Bible Study: Hiding to Hero (2)

Judges 6:11–16 KJV 1900

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. 16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

Bible Study Lesson: From Hiding to Hero (Judges 6:11–16)

Faith Under Fire: Standing Strong in Difficult Days

Introduction

In Judges 6:11–16, we find Gideon hiding in a winepress, trying to thresh a little wheat in secret while the Midianites ravage Israel. The scene seems hopeless. The people of God are defeated, fearful, and far from the confidence they once had when God gave them victory through Joshua. Yet, it’s in this desperate moment that God shows up. Isn’t that just like Him? The Lord often steps into our smallest, darkest, most fearful places to remind us that He hasn’t forgotten us.

The story of Gideon is not just a historical account—it’s a spiritual mirror. Each of us has moments when we retreat into our own “winepress” of worry, fear, or frustration. We hide because we feel inadequate or afraid. But God has a way of calling us out of hiding and into His plan. Gideon’s journey reminds us that the Lord doesn’t see us for where we are; He sees us for who we can become through His power.

From hiding to hero—that’s the transformation only God can bring. He doesn’t choose us because we’re brave; He makes us brave because He’s chosen us. When the Lord shows up, sustains our questions, and sends us out in His strength, we discover that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the presence of faith.

I. The Lord Shows Up (Judges 6:11–12)

Gideon’s story begins in fear, but God’s story begins with faithfulness. Judges 6:11 says, “And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah.” Gideon wasn’t looking for God, but God was looking for Gideon. While Gideon was hiding, the Lord was already working. God’s presence often appears in our “pressed places,” reminding us that He hasn’t forgotten us (Psalm 46:1). Even when life feels overwhelming, God’s presence can meet us right where we are.

In verse 12, the Angel of the LORD greets Gideon, saying, “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” What a contrast! Gideon sees himself as a fearful farmer, but God calls him a mighty man of valor. That’s how God works—He speaks to our potential, not just our present condition (Romans 8:37). He calls us to rise from fear to faith, not because we are strong, but because He is with us (Joshua 1:9). God’s words to Gideon remind us that His presence transforms our perspective.

Synopsis

When the Lord shows up, everything changes. God meets us in the most unlikely places and speaks courage into our weakness. Like Gideon, we may not feel brave, but the Lord’s presence gives us new identity and new strength (Isaiah 41:10). God doesn’t see us through the lens of our failures but through the lens of His faithfulness. Once we grasp that truth, we can move from hiding in fear to walking in confidence.

Five Actions for Application

Create a “God’s Presence Journal.” Write down moments when you felt God’s nearness in past trials (Psalm 143:5).

Psalm 143:5 “5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.”

Start each day with surrender. Begin your morning prayer by inviting God to show up before challenges arrive (Proverbs 3:6).

Proverbs 3:6 “6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

Identify your hiding place. Name areas where fear has confined you and ask God for courage to step out (Psalm 27:1).

Psalm 27:1 “1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Speak words of faith aloud. Declare promises from Scripture to build confidence in God’s presence (Romans 10:17).

Romans 10:17 “17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Serve someone secretly. Be a quiet reflection of God’s presence in someone’s “pressed place” (Matthew 6:3–4).

Matthew 6:3–4 “3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

II. The Lord Sustains Our Concerns (Judges 6:13)

When Gideon hears the angel’s greeting, he doesn’t rejoice—he questions. Judges 6:13 says, “Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” Gideon’s honesty is refreshing. He doesn’t hide his confusion or frustration. Like Job and David, Gideon learns that God welcomes our questions when they come from a seeking heart (Psalm 13:1–2). God is big enough for our doubts. The key is not to stop talking to Him.

Gideon’s second question deepens his struggle: “Where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of?” (Judges 6:13b). Gideon feels abandoned, yet the Lord hasn’t left. Often, we mistake God’s silence for His absence, but His silence is sometimes the space He uses to strengthen our faith (Lamentations 3:25–26). When we can’t trace His hand, we must still trust His heart. The Lord sustains us not by removing our concerns, but by reminding us of His covenant love.

Synopsis

When believers wrestle with hard questions, God does not scold us—He strengthens us. He uses our concerns to draw us closer to Him, teaching us to trust His timing and purpose (Proverbs 3:5–6). Even in our uncertainty, He is at work. Our doubts can become doors that lead to deeper faith when we keep them in conversation with God.

Five Actions for Application

Schedule a “Question and Quiet” time. Set aside one evening this week to bring your concerns before God and listen for His response (Psalm 62:5).

Psalm 62:5 “5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; For my expectation is from him.”

Revisit old testimonies. Write or share a story of how God has worked in your past; let remembrance renew your faith (Deuteronomy 4:9).

Deuteronomy 4:9 “9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;”

Create a faith playlist. Listen to songs that remind you of God’s power during difficult seasons (Psalm 95:1–2).

Psalm 95:1–2 “1 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, And make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

Journal your prayers and answers. Record both your cries and God’s responses to see His faithfulness unfold (Habakkuk 2:2–3).

Habakkuk 2:2–3 “2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, That he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, But at the end it shall speak, and not lie: Though it tarry, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Host a “faith talk.” Meet with a friend or group to discuss moments of doubt and how God brought clarity (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

III. The Lord Sends (Judges 6:14–16)

In Judges 6:14, the Lord says to Gideon, “Go in this thy might... have not I sent thee?” God does not wait for Gideon to become confident before sending him; He calls him while he’s still fearful. The mission comes with the promise of divine partnership. Gideon’s weakness becomes the platform for God’s strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). When the Lord sends, He supplies everything needed for success.

Finally, in verse 16, the Lord assures Gideon, “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.” This is the same assurance Jesus gave His disciples: “Lo, I am with you alway” (Matthew 28:20). God’s presence is the guarantee of victory. Gideon’s courage will not come from confidence in himself but in the certainty of God’s companionship. The Lord still sends ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things when they trust His promise.

Synopsis

When the Lord sends, He also strengthens. His presence turns weakness into power and fear into faith (Philippians 4:13). Our obedience becomes the vessel through which God’s purpose flows. Like Gideon, we don’t need all the answers—we just need assurance that the Lord is with us. Once we accept His call, He equips us for His mission.

Five Actions for Application

Write a “Yes to God” statement. Put your willingness in writing and keep it where you’ll see it daily (Isaiah 6:8).

Isaiah 6:8 “8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Mentor someone in courage. Share your faith journey with someone who needs encouragement to step forward (2 Timothy 2:2).

2 Timothy 2:2 “2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Pray over your mission field. Walk your neighborhood, workplace, or school and ask God to open doors for His glory (Colossians 4:3).

Colossians 4:3 “3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:”

Set a faith milestone. Mark a date when you commit to obey a specific calling from God (Joshua 24:15).

Joshua 24:15 “15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Celebrate obedience stories. Share testimonies of small steps of faith that led to big results (Revelation 12:11).

Revelation 12:11 “11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Closing Thought

Gideon’s story reminds us that God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called. The same God who met Gideon in fear now meets us in faith. When the Lord shows up, sustains our concerns, and sends us with His strength, we can face any challenge knowing we are never alone. God still turns hiders into heroes when we trust His presence and follow His plan.