Whether or not we have reason, we can “feel” fearful about many things in life. Sometimes we fear the known, as well as the unknown. We can spiritually fear death, failure, loss of control, judgment, unworthiness, and the future. Such is the case with our spiritual brother of the faith, Gideon.
In our Old Testament passage today from the Book of Judges, we meet Gideon. God is calling Gideon to lead Israel from oppression into deliverance. Yet, this man of God is fearful. In fact, he is hiding provision—secretly threshing wheat in a winepress—because he fears the Midianites will rob them and leave them in poverty. Where’s Gideon’s trust in God’s promise?
God knows how to get our attention and knows when we are spiritually struggling to live in this fallen world. At the appointed time, the angel of the Lord shows up and reminds Gideon who he is in God’s eyes; who he was created to be. Gideon does not know who he is, because fear has taken dominion of him. As well, Gideon doubts the sovereignty of God, because fear has blinded him. The angel of the Lord addresses Gideon, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” Gideon needs to be reminded about his true identity.
Have you ever been hesitate to do what God says? Or, maybe you needed repeated reassurance that you were heading in the righteous direction with the Lord, but God was silent? If so, Gideon understands…we all understand, because fear will come to stop us from the progress we are making.
Satan is always behind the fear. He wants us to feel isolated and alone; abandoned by God. But, Satan is a liar, and our lesson today reminds us of the Truth.
As you read, please consider the mercy and goodness of God to see each of us in our weakness, but call us into the Truth of our identity empowered by the Lord! Do not be afraid…God is with you!
Judges 6:11-24 NLT
11 Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
17 Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. 18 Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.”
He answered, “I will stay here until you return.”
19 Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a basket of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the great tree.
20 The angel of God said to him, “Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock, and pour the broth over it.” And Gideon did as he was told. 21 Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and bread with the tip of the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.
22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”
23 “It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” 24 And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for this wonderful lesson about Gideon. You demonstrated your love and faithfulness to reassure Gideon when he needed a sign confirming your will. Sometimes, Lord, we need a sign, too. Gideon was no coward, but he needed your strength to overcome fear and move forward in his call. You gave him your supernatural peace. Thank you that Jesus has done the same for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.