Starting Strong, Finishing Stronger! Lessons From Gideon’s LifeSample

The book of Judges paints a cyclical picture of Israel’s history: the people would do evil, fall into oppression, cry out for help, and God, in His mercy, would send a deliverer. In a time when the Midianites oppressed Israel, their cries for help were not born of heartfelt repentance but of desperate need. A deed you and I can relate to when we approach God’s throne of love and grace, only when trouble looms.

Yet, God, rich in grace, answered. He sent a prophet to remind them of His faithfulness, and then He called Gideon, a man threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding from the enemy.

Gideon’s response and confirmation to His call are relatable:

“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”(Judges 6:15). God confirmed His call and reassured Gideon.

The first step of obedience for Gideon was to tear down the altar of Baal in his own backyard, an act he did at night, fearing his family and the town. This teaches us a vital lesson: before we can confront the external battles God calls us to, we must first allow Him to deal with the idolatry and compromise within our own hearts and homes. After further confirmations for Gideon’s sake, using the fleece on the threshing floor, God delivered Israel through Gideon and his 300 men in a stunning victory that left no doubt about whose power was at work.