Bio – Gideon

c. 12^th century BC

For years the Israelites had been ravaged by the Midianites, in punishment for their disobedience to God. Then God chose an unlikely hero to lead them in battle against their enemy—Gideon, son of Joash, who was a farmer in the weakest clan in Manasseh.

An angel came to him and told him he had been chosen to save Israel. Gideon asked him to send a sign to show that it was truly God who was calling him. When his offering was consumed by flames, Gideon realised he truly had seen the angel of the Lord face to face.

God told him to destroy an altar of Baal, and though he was afraid that his countrymen would kill him, he did what commanded. God asked Gideon to lead the armies of Israel against their enemies, and performed two further miracles to convince him that he would save Israel by Gideon’s hand.

Gideon gathered together a huge army to face the Midianites—some 32,000 men heeded his call. But God knew that with such numbers there was the risk that the Israelites would feel they had accomplished any future victory themselves, rather than by the power of God. First he told Gideon to send home any who were scared. When only 10,000 remained, he then whittled the numbers down further, till Gideon was left with only 300 men, to face the massive forces of the Midianites.

Gideon was still plagued with doubts on the night before the battle. God told him to go down to the enemy camp, where he overheard some fearful soldiers speaking of a dream which they believed foretold Gideon’s victory. Filled with renewed confidence, Gideon gathered his men and stormed the enemy camp using torches and smashing jars to frighten the Midianites, who fled in terror.

For forty years, while Gideon was a Judge in Israel, the people obeyed God’s laws, but almost as soon as he was dead, the Israelites turned from God and began to worship false gods yet again.

When Gideon was called by God, he found it difficult to understand why—he was the youngest in his family, and belonged to the weakest clan in his tribe. He was filled with fear and doubt. Yet God saw something in Gideon, and constantly reassured him that if he placed his trust in God, then God would be with him and would lead him to victory. He just needed to believe in himself and in God—and when he did, he showed great courage and accomplished amazing things, with God on his side.

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