The Unlikely Hero

Gideon

When You Feel Too Small for What God Is Asking

Primary Text: Judges 6:11–16; 7:1–22 Key Verse: Judges 6:16 Big Idea: God does not choose people because they are strong enough; He uses ordinary people who trust His presence, follow His instructions, and give Him the glory.

Introduction

We all have a picture in our minds of what a hero should look like.

A hero is supposed to be confident.

A hero is supposed to be courageous.

A hero is supposed to walk into the room knowing exactly what to do.

A hero is supposed to be strong enough to face the enemy and calm enough to handle the pressure.

At least, that is how heroes are usually portrayed.

But the Bible often gives us a very different picture.

Many of the people God used did not begin with confidence. They began with questions.

They did not begin by feeling strong. They began by recognizing their weakness.

They did not always run toward the challenge. Sometimes God found them hiding from it.

That is how the story of Gideon begins.

When we first meet Gideon in Judges 6, he does not look much like a hero. He is not standing on a battlefield. He is not giving a great speech. He is not leading an army.

He is hiding.

Judges 6:11 tells us that Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

A winepress was not the normal place to thresh wheat. Wheat was normally threshed in an open area where the wind could carry away the chaff.

But Gideon was down in a winepress because he was afraid the enemy would see him and take what little he had.

That is where God finds him.

Not on a platform.

Not in a palace.

Not in a position of strength.

God finds Gideon hiding in fear.

And yet the angel of the Lord says to him in Judges 6:12:

“The LORD is with you, valiant warrior.”

That greeting almost sounds like a mistake.

Gideon is hiding, and God calls him a warrior.

Gideon feels weak, and God speaks of courage.

Gideon sees what he is at that moment, but God sees what His presence can make him.

That is where this message begins:

God does not only see who you have been. He sees what your life can become when you trust Him.

1. God Finds Heroes in Unexpected Places

Judges 6 takes place during a dark period in Israel’s history.

The people had turned away from God, and the Midianites had oppressed them for seven years.

Whenever Israel planted crops, the Midianites would invade and destroy the harvest.

The Israelites were hiding in caves and strongholds. They were frightened, discouraged, and exhausted.

Gideon was living in that environment.

He had probably seen crops destroyed.

He had probably watched families struggle.

He knew what it felt like to live under pressure.

He knew what it felt like to expect the enemy to take whatever he had worked for.

And perhaps that is why Gideon responded to God with questions.

When the angel said, “The LORD is with you,” Gideon answered in Judges 6:13:

“Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened?”

That is an honest question.

Gideon had heard the stories of God’s power. He knew how God had delivered Israel from Egypt.

But Gideon looked around at his present circumstances and wondered where that power had gone.

“Where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about?”

Gideon was essentially saying:

“I have heard what God did before, but I do not see Him doing it now.”

Many people have felt that way.

We believe God is good, but we look at what is happening and wonder why life is so hard.

We believe God is present, but sometimes we feel abandoned.

We have heard the testimonies of others, but we wonder when our own situation will change.

Gideon’s question did not disqualify him.

God did not reject Gideon because he struggled to understand.

God met him in his confusion.

The Lord turned to him and said in Judges 6:14:

“Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!”

God did not say, “Wait until you feel more confident.”

He did not say, “Come back when you have all your questions answered.”

He said, “Go in the strength you have.”

Sometimes we believe that God can only use us after we become stronger, smarter, braver, or more prepared.

But God often begins with what we already have.

Moses had a staff.

David had a sling.

A boy had five loaves and two fish.

Gideon had the strength to take one obedient step.

God is not waiting for you to become someone else before He can use you.

He can begin with who you are, where you are, and what you have.

The question is not whether you feel impressive.

The question is whether you are willing.

2. God’s Presence Is Greater Than Our Weakness

Gideon immediately began explaining why he was the wrong person.

Judges 6:15 says:

“Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.”

Gideon gave God his résumé, and it was not impressive.

“My family is weak.”

“I am the youngest.”

“I do not have influence.”

“I do not have power.”

“I do not have what it takes.”

Gideon saw himself as the least person from the weakest family.

But God did not argue with Gideon about his qualifications.

God did not say, “No, Gideon, you are stronger than you realize.”

God gave him something better than self-confidence.

Judges 6:16 says:

“But I will be with you.”

That is the answer.

Gideon said, “I am weak.”

God said, “I will be with you.”

Gideon said, “I am insignificant.”

God said, “I will be with you.”

Gideon said, “I do not know how.”

God said, “I will be with you.”

God did not promise Gideon that the task would be easy.

He promised that Gideon would not face it alone.

That is the foundation of biblical courage.

Biblical courage does not come from believing that we are enough.

It comes from knowing that God is with us.

There will be moments when we recognize that we are not strong enough.

We are not wise enough.

We do not have enough patience.

We cannot control the outcome.

We cannot fix everything.

We cannot carry everyone.

But the good news is that God’s calling never rests only on our ability.

His presence makes the difference.

When Moses hesitated to go to Pharaoh, God said, “I will certainly be with you.”

When Joshua faced the Promised Land, God said, “The LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

When Jesus sent His disciples to make disciples of all nations, He said, “I am with you always.”

The promise of God’s presence does not mean we will never feel afraid.

It means fear does not have to make our decisions.

It does not mean we will never feel weak.

It means weakness does not prevent God from working.

You may feel like Gideon today.

You may think:

“I am not the right person.”

“I have made too many mistakes.”

“I do not know enough.”

“I am too old.”

“I am too young.”

“I missed my opportunity.”

But God’s answer remains:

“I will be with you.”

3. Before God Uses Gideon Publicly, He Changes Him Privately

Before Gideon ever faced the Midianite army, God told him to deal with something at home.

Gideon’s father had an altar to Baal and an Asherah pole. These represented the false worship that had drawn Israel away from the Lord.

God told Gideon to tear down the altar and build an altar to the true God.

Judges 6:27 says that Gideon obeyed, but he did it at night because he was afraid.

That detail is important.

Gideon was obedient, but he was still afraid.

Sometimes we imagine faith means the complete absence of fear.

But Gideon shows us that courage can look like obedience while your hands are still shaking.

He was not fearless.

He was faithful.

God began Gideon’s transformation privately.

Before Gideon could confront the enemy around Israel, he had to confront the compromise close to home.

Before he could lead others, he had to obey God himself.

Before there could be a public victory, there had to be a private surrender.

That principle still applies.

We may want God to use us in visible ways, while God is asking us to address something hidden.

Perhaps there is an attitude that needs to change.

Perhaps there is bitterness that needs to be released.

Perhaps there is a habit that needs to be surrendered.

Perhaps there is an apology that needs to be made.

Perhaps there is something occupying the place in our hearts that belongs to God.

An idol is not only a statue.

An idol is anything that receives the trust, loyalty, or devotion that belongs to God.

Success can become an idol.

Comfort can become an idol.

Approval can become an idol.

Control can become an idol.

Even family can become an idol if we look to family to provide what only God can give.

God loved Gideon too much to leave the false altar standing.

And God loves us too much to leave untouched the things that keep us from trusting Him.

The first heroic act in Gideon’s story was not defeating an army.

It was obeying God at home.

Sometimes the most courageous thing a person can do is obey God where very few people will ever see it.

4. God Reduces What Gideon Trusts

By the time we reach Judges 7, Gideon has gathered an army of thirty-two thousand men.

That sounds like progress.

Gideon began alone in a winepress, and now thousands of soldiers are standing with him.

But then God says something unexpected.

Judges 7:2 says:

“You have too many troops for Me to hand the Midianites over to them, or else Israel might elevate themselves over Me and say, ‘My own strength saved me.’”

God tells Gideon that the army is too large.

That sounds backward.

The Midianite army was enormous. Gideon needed all the help he could get.

But God knew that if Israel won with a large army, they might take the credit.

They might say:

“We were strong.”

“We planned well.”

“We defeated Midian.”

So God reduced the army.

First, twenty-two thousand men went home.

Ten thousand remained.

Then God reduced the army again until Gideon had only three hundred men.

Three hundred men facing an enemy described as being as numerous as locusts.

From a human perspective, Gideon’s situation was becoming worse.

But from God’s perspective, the stage was being prepared for His glory.

God sometimes removes the things we are tempted to trust.

Not because He wants to destroy us, but because He wants us to know where victory really comes from.

We trust numbers.

We trust resources.

We trust experience.

We trust our plans.

We trust our own understanding.

But God may allow us to reach a place where our strength is clearly insufficient.

That is an uncomfortable place.

But it can also become a holy place.

Because when our ability ends, our dependence begins.

God wanted Gideon to understand that the victory would not come from the size of his army.

The victory would come from the power of God.

Perhaps you have seen resources decrease.

Perhaps something you depended upon is no longer available.

Perhaps your plans have changed.

Perhaps you feel as though you have less strength than you once had.

Do not automatically assume that God cannot work because you have less.

God defeated Midian with three hundred men.

God fed thousands with a small lunch.

God used a shepherd’s sling against a giant.

God placed the treasure of the gospel in jars of clay so that the extraordinary power would be from God and not from us.

Little becomes much when it is surrendered to God.

5. God’s Victory May Not Look Like Our Plan

Gideon’s three hundred men went into battle with unusual weapons.

They carried trumpets, jars, and torches.

That is not how most armies prepare for combat.

But God gave Gideon specific instructions.

At the right time, the men broke the jars, revealed the torches, sounded the trumpets, and shouted.

The Lord threw the Midianite camp into confusion, and the enemy began turning against itself.

Gideon’s victory came through obedience to a plan that probably did not make sense to him.

That is often how faith works.

God may lead us in ways we would not have chosen.

He may answer differently than we expected.

He may open a door we had not considered.

He may close a door we desperately wanted to remain open.

He may require patience when we want immediate action.

He may call us to forgive when we want revenge.

He may call us to serve when we want recognition.

He may call us to give when we want to hold tightly.

He may call us to remain faithful even when we cannot yet see the results.

Faith does not mean we understand every detail of God’s plan.

Faith means we trust the character of the One giving the instructions.

Gideon did not win because he had a better strategy than Midian.

He won because he followed God.

There are times when obedience will seem foolish to the world.

Loving your enemies does not look powerful.

Forgiving someone who hurt you does not look victorious.

Serving without being noticed does not look heroic.

Giving God credit rather than taking it for yourself does not build your reputation.

But God’s kingdom does not measure victory the way the world does.

The world says victory means being seen, praised, and celebrated.

God says victory means being faithful.

6. The Hero of Gideon’s Story Is God

Gideon was used by God to deliver Israel, but Gideon was not the ultimate hero of the story.

God was.

God found Gideon.

God called Gideon.

God promised to be with Gideon.

God patiently strengthened Gideon.

God reduced the army.

God gave the plan.

God confused the enemy.

God brought the victory.

Gideon participated, but God provided the power.

This is important because Gideon was still an imperfect man.

Later in his life, Gideon made poor decisions. His story reminds us that even biblical heroes need grace.

That is why every hero story in Scripture ultimately points beyond the human character.

It points us toward Jesus.

Gideon helped rescue Israel from an earthly enemy.

Jesus came to rescue us from sin and death.

Gideon went into battle with three hundred men.

Jesus went to the cross alone.

Gideon’s victory brought temporary peace.

Jesus’ death and resurrection provide eternal salvation.

Gideon was an imperfect servant.

Jesus is the perfect Savior.

The gospel does not tell us to become strong enough to save ourselves.

It tells us that Jesus came because we could not save ourselves.

Romans 5:6 says:

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.”

We were helpless.

Jesus came for us.

We were guilty.

Jesus took our sin.

We were separated from God.

Jesus made reconciliation possible.

We were facing death.

Jesus rose from the grave.

Our hope is not that we can become the hero of our own story.

Our hope is that Jesus has come to rescue us.

Bringing It Home

What can we learn from Gideon?

First, God sees more than your present weakness.

Gideon saw someone hiding.

God saw a warrior who would be transformed through His presence.

Do not allow your present struggle to define the rest of your story.

Second, God’s presence is greater than your inadequacy.

The answer to “I am not enough” is not pretending that you are.

The answer is hearing God say, “I will be with you.”

Third, private obedience comes before public victory.

God may be asking you to tear down something that is competing for your heart.

Obedience may begin in a place nobody else sees.

Fourth, less does not mean God is unable to work.

Your resources may feel small.

Your strength may feel limited.

But God is not limited.

Fifth, victory belongs to God.

When He works, give Him the credit.

When He provides, tell the story.

When He carries you, make sure the next generation knows who carried you.

Conclusion

When Gideon first appears, he is hiding in a winepress.

He feels weak.

He feels forgotten.

He feels unqualified.

But God looks at him and says:

“The LORD is with you, valiant warrior.”

God was not describing what Gideon had accomplished.

He was declaring what Gideon could become through His presence.

Perhaps you feel as though you are hiding in a winepress today.

Perhaps fear has made your world smaller.

Perhaps regret has convinced you that God cannot use you.

Perhaps you are looking at a challenge that seems much greater than your ability.

Hear the word of the Lord:

“I will be with you.”

You do not have to be the strongest person.

You do not have to have every answer.

You do not have to feel fearless.

You simply need to take the next faithful step.

God still uses unlikely people.

He still works through weakness.

He still receives glory through ordinary obedience.

And He still calls people out of hiding and into faith.

Invitation

Where do you feel inadequate today?

What are you using as an excuse to remain hidden?

What private act of obedience is God asking of you?

What resource or ability have you been trusting more than God?

Perhaps your first step is trusting Jesus Christ as Savior.

Stop trying to become strong enough to rescue yourself.

Jesus has already done what you could never do.

He died for your sins.

He rose from the grave.

He offers forgiveness, new life, and a place in God’s family.

For the believer, perhaps the invitation is to stop hiding.

Take the next faithful step.

You may still have questions.

You may still feel afraid.

But courage is not the absence of fear.

Courage is obeying because God is with you.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for meeting us in our weakness. Thank You for seeing more in us than we can see in ourselves. Forgive us for trusting our strength, resources, and plans more than we trust You.

Remind us that Your presence is greater than our inadequacy. Give us courage to obey You privately and publicly. Tear down anything in our hearts that competes with You. Help us trust Your plan even when we do not fully understand it.

Thank You for Jesus, the true and perfect Hero, who came to rescue us when we were helpless. Help us stop trying to save ourselves and rest in what Christ has accomplished.

Call us out of hiding. Lead us into faithful obedience. And when victory comes, may all the glory belong to You.

In Jesus’ name, amen.