Judges 6:1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORDdelivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,
8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
For 7 yrs. God allowed the midianites and their allies to raid Gods people and ravage Gods promised land leaving Gods people in the depths of poverty. About the time of the 8th midianite invasion God called a farmer who was a coward to become a conqueror. More scripture is dedicated to Gideon than any other judge (100).
Gideon’s struggle w/ his faith is covered in detail. Gideon should be an encouragement to all of those who struggle with God working through them.
Gideon asked does god really care. He said God has forsaken us. Even after Israel experiencing 43 years of suffering under the harsh rule of neighboring nations they had not learned and turned from idol worship.
The midianites were so powerful Israel fled to the hills and hid from their enemy. Their homes were devastated.
Gideons family worshipped baal. God often chooses the weak things of the world to accomplish greatness. Gideon described himself as the least in his house. Gideon did not start out as a great man of courage.
God is always ready to transform those who are yielded to him.
eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Gideons negative response to the Lords words indicates his lack of faith and spiritual perception.
Almighty god told him that he was with him and would make him victorious, and Gideon responded by denying everything god said.
Gideon was living by sight and not by faith.
Gideon questioned god’s wisdom in choosing him to deliver gods people.
He was looking at gods ability as he viewed himself. There are no boundaries save the will of man on gods ability.
Gods acts are done in perfect wisdom and for the highest good for the gratest number of people for the longest time.
When we review gods gracious promises to Gideon, we wonder why this young man wavered in his faith. God promised to be with him . god called him a mighty man of valor and promised that he would save Israel from the midianites and smite them as one man.
Gods word should inspire the highest faith, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of god.
Gideon required assurance beyond the character of God. And god was gracious to grant the sign.
Gideon prepared a sacrifice which was costly thing to do while food was scarce. An epha of flour would have made bread for a family for half of a week.
After he dressed the meat and prepared the unleavened cakes god consumed the offering by bringing fire from the rock.
The sudden appearance of the fire and the disappearance of the visitor convinced Gideon that indeed he had seen god and spoken to him.
There is joy and peace in beleiveing
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Unbelief brings fear and worry.
Gideon built an altar to god and named it Jehovah shalom or god is my peace well-being safety prosperity
Now is seems Gideons belief in god has overtaken his disbelief in his own ability.
Is anything too hard for god? With god nothing shall be impossible.
Gideons family frineds neighbors all were baal worshippers so he was going to have to defy them all to please the lORD.
God told him to destroy the altar dedicated to baal, and then build an altar tot the lord and sacrifice one of his fathers valuable bulls and use the wood of the asherah pole for fuel.
Jewish altars were made of uncut stones baals altars were elaborate and net to them was a wooden pillar dedicated to asherah who worshipped involved upseakable vile practices.
