Gideon: the man full of fears

When God called Gideon, he did not seem like a hero at all. The Israelites were oppressed by the Midianites, and he hid while he threshed the wheat, trying not to be noticed. Just at that moment, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”.

Gideon’s reaction was anything but courageous. He immediately doubted God and complained about Israel’s situation: “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?”. Then he questioned his own ability to lead the people: “How can I save Israel? My family is the poorest and I am the smallest.”

God, however, was not discouraged by his doubts. He promised him: “I will be with you” and gave him concrete signs to strengthen his faith. Gideon, however, continued to be afraid and asked for confirmation after confirmation: first with the sacrifice on the altar, then with the famous test of the fleece of wool. Only after receiving more signs from God did he find the courage to act.

In the end, God used him to defeat a huge army with only 300 men armed with trumpets and torches. The fearful man became a great deliverer of Israel, not because of his strength, but because he trusted God.

Like Gideon, we too can feel inadequate and full of doubts when God calls us. We may feel that we are not strong enough, smart enough, or capable enough. But God does not see us for who we are today, but for what we can become with Him. If God is with us, we do not have to fear: victory does not depend on our strength, but on His power.