Gideon: Called, Encouraged And Commissioned

Feature 4 – February 2022 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Gideon: Called, Encouraged And Commissioned

In Judges, the expression “ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the L ORD ” is used at least seven times with various endings. The phrase normally ends with a judgment from the L ORD , referencing a nation He used to discipline His people. It appears as a summary in chapter 2: “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the L ORD , and served Baalim: And they forsook the L ORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the L ORD to anger. And they forsook the L ORD , and served Baal and Ashtaroth” (vv.11-13 KJV ). Being in the land did not stop the children of Israel from apostasy, or rebellion against Him. Looking at their history, we see that there were seven stages of their falling away.

Gideon, the sixth judge, lived during Israel’s fourth apostasy. The ruin was horrific. Israel was in idolatry and rebellion. Even Gideon’s father had an altar to Baal and a grove (6:25-26, 3:7) – a place often used to keep idols and images. Nevertheless, the LORD would use Gideon to release Israel from the subjugation, the control, of the Midianites and give His people 40 years of rest.

The LORD called Gideon: “The angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor” (6:12). Commissioning Gideon, the angel “looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have I not sent thee?” (v.14). But Gideon did not go until the LORD encouraged him. The LORD knew what He would do with His servant and was patient with him. He sees the end, the finished product; and even when the vessel is weak and hesitant, He graciously gets him there.

Many servants of God have been called and commissioned but were afraid. They tended to look at the daunting circumstances and overwhelming odds against them. Moses, for instance, was afraid and made excuses (Ex. 3:10-14, 4:1-13). The apostle Paul had to encourage Timothy not to be afraid of the work God had given him to do or to be ashamed of the testimony (2 Tim. 1:7-8). Often, we lack faith; we look at the circumstances instead of relying on our great God. Each of us is called and commissioned and needs to look at the omnipotent One: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).

After 40 years of rest (Jud. 5:31) under the administrations of Deborah and Barak, the children did evil in the sight of the LORD. He delivered them into the hand of Midian, a formidable people who plundered the land and greatly impoverished Israel. They came up like grasshoppers. In addition, the Amalekites and children from the east joined them (6:1-7). As types, Midian speaks of worldliness and the Amalekites represent the flesh. The Christian must constantly be on guard against those two enemies and the Devil. Gideon was naturally afraid of the overwhelming power of the Midianites.

Doubt And Assurance
With patience and encouragement, the LORD addressed every fear of His servant. When the LORD called Gideon a “mighty man of valor,” he was threshing wheat by the winepress (vv.11-12). This man looked like anything except a mighty man of valor, but the LORD knew what He would do through Gideon. If we are clean, empty and willing vessels, He will use us too.

Wheat is a type of Christ in resurrection. The Lord Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (Jn. 12:24). Gideon was trying to secure food for himself and perhaps for his family during an extremely difficult time. We should do the same thing, feeding on the resurrected Man of glory, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The LORD allowed Gideon to express his initial concern of doubt, “And Gideon said unto Him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites” (Jud. 6:13). Gideon was not chastised, although he should have known why judgment had come. Gideon surely saw the condition of Israel and his father’s house. He may have been faithful, but the apostasy was obvious.

The LORD is gracious. How did He answer Gideon? He told him about the pleasant results that would occur, assuring Gideon that He had sent him and would be with him. “And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have I not sent thee?” (v.14)

The Lord is gracious with us too. When we have doubts and fears, He comforts us. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). The power is in God. He strengthens the individual that He has chosen to use and gives the ability to do all things, difficult things and even impossible things. It is a lesson that Christians are constantly learning.

Gideon’s Inferiority And The LORD’s Presence
Although in the presence of the LORD, Gideon looked inward. He said, “Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Jud. 6:15). The improper inward look, the introspection that is not based on godly repentance and confession of failure, will always lead to fear and anxiety. Gideon was not going to deliver Israel; God was going to use him to save Israel. The principle is the same in both the Old and New Testaments: God is the power that works in the instrument. The vessel needs not look at himself or at any inherent power. If he does, he will only see weakness and inability.

Called and commissioned servants of God have learned to totally depend on Him for His power to accomplish the tasks. How did the Angel of the LORD respond to Gideon? He responded with more encouragement, “And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man” (v.16). It is not the “I” of Gideon that matters, but it is the “I” of the Lord that makes all of the difference.

The writer to the Hebrews, by the Spirit of God, stated this difference wonderfully. The context talks about our manner of life; believers should not be covetous. Instead, we should be content with what we have. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5-6).

Encouraged for the second time, Gideon was still not ready, but the LORD had promised Gideon His presence. That was enough to quell his feeling of inferiority. His blessed presence is enough to calm all of our fears, insecurities, anxieties and worries.

Further Encouragement Through Signs
The direct voice of the LORD should have been enough; His promised presence should have been more than sufficient, but Gideon asked for signs. In Judges 6 he received two:

1. The sign of the offering.
2. The sign of the fleece.

The LORD is so patient; He waited for Gideon to prepare him a meal. The offering was accepted and placed on a rock, then fire consumed the offering. Both the offering and the rock speak of Christ. As a result of the experience Gideon built an altar and called it Jehovah-shalom, meaning “the LORD is Peace.” Gideon had seen Jehovah and was allowed to live (vv.15-24). As a result of the work of Christ we too can state, “He is our peace” (Eph. 2:14).

Gideon now had the strength to tear down his father’s altar, which he did at night. The servant was growing in confidence in the LORD. His name Gideon, meaning “the cutter down,” was changed to Jerubbaal, or “contender with Baal” (Jud. 6:32). The Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and Gideon then blew the trumpet to gather men from the tribes to fight the Midianites. However, he desired another sign – the sign of the fleece.

Gideon set the conditions for the answer to his prayer, and God answered him directly. In the first instance he was able to wring out a bowl full of water from the soaked fleece (v.38), and in the second the fleece was completely dry with water all around it (v.40). Both the wet fleece and the dry fleece typify Israel in different conditions. It was a miraculous sign. What an encouragement for Gideon! Even today, a direct commission from the Lord through His word, prayer and circumstances arranged by God are not enough for some of His fearful servants. We become “fleece” Christians, but He brings us along with His everlasting love and grace.

The Water, The Barley Loaf And The Battle
The wonderful answer to prayer through the experience with the fleece prepared Gideon for battle (7:1-2). The servant was almost ready, but two more interventions by God were needed to bolster him. First, God had to dwindle the army down to 300 to show Gideon and Israel that He would win the battle for them (vv.1-7). It is a marvelous reduction. Gideon had assembled 32,000 soldiers from the various tribes of Israel. Verse 3 indicates 22,000 went home. They were fearful and afraid. The Lord wants those who are strong and courageous, and will depend on His might. At the edge of the Red Sea, Moses told the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD … The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Ex. 14:13-14).

Gideon’s soldiers did not know how the battle would be won at that point, but they were to trust in the God whom they knew. The army was further reduced by 9,700 men, who had bowed on their knees to drink water from the river. The posture of those soldiers typified comfort and ease. The 300 soldiers who lapped up the water from their hands characterized men who were eager to fight for the LORD (Jud. 7:4-7). May we also be eager to act for Him.

The LORD used a man’s dream about a barley loaf as the final preparatory work in Gideon’s heart. Because Gideon was afraid to go alone, He sent him and Phurah, his servant, to the Midianite camp. In their hearing, the man who had the dream explained to his friend how a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of the Midian camp and knocked over a tent. The reply was enough for Gideon, “and his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host” (v.14). Now Gideon was fully ready.

It was a long journey for Gideon, but the LORD was with him every step of the way. This servant of God was called and commissioned, yet the LORD knew he needed encouragement. “And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshiped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian” (v.15). The barley speaks of Christ. May we feed on Him for strength.

Each of us is called and commissioned. Yet sometimes the Lord has to greatly encourage us to do His will. May we say to our own hearts, “Arise.”

By Albert Stuart