Judges 6
In this chapter, we see the continuation of the cycle of judges that we have already laid out. The people will once again fall away from the Lord and into the hands of an oppressor, where they will need a savior. The leadership of Deborah and Barak only last a generation before the next chooses to fall away. Gideon will be raised up as the next Judge to save the people, but he will begin a trend of judges being less righteous than the last. As we study this word, read carefully that we may begin to see the difference between the faithful leadership of the previous three judges and this new one.
Vv. 1-10 We see the continuation of this cycle of sin and falling into the hands of oppressing nations. The Midianites, Amalekites, and another nation from the east would all come up with strength and livestock and devour the produce of the Israelites. This left the Israelites with little food for seven years. We see the frustration of God in verses 8-10 where God reminds them of his goodness yet they do not obey him.
Discussion: What from your testimony or from the testimony of others is getting you through this moment?
Vv. 11-18 Gideon is being called though he holds some very serious doubts over his own ability. He is reminded by the world around him that he is from the smallest clan and he is the least of that clan. Though he has heard the stories of God working in the past, his vision of those faithful events are clouded by his negative perception of self. He is so fearful of taking leadership that he asks for a sign.
Discussion: When you are called to do something by God, do you get caught up in the logistics of the call (your ability, finances, etc.), or do you say yes? How can we become a people who boldly say yes?
Vv. 19-27 The angel of the Lord gives Gideon the sign that he needs to be content with the calling on his life. He is given the command to tear down the altar to Baal as well as an Asherah pole with bulls. This is significant especially in the case of the Baal altar as a bull was the symbolic representative of Baal.
Discussion: After the fulfillment of the sign of his call, Gideon built an altar to the Lord and named it “the Lord is peace”. What are the moments in your life that you are able to point to and say the Lord gave you peace?
Vv. 28-35 Joash, father to Gideon, protects his son after the offense his son committed against the worshippers of Baal and Asherah. The worshippers wished to put Gideon to death for cutting down their sacred monuments, but Joash posed the powerful question that if Baal was a real god, should not he punish Gideon himself? The spirit of the Lord emboldened Gideon after this and the tribes of Israel gathered around him.
Discussion: Should Christians think in a similar way, letting Christ contend for himself to a world that despises him and rises against him?
Vv. 36-40 Gideon is in need of another sign. He seems to recognize that this behavior goes directly against the Law which speaks against testing the Lord. But the Lord gives Gideon the sign that he needs with the two fleeces.
Discussion: Do the three signs that Gideon requires of the Lord reveal a weak faith on the part of Gideon? Should we ever throw out our “fleece” for confirmation from the Lord?
Here are some concluding thoughts:
Gideon’s Faith: As the story continues, we will see that Gideon is not to the same level of character as the previous judges we have spoken. Gideon has moments of greatness tied in with seriously flawed displays of leadership. This can be traced back to his focus on self and insecurity in the Lord. He seems to test the Lord less out of desire to be in alignment with God and more so that when he acts he does not look foolish. He knows the stories of old and knows that God is able to work, and yet he has not developed faith without seeing. He must have firsthand exposure in order to do as the Lord commands of him. This lack of faith will develop into something much bigger and eventually lead to his downfall, bringing Israel with him.
The Lord’s Salvation: Even with Gideon, who is not as bold as previous judges, God is going to bring salvation to his people. Strong leader or not, he has purposed their freedom. I think it is a beautiful picture of salvation that regardless of whether or not we always get things right, God has sent his Son that we may come into salvation through him. His saving grace is so much deeper than we have ever earned and for that he is worthy of praise.