And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,
That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
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.
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
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.
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?
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.
And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.
And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah–shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi–ezrites.
And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:
And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.
And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi–ezer was gathered after him.
And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6 marks a pivotal moment in the cyclical history of Israel, a nation repeatedly turning away from God, experiencing hardship, crying out for deliverance, and then, after a period of peace, falling back into sin. This chapter highlights Israel's oppression under the Midianites, God's call to Gideon, and Gideon's journey from a fearful farmer to a Spirit-empowered leader. This narrative offers profound insights into God's patience, His unexpected choices, and the power of faith, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Israel's Oppression and Plea (Judges 6:1-7)
Following a period of 40 years of peace secured by Deborah and Barak (Judges 4-5), the Israelites once again succumbed to evil, serving Baal and other Canaanite gods. As a consequence, God handed them over to the Midianites for seven years (Judges 6:1). This oppression was particularly devastating, as the Midianites, along with their allies, would invade during harvest time, plundering the land and leaving the Israelites impoverished and desperate (Judges 6:3-6). They arrived with "camels without number," a truly overwhelming force. The vivid description underscores the totality of Israel's humiliation and despair. This was more than just military defeat; it was a crushing blow to their spirit and their livelihood.
Finally, in their utter misery, "the Israelites cried out to the LORD" (Judges 6:6). This cry for help, born out of desperation, is a recurring theme in the book of Judges, illustrating the consequences of straying from God and the ever-present possibility of repentance. It serves as a reminder that when we stray from the Lord, He will sometimes allow a crisis in our lives to compel our return.
A Prophet's Rebuke (Judges 6:7-10)
Before raising up a deliverer, God sends a prophet to remind the Israelites of His past faithfulness. This unnamed messenger recounts God's deliverance from Egypt, the provision of the land, and the defeat of their enemies (Judges 6:8-9). The prophet then delivers the core message: "You have not obeyed me" (Judges 6:10). This prophetic rebuke underscores that their suffering is a direct consequence of their disobedience. God wanted to make some things clear. God reminded them through a prophet of all he had done for them by delivering them from slavery in Egypt, providing them with a land to live in, and conquering the people and gods who opposed them. This serves as a powerful reminder that blessings are often tied to obedience and that straying from God's path has tangible consequences.
The Call of Gideon (Judges 6:11-16)
In a moment of divine irony, the Angel of the Lord (likely a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ) appears to Gideon, not in a place of prominence or power, but while he is threshing wheat in a winepress—a hidden, secretive act to avoid the Midianites (Judges 6:11). Normally wheat is threshed in a place that catches a breeze so that the chaff is blown away. But Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites. The Angel greets him with the words, "The LORD is with you, valiant warrior" (Judges 6:12). This seemingly absurd declaration highlights God's perspective, seeing potential and strength even where Gideon sees only weakness and fear.
Gideon's response is one of doubt and questioning. "If the LORD is with us," he asks, "why has all this happened to us?" (Judges 6:13). He expresses a sense of abandonment, struggling to reconcile God's past deliverances with their present suffering. Gideon could only see his own circumstances and not the big picture. Yes, God had saved Israel from Egypt, but he had saved them for a covenant relationship with him. They “did not obey” him and were now suffering the covenant consequences.
God directly commissions Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6:14). Gideon protests, citing his insignificance—he is from the weakest clan in Manasseh and the least in his family (Judges 6:15). But God's response echoes His promise to Moses: "I will be with you" (Judges 6:16). The key to accomplishing an impossible task is always walking in the presence of God. This divine assurance is the foundation for Gideon's future success, reminding us that God's power, not our own abilities, is what ultimately achieves His purposes. Always leave room for divine interruptions, because God does not always tell you up front when he wants to take you in a direction you didn’t plan to go.
Gideon's Sign and the Altar of Peace (Judges 6:17-24)
Seeking confirmation of this extraordinary encounter, Gideon requests a sign. He prepares an offering, and the Angel of the Lord consumes it with fire, then vanishes (Judges 6:17-21). Gideon wanted a sign that God was really speaking to him; miraculous proof doesn’t get much better than that. This miraculous event convinces Gideon of the divine nature of the encounter.
Overcome with fear, Gideon cries out, fearing for his life because he has seen the Angel of the Lord face to face (Judges 6:22). Likely he had in mind the Lord’s words to Moses, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live” (Exod 33:20). But God reassures him, "Peace! Do not be afraid; you will not die" (Judges 6:23). In response, Gideon builds an altar and names it "The LORD Is Peace" (Judges 6:24), acknowledging God's presence and His gift of peace amidst fear and uncertainty.
Tearing Down Idols (Judges 6:25-32)
Gideon's first act of obedience is to destroy the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole that belonged to his father (Judges 6:25). It took two bulls and ten of his male servants to tear down the altar, so it was obviously a major presence on his father’s property. This bold move demonstrates a commitment to removing idols from his own life and family before leading the nation. There’s a principle at work here: Don’t expect God to do something outside of your home if you’re not willing to get things right inside your home. Although Gideon performs this act at night out of fear, it nevertheless demonstrates his obedience and courage.
The next morning, the townspeople demand Gideon's execution, but his father, Joash, defends him, arguing that if Baal is truly a god, he can defend himself (Judges 6:30-31). Perhaps Gideon’s father saw the irony in that when he argued that Baal, if he was real, didn’t need them to fight his battles. This incident earns Gideon the name Jerubbaal, meaning "Let Baal contend against him" (Judges 6:32), marking him as an opponent of idolatry.
The Spirit Empowers Gideon (Judges 6:33-35)
As the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples gather to invade Israel, "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon" (Judges 6:34). This empowering by the Spirit transforms Gideon from a fearful farmer into a courageous leader. So he blew the ram’s horn and four Israelite tribes rallied behind him (Judges 6:34-35). He blows the trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites and other tribes to join him in battle. Things happened quickly after that, bringing to mind the truth that when God is ready to move in your circumstance, change can happen in a moment.
The Fleece Tests (Judges 6:36-40)
Despite the Spirit's empowerment, Gideon still struggles with doubt and asks God for two miraculous signs involving a fleece of wool (Judges 6:36-40). First, he asks that the fleece be wet with dew while the ground is dry. Then, he asks for the opposite: that the fleece be dry while the ground is wet. Now, we would expect the dew to cover not just an object resting on the ground, but the ground itself. So Gideon was asking God to interrupt the natural order of things with a deviation from the usual, which is the definition of a miracle.
God graciously grants both requests. Gideon was like the man who told Jesus, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Though he’d had a divine visit and God did as Gideon requested (6:38), that wasn’t enough for Gideon. God responded mercifully. These "fleece tests" reveal Gideon's lingering fear and uncertainty, but also God's patience and willingness to meet Gideon where he is, strengthening his faith step by step.
Conclusion
Judges 6 is a powerful narrative about God's faithfulness, His unexpected choices, and the transformative power of faith. Gideon's story reminds us that God often calls the least likely individuals to accomplish His purposes, and that even in our moments of doubt and fear, God is patient and willing to provide the reassurance we need to step into His calling. The chapter also underscores the importance of obedience and the consequences of idolatry, both in the nation of Israel and in our own lives. By confronting our own idols and embracing God's presence, we, like Gideon, can move from fear to faith and become instruments of His deliverance.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,
That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
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.
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
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.
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?
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.
And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.
And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah–shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi–ezrites.
And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:
And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.
And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi–ezer was gathered after him.
And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6 marks a pivotal moment in the cyclical history of Israel, a nation repeatedly turning away from God, experiencing hardship, crying out for deliverance, and then, after a period of peace, falling back into sin. This chapter highlights Israel's oppression under the Midianites, God's call to Gideon, and Gideon's journey from a fearful farmer to a Spirit-empowered leader. This narrative offers profound insights into God's patience, His unexpected choices, and the power of faith, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Israel's Oppression and Plea (Judges 6:1-7)
Following a period of 40 years of peace secured by Deborah and Barak (Judges 4-5), the Israelites once again succumbed to evil, serving Baal and other Canaanite gods. As a consequence, God handed them over to the Midianites for seven years (Judges 6:1). This oppression was particularly devastating, as the Midianites, along with their allies, would invade during harvest time, plundering the land and leaving the Israelites impoverished and desperate (Judges 6:3-6). They arrived with "camels without number," a truly overwhelming force. The vivid description underscores the totality of Israel's humiliation and despair. This was more than just military defeat; it was a crushing blow to their spirit and their livelihood.
Finally, in their utter misery, "the Israelites cried out to the LORD" (Judges 6:6). This cry for help, born out of desperation, is a recurring theme in the book of Judges, illustrating the consequences of straying from God and the ever-present possibility of repentance. It serves as a reminder that when we stray from the Lord, He will sometimes allow a crisis in our lives to compel our return.
A Prophet's Rebuke (Judges 6:7-10)
Before raising up a deliverer, God sends a prophet to remind the Israelites of His past faithfulness. This unnamed messenger recounts God's deliverance from Egypt, the provision of the land, and the defeat of their enemies (Judges 6:8-9). The prophet then delivers the core message: "You have not obeyed me" (Judges 6:10). This prophetic rebuke underscores that their suffering is a direct consequence of their disobedience. God wanted to make some things clear. God reminded them through a prophet of all he had done for them by delivering them from slavery in Egypt, providing them with a land to live in, and conquering the people and gods who opposed them. This serves as a powerful reminder that blessings are often tied to obedience and that straying from God's path has tangible consequences.
The Call of Gideon (Judges 6:11-16)
In a moment of divine irony, the Angel of the Lord (likely a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ) appears to Gideon, not in a place of prominence or power, but while he is threshing wheat in a winepress—a hidden, secretive act to avoid the Midianites (Judges 6:11). Normally wheat is threshed in a place that catches a breeze so that the chaff is blown away. But Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites. The Angel greets him with the words, "The LORD is with you, valiant warrior" (Judges 6:12). This seemingly absurd declaration highlights God's perspective, seeing potential and strength even where Gideon sees only weakness and fear.
Gideon's response is one of doubt and questioning. "If the LORD is with us," he asks, "why has all this happened to us?" (Judges 6:13). He expresses a sense of abandonment, struggling to reconcile God's past deliverances with their present suffering. Gideon could only see his own circumstances and not the big picture. Yes, God had saved Israel from Egypt, but he had saved them for a covenant relationship with him. They “did not obey” him and were now suffering the covenant consequences.
God directly commissions Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6:14). Gideon protests, citing his insignificance—he is from the weakest clan in Manasseh and the least in his family (Judges 6:15). But God's response echoes His promise to Moses: "I will be with you" (Judges 6:16). The key to accomplishing an impossible task is always walking in the presence of God. This divine assurance is the foundation for Gideon's future success, reminding us that God's power, not our own abilities, is what ultimately achieves His purposes. Always leave room for divine interruptions, because God does not always tell you up front when he wants to take you in a direction you didn’t plan to go.
Gideon's Sign and the Altar of Peace (Judges 6:17-24)
Seeking confirmation of this extraordinary encounter, Gideon requests a sign. He prepares an offering, and the Angel of the Lord consumes it with fire, then vanishes (Judges 6:17-21). Gideon wanted a sign that God was really speaking to him; miraculous proof doesn’t get much better than that. This miraculous event convinces Gideon of the divine nature of the encounter.
Overcome with fear, Gideon cries out, fearing for his life because he has seen the Angel of the Lord face to face (Judges 6:22). Likely he had in mind the Lord’s words to Moses, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live” (Exod 33:20). But God reassures him, "Peace! Do not be afraid; you will not die" (Judges 6:23). In response, Gideon builds an altar and names it "The LORD Is Peace" (Judges 6:24), acknowledging God's presence and His gift of peace amidst fear and uncertainty.
Tearing Down Idols (Judges 6:25-32)
Gideon's first act of obedience is to destroy the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole that belonged to his father (Judges 6:25). It took two bulls and ten of his male servants to tear down the altar, so it was obviously a major presence on his father’s property. This bold move demonstrates a commitment to removing idols from his own life and family before leading the nation. There’s a principle at work here: Don’t expect God to do something outside of your home if you’re not willing to get things right inside your home. Although Gideon performs this act at night out of fear, it nevertheless demonstrates his obedience and courage.
The next morning, the townspeople demand Gideon's execution, but his father, Joash, defends him, arguing that if Baal is truly a god, he can defend himself (Judges 6:30-31). Perhaps Gideon’s father saw the irony in that when he argued that Baal, if he was real, didn’t need them to fight his battles. This incident earns Gideon the name Jerubbaal, meaning "Let Baal contend against him" (Judges 6:32), marking him as an opponent of idolatry.
The Spirit Empowers Gideon (Judges 6:33-35)
As the Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples gather to invade Israel, "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon" (Judges 6:34). This empowering by the Spirit transforms Gideon from a fearful farmer into a courageous leader. So he blew the ram’s horn and four Israelite tribes rallied behind him (Judges 6:34-35). He blows the trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites and other tribes to join him in battle. Things happened quickly after that, bringing to mind the truth that when God is ready to move in your circumstance, change can happen in a moment.
The Fleece Tests (Judges 6:36-40)
Despite the Spirit's empowerment, Gideon still struggles with doubt and asks God for two miraculous signs involving a fleece of wool (Judges 6:36-40). First, he asks that the fleece be wet with dew while the ground is dry. Then, he asks for the opposite: that the fleece be dry while the ground is wet. Now, we would expect the dew to cover not just an object resting on the ground, but the ground itself. So Gideon was asking God to interrupt the natural order of things with a deviation from the usual, which is the definition of a miracle.
God graciously grants both requests. Gideon was like the man who told Jesus, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Though he’d had a divine visit and God did as Gideon requested (6:38), that wasn’t enough for Gideon. God responded mercifully. These "fleece tests" reveal Gideon's lingering fear and uncertainty, but also God's patience and willingness to meet Gideon where he is, strengthening his faith step by step.
Conclusion
Judges 6 is a powerful narrative about God's faithfulness, His unexpected choices, and the transformative power of faith. Gideon's story reminds us that God often calls the least likely individuals to accomplish His purposes, and that even in our moments of doubt and fear, God is patient and willing to provide the reassurance we need to step into His calling. The chapter also underscores the importance of obedience and the consequences of idolatry, both in the nation of Israel and in our own lives. By confronting our own idols and embracing God's presence, we, like Gideon, can move from fear to faith and become instruments of His deliverance.