In Judges 6, we find ourselves stepping into another moment when the Israelites were caught in a cycle we might recognize all too well: falling into disobedience, suffering the consequences, crying out to God, and then watching as He, in His mercy, raises up a deliverer. This chapter introduces us to Gideon, a man who, at first glance, doesn’t seem likely to lead anyone—let alone rescue an entire nation. But as always, God sees differently than we do. And as we walk through this story, we’re reminded that God calls us in our weakness, not our strength, and that His power is made perfect in the very places we feel inadequate.
The chapter opens by describing how the Israelites had again done what was evil in Yahweh’s sight. As a result, God gave them into the hands of the Midianites for seven years. These enemies weren’t just a nuisance—they were devastating. Every time the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and others would swarm in, destroying the produce, stealing livestock, and leaving the people impoverished. It got so bad that the Israelites made dens and caves in the mountains just to hide. They were oppressed and humiliated, and finally, they cried out to God.
But before He sends deliverance, God sends a prophet with a message. The prophet reminds them that it was Yahweh who brought them out of Egypt, out of slavery, and who warned them not to fear the gods of the Amorites. Yet they did not obey. This part of the chapter is important—it’s a moment of clarity. God doesn't ignore our pain, but He also wants us to understand the spiritual roots of our struggles. When we cry out, He doesn’t just step in and fix things without confronting the condition of our hearts. He is always interested in transforming us, not just rescuing us.
Then, the focus shifts to Gideon. We find him threshing wheat in a wine press, hiding from the Midianites. He’s just trying to get by, to survive. And it’s here that the angel of Yahweh appears to him with these startling words: “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Gideon’s response is honest and raw: “If Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” He questions where all the wonders their ancestors spoke of have gone. It’s a question many of us have asked—if God is truly with us, why are things falling apart? But God’s answer is not to give explanations. He simply says, “Go in this your might… have I not sent you?”
What follows is a back-and-forth between God and Gideon that reveals so much about our own hesitations. Gideon protests, saying his clan is the weakest in Manasseh and he himself is the least in his father’s house. But God promises, “Surely I will be with you.” That promise changes everything. It’s not about Gideon’s qualifications; it’s about God’s presence. Still, Gideon asks for a sign, and God is patient. Gideon prepares a meal, places it on a rock, and watches as the angel touches it with a staff and fire consumes it. Gideon realizes he’s been face-to-face with God’s messenger and fears for his life, but God reassures him: “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”
From that place of encounter, Gideon builds an altar to Yahweh and names it “Yahweh is Peace.” The next step God gives him is personal and challenging—he must tear down his father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then, he’s to build an altar to God and offer a bull as a burnt offering. Gideon obeys, but he does it at night because he’s afraid. Still, he obeys. Sometimes, the first steps of faith are quiet and trembling, but they matter.
In the morning, the townspeople discover the destroyed altar and are enraged. They demand that Gideon be killed. But his father Joash surprisingly stands up for him and mocks Baal, saying if Baal is a god, let him defend himself. This is the beginning of a shift—not only in Gideon but in those around him. People are starting to see the contrast between lifeless idols and the living God.
Later, the Midianites and their allies gather once again to make war. This time, however, the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon Gideon, and he blows a trumpet, calling the tribes together. But even as the army gathers, Gideon still seeks assurance. He famously lays out a fleece before God—first asking that it be wet while the ground remains dry, and then the opposite. And God answers both times. While we’re not encouraged to make a habit of testing God, we can understand Gideon’s need. He’s moving into territory far beyond his comfort zone, and he needs to know that it truly is God who’s leading.
This chapter speaks to us on so many levels. We see the consequences of idolatry and disobedience. We see how God meets us in fear, not to shame us, but to call us forward. We see that God doesn’t choose us because we’re strong; He chooses us because He wants to work through us. And we see that when we’re willing to take even small steps of obedience—like tearing down the altars in our own backyards—He begins to move in powerful ways.
Gideon’s story reminds us that God sees us differently than we see ourselves. Where we see weakness, He sees potential. Where we feel afraid, He offers His peace. And when we’re willing to say yes, even with trembling hands, He meets us there and starts writing a story we never could have imagined on our own.