some towering heroes in Hebrews 11 that are immensely difficult to relate to for the enormity of their achievements, here is a judge of Israel whose weaknesses match the manner in which he is constantly clouded by doubts. His is an inconsistent brand of faith – aren’t we all the same? – but he offers us an important lesson in how God can work in us only if we learn not to depend on the self but on Him.

Gideon doubted himself in ways not too dissimilar to many of us. He may be very capable but he seemed to lack the confidence, which may be understanding seeing that he had been inflicted by heavy defeats and failures. Yet he was also the one who put God to the test and he did that not once but thrice.

The Bible tells us that Gideon was introduced to a threshing grain in a winepress and a pit in the ground so that the invading hordes of Midianites could not find him. And then God appeared before Gideon as an angel, saying, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12).

As Gideon laid out a meal for the angel, the angel touched the meat and unleavened bread with his staff. Suddenly the rock they were sat on erupted into fire, consuming the offering. Then Gideon put out a fleece, which was a piece of sheep skin with the wool still intact. He asked God to cover it with dew overnight without wetting the surrounding ground and He did exactly that. Seemingly not content with that, Gideon asked God again if he could do the reverse, meaning to dampen the ground with dew but keep the fleece dry. Once more, God acquiesced.

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God had elected to persevere with Gideon despite all these tests because He had appointed him to rout the Midianites who had, earlier, stricken the land of Israel with their countless raids that had sent His people poor and hungry. And so when Gideon rounded up a huge army from the surrounding tribes of Israel, God culled the number right down to only 300 as a way to deliver the message that it is not by might of men but by the power of God that victory would be assured.

That night, Gideon provided each of his men with a trumpet and a torch that was concealed in a pottery jar. Upon given the sign, all the soldiers sounded their trumpets and then broke the jars to reveal the torches. Together they then shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” (Judges 7:20)

This was sufficient to send the enemy into pandemonium, eventually turning on to each other. In the colossal confusion that ensued, Gideon brought on reinforcements and together, they rounded up and destroyed the Midianites. Basking in victory, the people wanted to fete Gideon as their king but he refused. Instead he took the gold from them and made himself an ephod, a sacred vestment, to memorialise the victory. But even so the people showered him with idol worship.

During the remainder of his life, Gideon had taken on many wives who gave him as many as seventy sons. However tragedy struck. Born to a concubine, his son Abimelech rebelled and put all his brothers to the sword. He would later on die in a battle and thus his wicked reign came to a brief halt.

Achievements

As judge over Israel, Gideon’s achievement was already visible but he went further by having an altar to the pagan god Baal destroyed, earning the name Jerub-Baal, meaning contender against Baal. Gideon also brought unity to the Israelites and rallied them to use God’s power to defeat their common enemies. His crowning glory would be an everlasting inclusion in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith.

Personal Strengths

Even though Gideon’s doubts had looked insurmountable at the beginning, he overcame and became convinced of God’s power, obeying all of His commands. He was also a natural at leadership with his people.

Personal Weaknesses

Gideon’s doubts greatly overshadowed his faith at the beginning and needed numerous proofs from God. Even as the Lord laid the ground to rescue Israel, he was still in doubt. To worsen things, he made an ephod from gold stolen from the Midianites and summarily became a worshipping idol to his people. Against God’s wishes, he took in a foreigner to be his concubine and as a result, fathered a child who turned evil and murdered the rest of his sons before succumbing in a battle. 

Lessons in Life

God can do great things with us if only we don’t centre our fears on our weaknesses and instead, follow Him. Gideon’s ‘putting out a fleece,’ or testing God is a sign of weakness and a lesson that proves sin has bad consequences.

Hometown

Ophrah in the Valley of Jezreel

Family Tree

Joash (father); Abimelech (son amongst 69 others)

Occupation

Farmer, judge, military leader

Biblical References

Judges 6-8; Hebrews 11:32

Key Verses

Judges 6:14-16 > “Pardon me, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” 

Judges 7:22 > “When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords.”

Judges 8:23 > “But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”

Next Up 

Heroes of Faith Part 13 - Barak; January 16 2015