Gideon’s Call

 After defeating Jabin, the Israelites were free, but as time passed they began to adopt the standards of the peoples who remained among them, disobeying God.  after forty years, it reached a point where God would no longer overlook their sin, and he allowed Israel be invaded over by the Midianites, as Judges 6:1-6 describes.  “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.  And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.  And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.  For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.”

 

The Midianite invasion was intended to destroy Israel.  They burned homes, killed or enslaved people, and brought huge herds of livestock to wipe out the crops.  The Israelites were forced to flee their homes, digging dens into the hillsides and living in caves, foraging for whatever they could find to eat.  After seven years, the Israelites had nothing left, and began to seek God again.  When they prayed, God sent a prophet to remind them why things had gotten so bad, in Judges 6:6-10.  “And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.  And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.”

 

God also chose an individual to Lead Israel in breaking the Midianite power, as we see in Judges 6:11-14.  “And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

 

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.

 

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 not I sent thee?”

 

Gideon’s first question was how God could be with them when they were going through such hard times.  Here he was trying to hide the little bit of grain he had managed to find so that the Midianites would not steal it, and God said he was with him.  While God had miraculously brought them into the land, it seemed like he had completely forgotten about them.  God told him to go in the same faith that had enabled them to take the land and he would save the nation. 

 

Gideon was concerned about his ability to lead the people, because he ws from a very poor family in one of the least influential tribes, and even his own family didn’t consider him very important.  God told him that it wouldn’t matter with god on his side, in Judges 6:15-16.  “And he said unto him, 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.  And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”

 

Gideon’s doubts are quite common for people who are struggling in their Christian lives.  How far can they trust a God who lets them have such problems, and why should he bless him?  Wouldn’t it be better to pick someone who was better known and more respected?  Before he stepped out by faith, Gideon asked God to give him a sign that the calling was really from God, in Judges 6:17-24.  “And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me.  Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee.

 

And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

 

And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.  And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.  Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.  And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.

 

 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.  Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”

 

It is important to notice the difference in Barak’s request for assurance and that of Gideon.  Barak had based his obedience on whether Deborah believed it was God’s will, refusing to go unless she went with him.  Gideon wanted to know for sure whether it was God’s will, and so he asked God for some special sign.  Unfortunately, too often we base our decisions on what others think rather than on what God shows us.  Assured it was God who was leading, Gideon took the time to worship God.