Do you remember the Sand People from the original Star Wars movie? They lived on Tatooine - I guess their proper name is: Tusken Raiders. Anyway - these nomads were covered all over with rags with little lenses or something to see and breath out of. They carried these big sticks and traveled on Bantha. I remember them because they would come on you by surprise out there in the desert with this ugly cry then shoot you or destroy your house.
It’s all made up, of course, but I remember that gut wrenching feeling when these guys showed up in the movie - a combination feeling of surprise and dread. Then there’s that scene, after the Raiders kill Luke Skywalker’s whole family, of him standing by the smoldering ruins of his home in the sunset - that’s when he makes up his mind to become a Jedi Knight.
It reminds me of the situation Israel finds itself in here in Judges 6. Israel had been delivered from the hand of Sisera by Deborah and Barak. But they go right back to serving the Baals - and abandoning their relationship with Yahweh.
So, not unlike Tusken Raiders, a nomadic group of desert dwellers starts sweeping up into parts of Israel - stealing the crops, killing people, and causing them to live in a constant state of fear and literally running for the hills.
First God reminds them of why they are in this situation, and then calls a most unlikely hero to rescue them - first from their apostasy, then from their oppression. It gives us hope that if God can use Gideon he can use anyone!
The story has four parts - Gideon’s call, Gideon’s battle, Gideon’s chase, and Gideon’s rule. Gideon could be called a godmaker. He is example of the person who feigns humility but is really extremely proud and thinks very highly of himself. He is much like Saul, who becomes Israel’s first king. Saul hid among the baggage when he was to be crowned, but soon enough took on the role of prophet in deciding what God wanted done.
Gideon seems humble and reluctant at first but eventually takes the lead, leads Israel into victory, then although he refuses the kingship, acts just like a king, and though he was not a priest, he picks up a priestly role that ends up leading Israel right into another idolatry.
He is also a picture of the Christian with a false sense of servanthood - demanding that God work according to his needs. In our study of overcoming the flesh, Gideon represents that part of the flesh that involves the will - our will, not God’s will. God has to overcome Gideon over and over: his doubt, his fears, and then his methods.
On the other hand - Gideon can also represent the timid Christian - one who doesn’t feel capable of doing something that seems way beyond them - and is, in fact. So in the Gideon cycle we see three phases: the call to humility, the creation of humility, and the casting off of humility. Gideon teaches us that when God calls we should listen, and obey, allowing Him to strip us of what we rely on in the flesh and trust him completely - then give Him the glory for what He accomplished.
Verses 1 - 6
The Midianites were descended from Abraham and Keturah (Gen 25:2). They lived south of Palestine but would ride into Israel on camels - all the way to Gaza on the coast. Joining them - the Amalekites, Israel’s enemy who had helped Eglon, King of Moab in chapter 3.
The people were so frightened that they found or made caves in the hills to hide - to return only to find their crops and livestock stolen. Israel was "brought very low" which means to be feeble.
They had served Baal partly because of the promise of fertility and strength. But in reality, this non-existent god delivered only lack and fear. That’s, of course, what happens when we rely on the flesh or the world system to supply our need. The owner of the world, Lucifer, has only three purposes - and they are not health, wealth, and prosperity - they are to steal, kill, and destroy. But Lucifer lies fluently so it always appears as if selling out to the natural self will be good for us.
So anyway - God reminds Israel, again, of why they are in this state:
Verses 7 - 10
The prophet isn’t named, but his message is familiar: I rescued you from bondage and told you not to fear the false gods of this place - but you have disobeyed and that’s why you are in this situation.
Notice that this prophet is not also a deliverer. He only gives the message. Sometimes we want the bad news then instant deliverance. Here God wants them to stew a little on the judgment. Sometimes we need to hear about the consequences for the flesh, rather than get immediate rescue from our troubles. I think it helps the discipline stick.
So we finally introduced to Gideon, who will dominate Israel, along with his family, for many many years.
Verse 11
Again we see the Angel of the Lord, who last appeared to Israel to chide them for walking away from God in Chapter 2. Here He offers rescue through Gideon.
Usually you threshed wheat on a hill or at least out in the open - throwing the wheat up in the air so that the lighter chaff would be blown away and the heavier kernels would fall to the ground. He used a winepress in order to stay hidden. A winepress was a depression or hollowed out rocky place. This was the effect of the Midianite invasions. So here is Gideon, not exactly in a heroic stance, hiding in a wine press hoping that the Midianites won’t see him and steal his wheat.
Verse 12
I’m sure Gideon is looking around saying "mighty man of valor? Where?" He is anything but the picture of a mighty man of valor. It may have been that the Angel of the Lord is speaking about what he will become, or what God is going to do through him or what God already sees in him. It could have also referred to Gideon’s position as a member of an upper class - warriors got the best land.
For his part, Gideon does not recognize yet who this person is. The angel did not come in bright clothing, but seems to be dressed as an ordinary man (vs 21 - "staff")
Verses 13 - 18
Gideon’s response is typical: "if God is with us, then why are we in such terrible straights here?" If you are stuck serving the flesh you often times can’t see that you have brought the circumstances on yourself. It was true that God was no longer with them, but it was they that walked away from God, not the other way around.
This is reminding me of Moses’ call at the burning bush. Gideon too finds any excuse not to serve. His arguments are this:
I can’t win because I don’t have the power (God has forsaken us)
I can’t be a hero because of my background and family
I won’t go unless you absolutely prove it is God calling me (the fleece)
This might sound familiar. I think in many ways we use the same excuses. We feel like we don’t have what it takes. We are marred by our upbringing and then won’t go unless the call is proved to us beyond any shadow of a doubt - having an angel come down and do some tricks wouldn’t hurt! This is really unnecessary - we’ll talk more that this at the end.
Verses 19 - 24
Gideon had asked for a sign, but it doesn’t appear that he had any idea what that sign would be. He offers a meal, a big meal given the time, in gradual realization that this was an important person.
When the Lord performs this sign, accepting as an offering the meal - Gideon is truly frightened. The Angel disappears and Gideon thinks, probably, of the Scripture in Exodus 33:20 "for man shall not see Me and live." But then the Lord speaks to him that it’s okay.
So Gideon builds an altar-signifying that he has peace with God. I think that when we realize that God is not going to be an enemy with us through the blood of Jesus Christ that we too feel a great sense of relief and peace.
So God gives him the first task - and that is to show that the way back to God is not through military victory, but reestablishing a relationship by repudiating the false gods that have ruled him and his people.
Verses 25 - 27
So before Gideon can rescue Israel, he must restore the supremacy of God in his life by breaking away from the idolatry of his family. Apparently his father, Joash, was so much in Baal that he had built his own altar and was a leader in the Baal worship community. Baal worship was so strong by this time that Gideon had to go by night to do it. He was risking his life doing this. He took 10 servants with him - apparently one of them will blab the news of what happened.
Bulls were often used in the worship of Baal and his father El. His father’s bull may have actually been set aside for this purpose. Gideon uses it to tear down the altar and build one to the Lord. It is just like the Lord to use the things most treasured by those that reject Him to reject them!
Verses 28 - 32
So the people discover that Baal’s altar has been broken down and that Gideon did it. They want to lynch him, but it’s interesting that it is actually Gideon’s father that comes to his rescue. In essence he repudiates the very god he had worshipped. It’s similar to what Elijah will say to the priests of Baal - if Baal is real, let him come and deal with the situation. You wonder just how much Joash was really into Baal after all.
Verses 33 - 35
The petty fight over who had killed Baal was put aside when the invasion once again occurrs by the Midianites and Amalekites. But something interesting happens. Timid Gideon gets a change of clothing. The Hebrew word "clothed" actually means to "wrap around like a garment." Clothing does two things. The person wearing it can’t necessarily see what it looks like, but he can feel it clinging to him. Gideon didn’t necessarily appear different to himself but he sure feels different - and his appearance to those around him is markedly changed. Suddenly he takes up a trumpet and summons his townspeople and tribesmen come out for battle - they’ve had enough and aren’t going to take it anymore.
So you’d think that would be it - that Gideon would be ready for battle now that he’s clothed with the Spirit. But instead some doubt creeps in:
Verses 36 - 40
We’re going to deal with this more in-depth on Wednesday night - the Folly of the Fleece.
What is surprising to me here is not that the fleece was wet the first night and dry the next (fleece can absorb water out of the atmosphere so perhaps Gideon thought he’d asked for the wrong test) - but what is shocking is that God does it - and says nothing about it.
Does this mean that we should also put "fleeces" before God - little tests to see if God really did say what we thought? You may be surprised at my answer to that - so stay tuned.
So next time, Gideon marches out, and needs yet another bolstering of his faith in God - but this time it is God who is testing Gideon to see if he will really trust God when his strength is taken away.
Lessons
How to fight the fleshly tendency to avoid answering the call of God
I can’t win because I don’t have the power (God has forsaken us)
God showed him he was with him in power
I can’t be a hero because of my background and family (or friends)
God had him break from his family - something we have to do if they are pulling us away from serving God.
I won’t go unless you absolutely prove it is God calling me
God was patient in giving him that assurance. The more mature you are the less assurance you need - the fewer "fleeces" and the more you trust the voice you are hearing because you know how God thinks and you want to think that way too!
Is God’s Spirit on you?
The King James says that God’s Spirit "came upon" Gideon. When you come to Jesus, the Holy Spirit becomes a part of you. God becomes a part of you.
Paul says in :
Galatians 3:26-28 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. NIV
It means to "sink into a garment." Sometimes what it takes faced with a situation where we feel inadequate is to change our clothes. Ask God’s Spirit to clothe you, to come upon you - sink into the garment of the character of Christ - then it isn’t you or your power, but His.
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