“Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Judges 6:12
As we come to the end of Judges 6 we want to summarize some of the key lessons in this chapter. Most people think the major theme in this chapter is the story of the fleece yet that is not the main
lesson.
Gideon’s enemies In Judges 6 Israel is oppressed by the Midianites. As Gideon is called to deliver Israel from this oppressor we become aware of all the enemies Gideon must battle. First we see the enemy within. Israel has been judged by God because they have forgotten Him and copied the sinful and idolatrous practices of the world around them. Inside Gideon’s own home is the worship of Baal and Asherah. These unholy practices occur on a daily basis in the very place he lives – his own family practices them. Before revival and deliverance can come to the land these evil practices must be cleansed. Second we read of the enemy without. The Midianites and Amalekites have been allowed to continue in the land, Now they enslave and oppress the people. Third there is the enemy inside. We see Gideon’ s struggle to fully trust God based on His word. He struggles with living a life of sight and doubt instead of faith and confidence in God’s character.
The second lesson we see is when the people cry out to God that God does not immediately send them a deliverer but a prophet. The prophet gives them God’s word and tells them the root cause of their problem – they have forgotten who God is and do not obey Him. They have left their first love. Scripture is filled with reminders to remember yet until Israel (and today the church) takes time to remember who we are in front of a holy God and remembers God’s greatness, we cannot expect to see God bless our homes and our land. (The world hates the truth of purity first.)
Third, we see how often we blame God for leaving us instead of recognizing our own sin which drives Him away. Satan’s lie is to get us to blame God for the consequences of our own sin. (Read his accusations against God in the Garden of Eden.) He still does this today.
Fourth, we see God honor humility and weakness over strength and pride. He goes to the most fearful man in the weakest family in the least of the tribes to select his deliverer. God looks at our heart, not our capability.
Fifth, God sees us for what he designs us to be, not what we are right now. He calls weak, fearful Gideon a mighty man of valor. This shows us God’s expectation that we grow and become what He intends us to be – spiritual mature and transformed into His image.
Sixth, we read there are two promises that God wants us to remember when He calls us to serve Him. First, he tells us He will go with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. That means no matter how dangerous the situation we find ourselves facing, we are never alone. No enemy, no matter how fierce, is greater than our God. Second, God reminds Gideon that in the midst of chaos and hostility we can experience peace with God. Safety and peace are based on who God is, that is why we can have confidence in the midst of danger.
Seventh we see God values obedience over heroism. God told Gideon to rid his father’s idols. Gideon obeys but he does so at night and he takes ten men with him – he doesn’t want to go alone. We see Gideon obey even in his fear and need for others to be with him.
Eighth, we see the great compassion and mercy of God to recognize and nurture us through our fear. It would be very understandable if God threw up His hands and asked Gideon “don’t you know who I am?”. Yet when Gideon needs reassurance God, in His great mercy, provides it.
Last, we see that God looks at our hearts. When Gideon fearfully asks God if he is sure He can use Gideon to deliver Israel God knows his heart wants to obey Him. He honors his heart even if his fear makes him tremble at the thought of executing God’s will. “His compassion fails not!”