The Gideon Mandate

am the youngest (smallest) in my father’s house. Gideon’s objection is reminiscent of the words spoken by Moses (Ex 3:11) and Jeremiah (Jer 1:6).

6:16 I will certainly be with you. This was the same great promise that God had given to Moses and Joshua previously (Ex 3:12; Jos 1:5 – 9). This should have greatly encouraged Gideon, but he still had doubts.

This passage in Judges 6 tells a story of an ordinary person who followed God. “the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites”. God needed a man to deliver his people. No one who knew Gideon would ever have guessed that he was that man. In fact, he himself didn’t believe it. And Gideon did need convincing. The story of Gideon’s fleece relates part of the process God used to assure Gideon of his sincerity.

Gideon accepted his assignment with timidity but ended it in strength. He courageously defeated the Midianites and faced down his rebellious countrymen.

Gideon is, in a way, like every one of us. God commissioned him—much as he commissions us—to live in a way that honors him. Some view Gideon’s need for reassurance as evidence of weakness. But think about it: Don’t we all have doubts and questions about many of life’s great decisions? We pray for God’s help but then doubt the sincerity of his promises to help. We pray for God’s guidance and then waver in our belief that he will guide us. We need to just step out in faith, God will help us through it all.