The Bible Story of Gideon

Background

Ancient Israel went through a tumultuous period when the people strayed from God and followed their own ways. As a consequence, God allowed the Midianites to oppress them, bringing hardship and suffering. During this time, God decided to choose a leader to deliver them from their oppression, and that leader was Gideon.

Introduction to Gideon

Gideon was a simple man from the tribe of Manasseh. He was the son of Joash and belonged to a family considered the weakest in Manasseh. Gideon himself was the least in his family. He was a farmer and threshed wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. But God saw something special in him.

Answering God's Call

One day, while Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon was surprised and asked, “Pardon me, my lord, but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

Gideon's Hesitation

Gideon replied, “Pardon me, my lord, but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Despite his doubts, Gideon started to believe in the mission God had given him.

Testing God's Call

Gideon asked for a sign to confirm that it was truly God speaking to him. He placed a wool fleece on the threshing floor and said, “If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. Still uncertain, Gideon asked for another sign: this time, the fleece should remain dry while the ground was covered with dew. That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew. Satisfied with the signs, Gideon accepted God's call.

Building Confidence

Gideon realized that God truly intended to deliver Israel through him. Following God's instruction, he first took a significant step by tearing down his father's altar to Baal and cutting down the Asherah pole beside it. He then built a proper altar to the Lord and sacrificed a bull on it. This act of defiance against idol worship started to restore faith among the Israelites.

Preparing for Battle

Gideon gathered 32,000 men to fight against the Midianites. However, God told Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, saying, ‘My own strength has saved me.’” So God instructed Gideon to let those who were afraid return home. Twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. God said there were still too many men. He then told Gideon to bring them down to the water and test them. Those who lapped the water with their tongues, like a dog, were set apart from those who knelt down to drink. Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. God said, “With the three hundred men that lapped, I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”

The Plan for Victory

God instructed Gideon to divide the 300 men into three companies. Each man was given a trumpet, an empty jar, and a torch inside the jar. Gideon positioned them around the Midianite camp during the night. Following God's direction, they blew their trumpets and smashed the jars, holding the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands. They shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” The Midianites were terrified by the sound and sight of the lights surrounding them, and they panicked and fled, turning on each other with their swords. God’s plan succeeded, and Israel was delivered from the Midianites.

Victory in Battle

Gideon and his 300 men pursued the fleeing Midianites and defeated them. With God’s blessing and Gideon's leadership, Israel achieved a remarkable victory. This victory reinstated faith in God among the Israelites, and they accepted Gideon as their leader.

Gideon's Later Life

After the battle, Gideon continued to serve as a judge over Israel. During his leadership, Israel experienced peace and prosperity. Gideon lived a long life and led Israel until his death. Under his guidance, Israel remained free from oppression for many years.

Conclusion

The story of Gideon teaches us that God can choose any ordinary person for extraordinary tasks. By placing faith in God and following His guidance, we can overcome any challenge. Gideon’s faith and courage mark an important chapter in Israel’s history of deliverance. His story reminds us that with God, all things are possible, and we can achieve greatness by believing in Him and walking in His ways.

Gideon's life and the victory he led for Israel continue to inspire us today, reminding us that faith, courage, and complete surrender to God can bring about incredible transformation in our lives.