BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Today’s reading introduces Gideon, one of the top celebrities in Judges. Memorable details fill Gideon’s story: the drenched fleece, the smashed pots, the 300-man army. On their own, these scenes appear to portray Gideon as a brave leader who trusts Yahweh for victory. But as you’ll see in the video, the larger plotline of Judges casts Gideon in a much less flattering light.

Gideon shows glimmers of faith and courage, especially when he decides to enter battle armed with empty clay pots and a torch. After rising victorious, however, Gideon’s leadership takes a downward turn. He murders his fellow Israelites in a fit of rage for not helping him in battle. Then he pulls an Achan-like move, seizing a pile of plunder from dead Midianite kings. To make matters worse, he uses the contraband to make an idol. All of Israel ends up worshipping it.

Gideon struggles to trust Yahweh. He fights for his own interests, motivated by greed and spite, at least as often as he fights for God’s. As you might expect by now, God still partners with this weak and imperfect man to rescue his people. Israel’s moral integrity may be unraveling, but God refuses to give up on them.

Reflection Questions

• Compare Gideon to the other judges you’ve read about so far—Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, and Barak. What hints do you see in Gideon’s story that Israel has started a downward trajectory?
• Notice how the author never tells you directly whether Gideon’s actions are good, bad, or a mix of both. The biblical authors rarely offer this kind of explicit moral commentary. Instead, they invite you to evaluate a person’s actions by meditating on the story. What details in today’s reading might help you evaluate Gideon’s character?