Gideon, a Man of Faith and Humility

GOLDEN TEXT: “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.” —Psalm 27:11

JUDGES 6:11-17, 25-27

AS WAS habitually true with the Israelites—as indeed it is with the whole fallen human race—they “did evil in the sight of the Lord.” In the case brought to our attention in this lesson, “the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.” (Judges 6:1) Then they cried unto the Lord, and he raised up Gideon to deliver them.

Detailed information is furnished as to the manner in which Gideon was selected and empowered by the Lord to be his servant. The special task assigned to Gideon was delivering the Israelites from their enemies, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other nomadic tribes of the East.

God communicated with Gideon through an angel who, when he first appeared, “sat under an oak which was in Ophrah.” This was a section of land which belonged to Gideon’s father, and where at the time “Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.” The angel’s first message to Gideon was, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.”

Gideon was not, at first, too much impressed by this assurance. To his reasoning mind there seemed little evidence of the Lord’s favor and help as long as the nation was being oppressed by enemies. He knew of the miraculous manner in which the children of Israel had been delivered from Egypt, and of many other miracles God had wrought on their behalf. But now he said, “The Lord hath forsaken us.”

Then through the angel the Lord assured Gideon that if he would bestir himself, and courageously make the effort he would be able to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites—not in his own strength and wisdom, but in the Lord’s, because, “Have I not sent thee?”

But Gideon hesitated. He asked the angel of the Lord to remain where he was until he returned, and then went and prepared meat and broth and brought it to him. Instead of eating this meal, the angel caused fire to come out of the rock upon which Gideon placed it, and it was consumed. Then the angel vanished. Gideon was greatly impressed, even frightened, for he realized that he had been speaking face to face with an angel. But the Lord said to him, “Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.”—Verse 23

Following the instructions of the Lord, the first thing Gideon did was to destroy the altar of Baal “and to cut down the grove” which was by it. This center of heathen worship was operating right on his father’s farm, and apparently by his father’s consent, if not by his special arrangement. To obey the Lord in the destruction of this altar and grove meant that Gideon had, first of all, to take a stand against his own father. It is also often true of the followers of Jesus in this age that the course of faithfulness requires that they take a stand against those of their own household, when the latter demonstrate that they love darkness rather than the light.

But Gideon was cautious. Taking ten men with him, he destroyed Baal’s altar and the grove by night. This was because, as the account states, “he feared his father’s household.” Naturally, however, it was soon discovered what had happened, and who was responsible for it. Then the “men of the city” demanded of Joash, Gideon’s father, “Bring out thy son, that he may die.”

But Joash was a good reasoner. He realized the implications of what had occurred. He told the men of the city that a god worthy of worship should be able to protect his own altars, so why did they feel it necessary to plead for Baal. Surely, if Baal could not protect his own altar, could it be hoped that he would be able to protect the Israelites from their enemies?

The people were convinced, and were then willing to co-operate with Gideon in his further mission. The cause of Israel’s punishment was their turning away from Jehovah, their true God, to the worship of Baal. It was therefore in proper order that the headquarters of their heathen worship should first of all be destroyed, and that the people return to Jehovah and show once more their desire to worship and serve him.

But Gideon still lacked full assurance that God would be with him in the larger undertaking of defeating the Midianites and their allies. The angel had said to him, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor,” but Gideon did not feel so very “mighty” in his own strength. He realized full well that he would surely fail unless the Lord actually did help him, so he sought further assurance that the Lord had appointed him for the task, and would bless him in the undertaking.

Gideon devised a “sign.” He placed a piece of lamb’s wool on the ground at night, and told the Lord that if the dew fell on the wool, and did not fall on the ground surrounding it, then he would be assured of his divine appointment for the task in hand. It worked out as Gideon had indicated. In the morning the wool was soaked with water, but the surrounding ground was dry.

However, Gideon was still not fully convinced. After all, this could have been the result of natural causes, so he reversed the test. If it worked in reverse, then he would know that it was a miracle, therefore a “sign” upon which he could unfalteringly depend. The Lord was patient with Gideon and granted him this further assurance he desired. Gideon no longer hesitated, but at once went to work to raise the necessary army to defeat Israel’s enemies.

The method of securing this army is well known. In a remarkably short time it numbered thirty-two thousand. While this was a very small army by comparison with the hosts of Midian and their allies, the Lord said it was too large. So twenty-two thousand—those who manifested a measure of fear—were sent home. This left ten thousand, which the Lord explained were still too many.

Finally, Gideon’s army was reduced to the small number of three hundred. These he armed, not with swords or other weapons of destruction, but with a torch, an earthen pitcher, and a ram’s horn trumpet. Gideon deployed these three hundred men in three companies, taking personal supervision of one of the groups. He instructed that the men in the other groups were to watch his company, and do as they did.

First, Gideon and the hundred men with him broke their earthen vessels which were concealing the torches, and then blew on their trumpets, shouting, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” Then, almost immediately, the other two companies did the same. This was done in the darkness of night, and it served to frighten and confuse the hosts of the Midianites. In their confusion, they started fighting one another, and so were defeated.

It is said that the only ones in an ancient army to carry torches were the captains, or leaders. Gideon’s strategy, therefore, would give the impression to the enemy that an army was attacking them which was so large that it required three hundred officers, for they could see the lights flickering, and hear the trumpets blowing from all over the surrounding hills. No wonder they were frightened!

There is a beautiful lesson in this for the Christian. We are to let our light shine by “breaking,” or sacrificing, our “earthen vessels.” And we are to be zealous in doing this. In our association with the brethren we are to be humble, “in honor preferring one another.” Nevertheless, in zeal and loving devotion to the Lord and to his cause of showing forth his praises, we should each one feel a sense of responsibility, and thus be ensamples, worthy to be imitated by all those who likewise are called to break their earthen vessels, to let the light shine out.

JUDGES 8:22, 23

GIDEON by nature was a self-effacing man. He said to the Lord, “My family is poor, … and I am the least in my father’s house.” But the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.” In keeping with the thought expressed in our Golden Text, the Lord was with Gideon by teaching him his ways. It was because he followed the Lord’s ways that the enemies of Israel were defeated.

The Israelites who co-operated with Gideon did not recognize this as clearly as he did. Seeing his marvelous success in battle, they assumed that it was because of his own shrewdness, and reasoned that Israel could not have a better man to rule the nation. So they proposed to exalt him to this high and honored position, and even extended the invitation, saying, “Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou has delivered us from the hand of Midian.”

This was a natural expression of appreciation, but Gideon refused the offer. He was humble enough in the beginning to recognize his own lack of ability, and he was one of those rare individuals who, being greatly blessed and used by the Lord, did not lose his perspective. He knew that it was really the Lord who had defeated the Midianites, so refused to accept a position among the Israelites which would tend to give them the impression that he possessed special abilities.

He answered plainly, but eloquently, “I will not rule over you, … the Lord shall rule over you.” How better could he have said to his supporters that in his opinion he was merely a tool in the Lord’s hand; or, as clay in the hand of a potter; and if they wanted as a ruler the one who had delivered them from the Midianites, they should look to the Lord, for he was the One.

QUESTIONS

What gave rise to the need of deliverance on the part of the Israelites at the time of Gideon?

How did the Lord speak to Gideon, and what sign was given to him of the Lord’s appointment?

What was Gideon instructed to do before he attacked the Midianites, and why?

What was the size of Gideon’s army which he used to attack the Midianites, and what weapons did they use? Explain the strategy of attack, and why the Midianites became frightened and confused.

What lessons may we draw for ourselves from this narrative?

What lesson may we draw for ourselves from Gideon’s refusal to accept the rulership of Israel?

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