The Explanation

Israel had done wrong, and now enemies called the Midianites came like a swarm of locusts. They stole the sheep, the cows, the bread, everything. The Israelites were so afraid that they hid in caves in the mountains. Finally they cried out to God for help.

God did not send an army first. He sent an angel to a young man named Gideon. Gideon was hiding too, secretly beating out wheat in a wine press so the Midianites would not steal it.

The angel sat down under an oak tree and said, "Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Gideon must have looked around confused. Mighty man? He felt anything but mighty. "If Yahweh is with us," Gideon said, "why has all this happened to us?"

God did not argue. He simply said, "Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven't I sent you?" Gideon still doubted. "My family is the poorest," he said. "I am the least in my father's house."

God answered with a promise, not a compliment: "Surely I will be with you."

Gideon wanted proof. He brought meat and bread and set them on a rock. The angel touched the food with his staff, and fire burst out of the rock and burned it all up. Then the angel disappeared. Gideon was terrified, sure he would die for seeing God's angel face to face. But God said, "Peace be to you! Don't be afraid. You shall not die." Gideon built an altar and named it "Yahweh is Peace."

That same night God gave Gideon a harder job. Tear down his own father's altar to a false god called Baal, and build an altar to the true God instead. Gideon was so afraid of what people would say that he did it at night, with ten helpers, under the stars.

In the morning the town was furious. "Bring out your son, that he may die!" they shouted. But Gideon's father stood up for him. "If Baal is a real god," he said, "let Baal defend himself."

Soon the enemy armies gathered like a storm cloud in the valley. God's Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet. Men came running to fight beside him.

But Gideon still needed to be sure. He asked God for a sign: dew on a wool fleece, but dry ground all around. It happened exactly that way. Then Gideon asked for the opposite sign too, dry fleece, wet ground, just to be certain he wasn't imagining things. God did that too, without getting angry at him for asking twice.

What Does This Mean?

Gideon was not brave at first. He was hiding, doubting, and scared of his own neighbors. But God did not wait for Gideon to feel strong before calling him mighty. God's words made it true. Would you have believed the angel if you were Gideon, hiding in a wine press?

The Common Thread

God always sends someone to rescue his people when they cry out. Gideon was one rescuer among many. Later God would send the greatest rescuer of all, Jesus, who came not to hide from enemies but to face them, even death itself, so his people could have real peace with God.

For You

When you feel too small or too scared for something hard, you can tell God, just like Gideon did. You do not have to pretend to be brave. Ask God for courage, and take the next small step he shows you.

Talk About It

Why do you think Gideon needed two signs before he believed God?

Have you ever felt too small to do something hard? What happened?

Praying Together

Lord, sometimes we feel small and afraid, just like Gideon. Thank you that you are patient with our questions. Help us trust that you are with us, even when we do not feel brave. Amen.