Gideon’s Call

🪔 Judges 6:1–40 — Gideon’s Call

I. Introduction: God Uses the Unlikely

Historical Hook – “The Foolishness of God”

“God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called.”

Throughout Scripture, God often uses the least likely people:

Moses – A fugitive who couldn’t speak clearly (Ex 3–4).

David – A shepherd overlooked by his family (1 Sam 16:11).

Peter – A fisherman who denied his Lord (Luke 22:61).

Gideon – A fearful man threshing wheat in hiding (Judg 6:11).

1 Corinthians 1:26–29: “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”

🗣️ Discussion Question: Why does God delight to use weakness to accomplish His will?

Transition: Israel’s greatest problem wasn’t Midian—it was their own unfaithfulness. Before God delivers His people, He must deal with their hearts.

II. Apostasy and Oppression (vv. 1–10)

Main Point: Sin always leads to spiritual and practical bondage.

Israel’s Sin and Servitude (v. 1)

“The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD.”

Every period of prosperity led them back into idolatry (cf. Judg 2:11–15).

Application: Prosperity often tests the heart more than hardship.

The Midianite Oppression (vv. 2–6)

Midian’s raids left Israel impoverished; the people hid in caves.

Van Pelt: “Israel’s sin made all their hard work profitless.”

The enemy came “as numerous as locusts” – a Deuteronomic curse (Deut 28:38).

Spiritual Parallel: Sin robs us of the fruit of our labor (Gal 6:7–8).

God Sends a Prophet (vv. 7–10)

Before sending a deliverer, God sends His Word.

The prophet reminds them of the Exodus – God’s love and faithfulness.

Key Verse: v. 10 – “But you have not obeyed My voice.”

Their cry was out of pain, not repentance (Philips).

Application: God’s mercy exposes sin before He removes suffering.

🗣️ Discussion: How does God lovingly expose sin before bringing deliverance in our lives?

III. The Call of Gideon (vv. 11–24)

Main Point: God’s call always comes with His presence.

God’s Messenger Appears (vv. 11–12)

Gideon hides in a winepress, threshing wheat – a symbol of fear and survival.

The Angel of the LORD (Christ pre-incarnate) appears: “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor.”

Lesson: God calls us not as we are, but as we will be in His strength.

Cross-Ref: Romans 4:17 – God “calls things that are not as though they were.”

Gideon’s Complaint (v. 13)

“If the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened?”

He blames God for Israel’s suffering rather than recognizing sin.

The Lord’s silence to the question underscores: the issue isn’t God’s power but Israel’s faithlessness.

Cross-Ref: Isaiah 59:2 – Sin separates and blinds.

God’s Commission (vv. 14–16)

“Go in this might of yours… Have I not sent you?”

Gideon’s “might” = humility, teachability, concern, spiritual hunger (Guzik).

Gideon protests: “My clan is the weakest… I am the least.”

God’s Response: “Surely I will be with you.”

Cross-Ref: 2 Cor 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Application: God doesn’t need your ability, just your availability.

Gideon’s Confirmation (vv. 17–24)

He asks for a sign – an offering consumed by fire.

Gideon realizes he’s seen the LORD face-to-face and fears death.

God replies: “Peace be with you; do not fear.”

Gideon builds an altar: YHWH-Shalom – The LORD Is Peace.

“Why was Gideon afraid? Not because he was a coward-you will scarcely meet with a braver man in all Scripture than this son of Joash-but because even brave men are alarmed at the supernatural. He saw something which he had never seen before, an appearance celestial, mysterious, above what is usually seen of mortal men; therefore, as he feared God, Gideon was afraid.” (Spurgeon)

Cross-Ref: Philippians 4:7 – Peace comes from His presence, not our strength.

“When Gideon is fully at peace, what does he begin to do for God? If God loves you he will use you either for suffering or service; and if he has given you peace you must now prepare for war. Will you think me odd if I say that our Lord came to give us peace that he might send us out to war?” (Spurgeon)

Application: Every encounter with God should produce worship and peace, not pride.

🗣️ Discussion: When have you felt God call you to something beyond your ability? How did His presence give you peace?

IV. Gideon’s First Test: Cleansing the Home (vv. 25–32)

Main Point: Revival begins in our own backyard.

Destroy the Altar of Baal (vv. 25–26)

God commands Gideon to pull down his father’s altar to Baal and the Asherah pole.

He is to build an altar to YHWH and sacrifice his father’s bull – likely the bull born when Midian’s oppression began.

Cross-Ref: Exodus 23:24 – “You shall utterly overthrow them.”

Lesson: Before we fight external enemies, we must tear down internal idols.

Gideon’s Nighttime Obedience (v. 27)

He obeys but by night – timid faith, but still faith!

Philips: “Obedience in fear is still obedience.”

Cross-Ref: Psalm 56:3 – “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”

Public Outrage and Defense (vv. 28–32)

The people demand Gideon’s death; Joash defends his son: “If Baal is a god, let him plead for himself.”

Gideon earns the name Jerubbaal – “Let Baal contend.”

Application: True obedience will always provoke opposition.

Cross-Ref: Galatians 1:10 – Seek God’s approval, not man’s.

🗣️ Discussion: What “altars” of compromise need to be torn down in the modern church or in our homes?

V. The Empowering and the Fleece (vv. 33–40)

Main Point: God’s patience meets our weakness.

God Clothes Gideon with His Spirit (vv. 33–35)

The Spirit of the LORD “clothed” Gideon – literally, God put him on like armor (Stone).

He blows the trumpet, and 32,000 men rally behind him.

Cross-Ref: Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”

Application: When God calls, He also clothes us with power for the task.

The Fleece of Doubt (vv. 36–40)

Gideon asks for not one but two signs with the fleece.

God graciously condescends to reassure him, though Gideon’s faith is imperfect.

Philips: “This was not faith seeking confirmation but fear seeking assurance.”

Cross-Ref: Psalm 103:13–14 – He knows our frame and has compassion.

Lesson: God is patient with weak faith—but strong faith acts on His Word.

🗣️ Discussion: How can we seek assurance from God without falling into unbelief or testing Him?

VI. Key Takeaways

Sin brings bondage; grace brings renewal.

God’s power works through human weakness.

Faith grows through obedience, not through perfect courage.

Revival starts at home before it spreads outward.

God’s Spirit equips us for what He calls us to do.

VII. Closing Charge: “Go in This Might of Yours” (Judg 6:14)

Like Gideon, you may feel weak, inadequate, or fearful. But the LORD says, “Have I not sent you?” God is not looking for the most talented but the most trusting. He still takes ordinary men and women, fills them with His Spirit, and uses them to confront idols, strengthen families, and lead His people into victory.

Challenge:

Tear down any idol that rivals Christ.

Step out in faith where you’ve been hesitant.

Trust that His presence is your power.

Optional Scriptures for Reflection

Exodus 3:11–12 – Moses’ call and God’s presence.

1 Samuel 14:6 – “Nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 – His strength made perfect in weakness.

Philippians 2:13 – “It is God who works in you both to will and to do.”