What Can We Learn From Gideon In The Bible
Gideon was a judge and military leader in the Old Testament who God chose to rescue the Israelites from oppression, despite his doubts about his own abilities. His story teaches us important lessons about courage, faith, God’s power and our identity in Christ.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to what we can learn from Gideon’s story in the Bible: We learn that God can use anyone for His plans if we have faith in Him. Gideon at first felt unqualified but trusted God, and saw God defeat a vast army with just 300 men to show His power.
We should not limit God because of our insecurities.
In this comprehensive article, we will explore Gideon’s full story, the lessons it provides about trusting in God’s strength rather than our own abilities, how God equips those He calls, and how Gideon prefigures Christ.
Gideon’s Background and Call from God
Gideon’s Social Status and Situation in Israel
Gideon was from the tribe of Manasseh and lived in Ophrah, a small town in Israel (Judges 6:11). At this time, the Israelites were under oppression from the Midianites after abandoning God to worship idols.
For seven years, the Israelites took refuge in mountain clefts and caves to hide their harvest from the invading Midianites (Judges 6:2). It was a desperate situation that highlighted Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s judgment.
The Angel’s Appearance and Instructions
While Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites, the Angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). Despite the circumstances, God saw Gideon’s potential.
The Angel instructed Gideon to deliver Israel from the hand of Midian and confirmed that God would be with him (Judges 6:14).
Gideon’s Doubts about His Qualifications
When told he would save Israel from Midian, Gideon doubted his qualifications, pointing out that his clan was weak and that he was the least in his family (Judges 6:15). However, God promised to be with him and give him victory over the Midianites (Judges 6:16).
Still unsure, Gideon asked the Angel for a sign, which was graciously provided when the Angel touched Gideon’s offering with his staff, causing fire to spring up and consume the meat and bread (Judges 6:17-21).
Through this, the Lord patiently reassured Gideon and built up his confidence to carry out the call.
Gideon’s Tests of God’s Will
The Fleeced Wool Test
In the book of Judges, Gideon was unsure about God’s command to lead the Israelites against the Midianites. To confirm God’s will, Gideon put a piece of wool on the ground and asked God to make the wool wet with dew while keeping the ground dry.
The next day, the wool was soaked but the ground was completely dry (Judges 6:36-40). This miraculous sign gave Gideon the confidence to follow God’s instructions.
Gideon’s fleece test illustrates how we can seek confirmation of God’s guidance. When facing major decisions, it’s wise to look for corroborating evidence through prayer, counsel from others, and confirmation of circumstances.
While putting out a physical fleece may not be necessary, we can still ask God for reassurance as we seek to follow His will.
God’s Reassuring Sign
Even after passing the fleece test, Gideon was still unsure about God’s command to fight the Midianites. So he asked God for another sign – to make the fleece wet while keeping the ground dry. God graciously did the opposite miracle that night – the fleece was dry but the ground was covered in dew (Judges 6:36-40).
This second sign powerfully demonstrated God’s patience and compassion for Gideon’s doubts. It also revealed God’s sovereignty – He could override the laws of nature to provide confirmation. Though we may not require miraculous signs today, God still gently guides those who are uncertain but seek Him in humility and honesty.
Gideon’s story highlights God’s mercy in the face of our wavering faith. When we sincerely seek God’s will, He meets us in our doubt and graciously provides reassurance along the way. As we step out in obedience, we can trust Him to confirm our steps and equip us for what lies ahead.
Gideon’s Victory with a Small Army
God Instructs Gideon to Downsize His Army
The story of Gideon begins when the Israelites had turned away from God and fallen into idolatry. As punishment, God allowed the Midianites to oppress them. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and informed him that God intended to use him to save Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6:14).
When Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 men, God told him his army was too large and instructed him to release all who were afraid. 22,000 men departed, leaving Gideon with only 10,000. But God told Gideon even this was too many soldiers.
God commanded Gideon to bring the men down to the spring and watch how they drank. Three hundred lapped water from their hands like dogs. These men God chose to defeat the vast Midianite army.
The Defeat of the Midianites with Trumpets and Torches
Though his army was now reduced to just 300 men, Gideon followed God’s battle plan. He divided his men into three companies and gave each a trumpet and empty pitcher with a torch inside. At night, they surrounded the Midianite camp.
On Gideon’s signal, the men blew their trumpets and smashed their jars, revealing the torches. They shouted “For the Lord and for Gideon!” (Judges 7:18). The sudden noise and lights startled the Midianites, who fled in terror.
Gideon sent messengers to rally the Israelites to help prevent the Midianites’ escape. Altogether, 120,000 Midianite soldiers were killed in the battle (Judges 8:10).
This story shows that God can bring great victory even through very small means. When we follow God’s guidance rather than relying on our own understanding, He will direct us to success (Proverbs 3:5-6). Though Gideon’s army was tiny, their obedience and God’s power brought overwhelming victory.
The Israelites Want to Make Gideon King
After this great victory, the Israelites were so grateful to Gideon that they asked him to become their king. But Gideon refused, telling them that the Lord should rule over them (Judges 8:23). Gideon did not seek honor for himself, but wanted God to receive the glory.
The story of Gideon displays humility and faithful dependence on God’s guidance. Though he began fearful, Gideon grew in confidence and courage as He followed the Lord’s instructions. God reduced Gideon’s army to emphasize that the victory belonged to Him alone.
Through Gideon’s obedience, God miraculously saved Israel from oppression.
Spiritual Lessons from Gideon’s Story
God Can Use Anyone for His Plans
Gideon was an unlikely candidate to lead Israel to victory over the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he was hiding and threshing wheat in a winepress to avoid the oppressors (Judges 6:11).
Yet God chose him, demonstrating that He can use anyone – despite perceived weaknesses or limitations – to accomplish His divine plans. As the Lord told Gideon, “Go in the strength you have…Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14).
This affirms that God equips those He calls and works through our availability and obedience, not our credentials or qualifications.
Victory Comes from the Lord, Not Our Own Strength
When God commissioned Gideon to rescue Israel from Midianite oppression, He instructed him to reduce his army size from 32,000 to 300 men (Judges 7:2-7). This shockingly small troop size forced Israel to rely fully on the Lord rather than military might to defeat the vast Midianite army.
Amazingly, God secured the victory for Gideon and his 300 soldiers, displaying that success comes from His power, not man’s. As Zechariah 4:6 declares, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
God Equips Those He Calls
God equipped Gideon by enhancing his faith when dew fell on a fleece (Judges 6:36-40). He also instructed Gideon to attack the Midianites with trumpets and clay jars concealing torches, an unusual battle plan requiring faith in God’s strategy (Judges 7:15-18).
As Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing His will.” Like Gideon, we must trust that God sufficiently empowers those He selects to carry out His purposes.
Have Courage Despite Insecurities and Doubts
Gideon repeatedly questioned God’s plans due to personal doubts and insecurities about leading Israel against the intimidating Midianites (Judges 6:13-18, 36-40). Yet he pressed forward in his assignment through faith in God’s reassurances, providential guidance like the dew on a fleece, and miraculous victory guarantee.
Gideon exemplifies courageously relying on the Lord despite our limitations. God invites us to “be strong and courageous” because He promises to uphold and empower us (Joshua 1:9).
Test God’s Promises Rather Than Assuming
Gideon received an audacious promise that God would give Israel victory under his leadership. Rather than blindly accepting this pledge, Gideon asked for confirming signs with the fleece to test God’s word (Judges 6:36-40).
And the Lord graciously provided the confirming miracles, demonstrating He allows us to inquire of Him to validate His promises in Scripture. As the Bereans were considered noble for examining the Scriptures to confirm Paul’s gospel message (Acts 17:11), God permits us to sincerely seek evidence of His truth claims.
Gideon as a Foreshadow of Jesus
Gideon as an Imperfect Savior
Like Jesus, Gideon was called by God to save and deliver the Israelites from oppression. However, unlike Jesus who is perfect, Gideon was an imperfect savior who at first doubted his calling, questioning if God was truly with him.
Gideon had to see signs with the fleece before he believed (Judges 6:36-40). And yet, God still used this imperfect, doubting man to bring about victory.
Gideon’s Sacrifice Prefigures Christ’s Sacrifice
Gideon’s sacrifice of a young bull on the altar was a foreshadowing of Christ’s own coming sacrifice (Judges 6:19-22). And just as Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself to save humanity, so too Gideon risked his safety to rescue the Israelites from the hands of their enemies.
In another way, Gideon’s drastic reduction of his army to just 300 men also prefigures how Jesus accomplished so much through just a small, committed number of disciples (Judges 7:2-7). This shows that God can bring great victory through seemingly impossible odds, not by human strength, but by his Spirit.
Gideon’s Victory Over Oppressors Prefigures Christ’s Victory
Gideon’s unexpected victory against overwhelming Midianite and Amalekite forces clearly foreshadows how Jesus would gain the ultimate victory and rescue humanity from the oppression of sin, though Jesus used humility and sacrifice rather than military might (Judges 7:19-25).
Also, while Gideon defeated fleshly enemies, Christ defeated death itself.
Interestingly, Gideon refused to become king and pointed the people back to God as their ruler (Judges 8:22-23). In this, he resembles Jesus who also resisted earthly authority and power in order to point people towards spiritual truth and salvation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while an imperfect hero, Gideon’s story provides vital lessons about trusting God’s strength rather than relying on our own limited abilities. When God called Gideon to rescue Israel, Gideon felt unqualified – yet through his obedience, God achieved victory over a vast army with just 300 men.
This teaches us that God can use any willing person in His redemptive plans. We also learn to test God’s promises rather than simply doubting or assuming. Just as God equipped Gideon, He will equip us by His Spirit when we step out in faith.
Gideon foreshadows Christ as a savior and victor – while imperfect, He points ahead to the ultimate Savior. By understanding Gideon’s story, we can grow in courage, move past our doubts and insecurities, and allow God to use us mightily as He did Gideon.
