P E N I N S U L A B I B L E C H U R C H C U P E R T I N O

GIDEON: CALLED OUT OF WEAKNESS

Catalog No. 741
Judges 6:1-24
Seventh Message
John Hanneman
August 16, 1992
When we think of heroes, we think of strong, capable peo- him in leading the nation to victory against Sisera and Jabin.
ple. Tennyson’s King Arthur, for example, is a prototype Today we come to chapter 6, and once more we see the cy-
hero. Recall the memorable words as he grasps hold of his cle repeating itself. Judges 6:1-6:
sword, Excalibur:
Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of
“There likewise I beheld Excalibur the LORD and the LORD gave them into the hands of Mid-
Before him at his crowning borne, the sword ian seven years. And the power of Midian prevailed
That rose from out the bosom of the lake, against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made
And Arthur row’d across and took it — rich for themselves the dens which were in the mountains
With jewels, elfin Urim, on the hilt, and the caves and the strongholds. For it was when Israel
Bewildering heart and eye — the blade so bright had sown, that the Midianites would come up with the
That men are blinded by it…” Amalekites and the sons of the east and go against them.
Others, as the song goes, always think of their heroes as So they would camp against them and destroy the pro-
cowboys. We tend to identify as heroes those who are strong duce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance
and rugged — people who are sufficient for just about any in Israel as well as no sheep, ox or donkey. For they
task. It seems odd to us, therefore, that God, by contrast, does would come up with their livestock and their tents, they
not have the same criteria as ours when it comes to identify- would come in like locusts for number, both they and
ing heroes. His ways run quite contrary to how the world their camels were innumerable; and they came into the
thinks. Today, in our study of the life of Gideon, from the Old land to devastate it. So Israel was brought very low be-
Testament book of Judges, we will see just how true this is. cause of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD.
Gideon is the heart and soul, the pivotal figure of Judges. (6:1-6, NASB)
This man pictures for us a God of salvation and redemption. Again we observe the formula for failure: “the sons of Is-
Surprisingly, when we first meet him he is a picture of hu- rael did what was evil in the sight of the Lord”; and the re-
manity in weakness and fear. But this account of Gideon, sults of their apostasy: “the Lord gave them into the hands of
which we will be looking at over the next four weeks, is a sto- Midian” (6:1). Midian was the son of Abraham by his wife Ke-
ry of growing faith and trust in a living God. turah (Gen. 25:1-6). The Midianites, a desert people who lived
A brief review of the historical context of this book will be east of the Jordan., were the first warriors to use camels. This
helpful. Following Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wild- gave them mobile, long-range, swift-attack capability, ena-
erness, Joshua at last took the nation into the land of Canaan. bling them to gain military superiority over their enemies. So
There he defeated 31 kings in battle, and Israel took posses- the Midianites ruled over Israel for seven years. And the
sion of the land. Following the death of Joshua, however, method they used was to “destroy the produce of the earth.”
Judges says that there was no king in Israel, and everyone did Every year they swept into Israel, robbed all of their produce,
what was right in his own eyes. The nation fell into a pattern, and returned to their homes. The effect was devastating, as
a cycle of behavior that is repeated six times in the book. The we see in verse 6: “Israel was brought very low.” This word
sons of Israel would do evil in the sight of the Lord, forsaking means “to hang down.” They were left dejected, with heads
him and serving the Baals. Then the anger of the Lord would hanging low. Israel was in a hopeless situation. They were de-
burn against Israel. He would sell them into the hands of their feated, discouraged and helpless. They began hiding out in
enemies, and Israel would become enslaved. Following years caves and dens in the mountains.
of oppression, the nation would cry out to the Lord. God This pictures for us what happens when we regard as right
would be moved to compassion, and he would raise up a in our own eyes that which is evil in the eyes of the Lord. All
judge to deliver them from the hands of their enemies. Israel the resources, all the fruit, is stripped from our lives. We hide
would then enter into a period of rest and peace all the days out in caves, living in darkness and isolation. We are defeated
of the judge. But, when the judge died, the nation would re- and beaten down. Our lives become a waste land. Even if we
vert to their former ways and act more corruptly than their fa- are not blatantly sinning, this is what happens when we do
thers. Their evil would intensify, their idolatry become more not trust in God. The land of Canaan, a land flowing with
blatant, and the cycle would repeat itself. milk and honey, is a picture of our life in Christ, the Spirit-
In our previous studies we have encountered several of the filled life. But when we do not walk with the Lord in this
judges whom God raised up to deliver the nation. In chapter land, our enemies, sin and the flesh, come in and enslave us.
3 we met Othniel, a faithful warrior who captured the area of They overpower us, robbing us of all our vitality. What
Kirath-sepher, and married Caleb’s daughter, Achsah. Then should be a life of joy, love and peace becomes instead a life
we encountered Ehud, a left-handed man, who delivered Is- of despair, hopelessness, hatred and conflict.
rael, and in the process thrust his dagger in Eglon’s obese bel- So what did Israel do? Verse 6 tells us: “The sons of Israel
ly. We have met Shamgar, an obscure peasant, who struck cried to the Lord” — and the Lord raised up a judge.
down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. Then in chapter 4 we
Now it came about when the sons of Israel cried to the
read the marvelous narrative of Deborah, the prophetess and
LORD on account of Midian, that the LORD sent a prophet
judge. It was she who called Barak into service and supported
to the sons of Israel, and he said to them, “Thus says the
 LORD, the God of Israel, ‘It was I who brought you up on is hiding, trying to save a little food. Even though his
from Egypt, and brought you out from the house of slav- name means “smiter,” from the verb “to hew down, to cut in
ery. And I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians two,” he is hiding, fearing for his life. Normally the work of
and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispos- threshing was carried out with a threshing-sledge drawn by
sessed them before you and gave you their land, and I oxen, and it was done in an exposed place so that the wind
said to you, “I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear could carry away the chaff. But Gideon is trying to stay out of
the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you sight of the marauding bands.
have not obeyed Me.” ’ ” Let’s listen in on the conversation between the Lord and
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak Gideon.
that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiez- God: “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.”
rite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine
(“Who? Me?” Gideon must have wondered.)
press in order to save it from the Midianites. And the an-
gel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The Gideon: “Why has the Lord abandoned us?”
LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to (This is what Gideon is thinking — that God had aban-
him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all doned Israel.)
this happened to us? And where are all His miracles
But God does not even answer his question. Instead he
which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the LORD
says: “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel.”
bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has aban-
doned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the God doesn’t argue with Gideon about his theology of ex-
LORD looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength pectations. He simply gives him an assignment. He is not call-
and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not ing Gideon to go in his own strength, but in the strength of
sent you?” And he said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I de- the Lord — and he is promising to be with him. God’s answer
liver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manassah, to discouragement is never positive thinking, but rather the
and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” But the promise of his presence.
LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you But Gideon responds, in effect, “How can I do that?
shall defeat Midian as one man.”
God: “I will be with you”
So Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Gideon: “Show me a sign.”
Thy sight, then show me a sign that it is Thou who speak-
est with me. Please do not depart from here, until I come God: “All right, if that is what you want.”
back to Thee, and bring out my offering and lay it before So Gideon goes into his house and prepares a very costly
Thee.” And He said, “I will remain until you return.” offering, especially so considering his circumstances. The an-
Then Gideon went in and prepared a kid and unleavened gel ignites the offering, right on the rock, calling to mind the
bread from an ephah of flour; he put the meat in a basket story of Elijah in 1 Kings 18. It is then that Gideon recognizes
and the broth in a pot, and brought them out to him un- he has been talking with the Lord himself. He has seen God
der the oak, and presented them. And the angel of God face to face, and he is fearful of dying. But the Lord assures
said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread him, saying, “Peace to you.” Then Gideon builds an altar to
and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And “Yahweh Shalom.”
he did so. Then the angel of the LORD put out the end of So here we have the opening encounter in this story of
the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and Gideon from the book of Judges.
the unleavened bread; and fire sprang up from the rock
and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then I will make five observations from the narrative. First, it is
the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight. When obvious that in Gideon, God chose a weak, fearful man. Gideon is
Gideon saw that He was the angel of the LORD, he said, characterized by fear and inadequacy; he has little or no self-
“Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the confidence. God comes to him as he is beating out wheat in a
LORD face to face.” And the LORD said to him, “Peace to wine press. He is hiding because he is afraid. Gideon has
you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an three problems. First, he has a problem with discouragement.
altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. To Together with all of Israel he is disillusioned with God. He is
this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (6:7-24) blaming God for his circumstances.
This text identifies a two-pronged revelation to Israel. The Second, Gideon has a problem with inadequacy. When
prophet of the Lord speaks corporately, and the angel of the God gives him his assignment to deliver Israel, he responds
Lord speaks individually. The prophet of the Lord calls the in amazement, “How can I deliver Israel? My family is the
nation to repentance; the angel of the Lord calls Gideon to be least of all Manassah, and I am the youngest, the baby of the
an instrument of salvation. This two-pronged approach calls family.” Third, he has a problem with faith. This is why he
to mind John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. Repen- asks God for a sign. At last, however, he goes into his house
tance, a turning or returning to God, must come before salva- and prepares an offering. We do have to give him credit be-
tion. And so the prophet comes and tells Israel that they have cause his offering is very expensive, considering the de-
not listened to the voice of God. He talks about God’s faithful- pressed times in Israel, but it is fair to say that Gideon is a
ness in the past, and the faithlessness of Israel in response to physical and spiritual wimp. He is like the man who went to
the covenant God. a psychiatrist because he felt he had an inferiority complex.
After a while, the doctor told him that he had some good
And then the Lord comes and talks to Gideon. We under- news and some bad news for him. “The good news is that
stand this angel to be the Lord himself, the pre-incarnate you don’t have a complex,” said the doctor, “the bad news is
Christ. Obviously, this is what Gideon concluded, as we see that you are inferior!” Gideon is inferior all right, yet God
at the end of our text. The Lord has come to call Gideon into chose him.
service, to make him an instrument of salvation, to mold him
into an example of faith. I can relate to Gideon. I recall many difficulties and strug-
gles in my life, but at the root of several of those things lay a
He finds Gideon beating out wheat in a wine press. Gide- deep sense of inadequacy. Like Gideon, I was the youngest in
my home. My family was not wealthy or socially prominent, meet him where he is. He comes to earth, down to our level,
so I could take no confidence in that. Between 7th and 8th and he accepts us in our fallenness. No, we don’t meet God in
grade we moved, and I remember going to my first class in our strength, through our accomplishments, on our terms. We
my new school. It was a drafting class. I had never had a meet him in humility and prayer, in our place of deepest
drafting class before, but obviously everyone else had. When need. Jesus taught the disciples to pray: “give us each day our
the teacher gave the first assignment, everyone knew what to daily bread.” He went on to say: “ask, and it shall be given to
do — everyone except me, that is. I was overwhelmed to the you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to
point of tears with my feelings of inadequacy. you.” We meet God in our need, in our want, in our fear, in
For many years I felt that everyone but I knew what they our inadequacy. And if we do not sense our need, we will
were doing. That wasn’t true, of course, but that was how I never see him.
felt. Now I can see that everything I did or tried to do was The very reason we feel inadequate, of course, the reason
motivated wholly or partly to build self-confidence. I was try- we come up short, is so that we can meet God. All too often
ing to build walls to protect my feelings of inadequacy, to we seek to build self-confidence by taking classes, by trying to
build callouses so as to become a hard person because, of achieve a goal, etc. Now these are not bad things, but there is
course, feelings of inadequacy make one very sensitive, and something much better: it is meeting God and building God-
that is just not approved of in our society. I became an ‘A’ stu- confidence. The reason we are such an emotionally impover-
dent and had a tuition scholarship all through school. I be- ished society is not because we lack talent, degrees, capabil-
came a very good golfer, and I put great stock in that. I ities and awards; it is because we don’t meet God in our
worked at being popular in college, to the point that I became weakness, in our need. We would do well to remember Jesus’
my fraternity social chairman. But none of these things could words in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in
take away my feelings of inadequacy. They were merely cal- spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
louses to hide an underlying softness. Here is my third observation: God had a vision to make Gide-
I can relate to Gideon. I can feel his deep ache of inadequa- on different. When God came to him, he addressed him as a
cy, the pain of unworthiness. It is an ache that really isn’t valiant warrior. The word “warrior” comes from the verb “to
based on reality — it is based on feelings, not facts — but it is be mighty, have strength, be great.” It is clear that Gideon
real nevertheless. was far from being a mighty warrior at this point in his life,
This is probably the most difficult problem facing young but it was not who Gideon was at the time, it was who he was
people today. We have many social problems — AIDS, rape, going to become that was important to God.
abuse, sexual promiscuity, economic upheaval — but I would Others look at us and they see our flaws and failings. We
say that these deep-seated feelings of inadequacy, which are look at ourselves and we see our fears and insecurities. But
at epidemic proportions, often lie at the root of other social God looks at us and sees our possibilities. Deep down all of
problems. Manifestations of anger, depression, jealousy and us want to be something different from what we are. We ear-
strife often arise out of these feelings. nestly seek to achieve, to accomplish, to create. Unfortunately,
In his book, Men and Women, Enjoying the Differences, Larry however, we bypass God in our attempts to change. We seek
Crabb points out that this is man’s, as opposed to woman’s, to do this in our own effort, by our own strength, motivated
biggest need. Here is what he wrote: for our own glory, in order to rid ourselves of our feelings of
inadequacy. But we often crash and burn, don’t we? We lose
Every man, somewhere deep within his soul, struggles to heart and we hide in a winepress. But then God finds us and,
feel adequate. It is true that some men, including forceful beginning in weakness, he starts to mold us and shape us into
Christian leaders whose strength is more intimidating and the image and character of his Son. We begin a journey — a
distancing than attractive, would report no such struggle. journey of faith.
Typically, they have covered over their worry with such a
This is what God did with the heroes of faith in the Bible,
thick blanket of success (business, ministry, financial, ath-
isn’t it? Abraham is an excellent example. God made a prom-
letic, and social) that the only evidence of internal inade-
ise to him, and chapter after chapter of Genesis tell the story
quacy is a strength that seems more displayed than deep.
of this man’s journey as he pursued God’s promise by faith.
Exhibited strength always has in mind one’s own welfare
Jacob, a deceiver, a manipulator, tried to do everything on his
and, as a result, is experienced by others as less than car-
own — at least he thought so. Then one night, after wrestling
ing. Most men, however, in moments of painful honesty,
with God, he finally came to that place of faith where God
would admit to some uncertainty about their own effec-
wanted him. Judah, the scoundrel, the rascal, at last was will-
tiveness in achieving something of real value.
ing, for the sake of his father, to be a substitute for his brother
Here is my second observation: God meets Gideon in his Benjamin. Moses, the man who was commissioned by God to
weakness. Thankfully, the Bible never leaves us in despair. We lead the nation of Israel out of captivity, demurred, saying he
despair because we encounter difficult circumstances and we couldn’t speak. But by faith he set out to do what God asked
think that God is not working. But the reason we are not left him to do.
in despair is because there is a God and he is working. There
Then we have the examples of the New Testament heroes
is a clue in the text that Gideon is thinking about God while
of faith. Peter started out pretty confident in his own abilities,
he is in that winepress. The first thing that came out of his
but he crashed and almost burned on the night when he be-
mouth reveals what he is thinking: “Why did God leave us in
trayed his Lord. It was only then, through his weakness, that
such a mess? How could God do this to me and to our peo-
God was able to lead him on his journey of faith. Saul, the
ple? I wouldn’t be hiding if God was truly thinking about
zealous persecutor of Christians, began his journey as an ene-
me.” Don’t you find it amazing that God meets Gideon in his
my of the cross. But then God met him on the Damascus
place of weakness? It is he who approaches Gideon. God
Road. Blinded, struck down and weak, at last Saul was ready
speaks first. He initiates.
for his journey of faith in the risen Christ.
This is where God begins too with us. Like Gideon, our
And this is how each one of us came to faith in Christ, isn’t
theology might be wrong. We might feel that God is not
it? God had a vision to make us into something different, so
working, but this is where God meets us — where we are, not
he called us, and we began our journey of faith.
where we would like to be. He doesn’t start by requiring us to
Here is my fourth observation: God promises Gideon that he will One of the great truths of Scripture is that when God looks
be with him. “I will be with you,” a phrase repeated twice in at us, He does not see us for what we are, but for what we
the text, is the promise that God makes to him. Gideon ima- can become, as he works in our lives. He is in the business
gines that the God of his fathers has deserted them but, on the of taking weak, insignificant people, and transforming
contrary, God appears and reasserts his covenant promise to them by his presence in their lives. He begins with us
Gideon: “I will not forsake you or leave you, I will be with where we are, as we are. He knows our weaknesses, fail-
you.” ures, discouragements, doubts, and inadequacies, but he
This striking phrase, “I will be with you,” occurs 104 times does not say, “You get rid of those, and then I can use
in the OT. It is a dominant promise throughout the Bible, giv- you.” Rather, he comes to us in our weakness with the
en by a covenant God to a covenant people. This word of promise of his presence that will transform our inadequacy
promise and assurance is repeated to Isaac and Jacob no less into his strength.
than 14 times. When God told Moses to deliver the sons of Is- Hudson Taylor said, “All of God’s great men have been
rael from Egypt, Moses replied, “Who am I, that I should go weak men who did great things for God because they reck-
to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of oned on his being with them; they counted on his faithful-
Egypt?” God said to him, “Certainly I will be with you.” Then ness.”
God told Moses his name: “I AM. I AM with you, and every- Here is my final observation: Peace is the result of Gideon’s
thing that you are not, I AM.” When Joshua was about to en- encounter with God. Gideon prepared an offering, and the Lord
ter the land, God said to him, “Be strong and courageous. Do ignited it with fire. Immediately Gideon recognized that he
not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with had seen the angel of the Lord face to face, and he feared for
you wherever you go” (Josh 1:9). his life. But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear;
This promise of God, this reminder, forms book-ends for you shall not die.” So Gideon built an altar, a place to wor-
the gospel of Matthew. In chapter 1, Matthew quotes Isaiah ship, a place where he invited God into his life, and he named
7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a it “Yahweh Shalom” — the Lord is peace. This reminds us of
son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated the Lord’s words, spoken in the Upper Room: “Peace I leave
means, ‘God with us’” (1:23). And then the last word spoken with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I
by Jesus after his resurrection is a repetition of this promise, give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fear-
“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (28:20). ful” (John 14:27). After the resurrection, the disciples were
Two and a half months ago my mother with diagnosed downcast, hiding in fearful seclusion, but then the Lord en-
with a brain tumor. She had surgery, but it was discovered tered the room and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
that the cancer was extensive and very aggressive. She has Gideon was a troubled, confused, disenchanted young
not recovered and she will never go home. On the day of her man, but then he encountered the living God and he built an
surgery I remember feeling her presence in our house. I could altar and named it Yahweh Shalom — the Lord is peace. Why
see her sitting in a chair by the front door. I saw some of her do you think he named it that? Certainly he was concerned
clothes hanging in the garage and I envisioned her wearing about dying after seeing the angel of the Lord — although his
them. As I stood in the kitchen I had a strong feeling of her fears subsided following God’s reassurance. But I think it was
presence there. Everywhere I went in the house, she was more than than. Gideon had admitted his weakness and yet
there. Last week, I flew home again to see her. She can no he was accepted. He had expressed his confusion and had not
longer speak or see. She is very close to going home to be been hammered. He had expressed his lack of faith and yet
with the Lord. My overriding emotion is that she will no long- had been given an assignment. There is a great deal of free-
er be present with me. I will not be able to call her on the dom that comes with being honest with yourself and with
phone. There will be no more trips to Nebraska. I find myself God. Gideon admitted his weakness, and then he was free
thinking about what her presence meant to me: steak every and at peace. That was why he built an altar and named it
Saturday night, pot roast on Sunday, rhubarb pie, playing ca- Yahweh Shalom.
nasta, getting grocery coupons and clippings of Nebraska So we have had our first encounter with Gideon — a weak,
football games in the mail. There are many reminders, but her failing, insignificant, inadequate and fearful man. But God
presence will shortly be no more. called him out of his weakness to a life of faith in him. I am re-
But God is transcendent. For three years the disciples minded of the apostle Paul’s wonderful words in 2 Corinthi-
walked with Jesus. They heard him teach in Galilee; they ans, “And such confidence we have through Christ toward
were on the road with him in Samaria; they entered Jerusalem God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider any-
with him to shouts of “Hosanna!” But they were left in de- thing as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from
spair as he went to the cross. His presence was no more. Their God” (2 Cor. 3:4-5) On his own, Gideon was a weak faltering,
dreams were shattered, so they locked themselves in a room, doubting man. But he had first-hand contact with the Lord Je-
fearful and trembling. Then his presence ignited them. At sus and he was never the same again. May God grant us the
Pentecost, his Spirit empowered them, and then they under- grace to find God in our weakness; to allow him to accept us
stood what he meant when he said, “I am with you always, where we are; to know that he is at work to mold us and
even to the end of the age.” shape us beyond what we could ever imagine; to be confident
We are not alone. As weak and inadequate as we might in his presence with us; and to experience the God of peace.
feel, God is with us. He is calling ordinary people, men and Amen.
women like you and me, and when he calls us into service or
into battle, what matters is who God is, not who we are. He
does not call us without providing us with the same resources © 1992 Peninsula Bible Church/Cupertino
he promised to Gideon.
One man has written,

This message from Scripture was preached at Peninsula Bible Church/Cupertino, 10601 North Blaney Avenue, Cupertino, California 95014, on
Sunday, August 16, 1992. Office located at 10062 Miller Avenue, Suite 108, Cupertino CA 95014. Tel. 408 366 6690.