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Gideon
Chapter Six presents the call of Gideon as well as the origin of the altar at Ophrah and the institution of the burnt fire offering.
The Midianites were robbing Israel of the fruit of their labor, and the Israelites cried out to God for justice. God calls Gideon to act as God’s agent and deliver the people from the Midianites. Gideon responds by telling God he is too lowly, too unable for such a task. Some scholars indicate this is a common Oriental gesture of humility. It may be. Or it may be a Moses-like response: ‘Here I am, Lord, send Aaron!’ God draws a little closer and Gideon accepts the call. (Some of the seminarians in our church resonate with Gideon. They heard God’s call years and years ago, but it took the patient presence of the Lord to finally convince them God was serious!) Gideon builds an altar (named Yahweh-Shalom - God is peace) and is taught a new form of sacrifice - the burnt or fire offering. Next Gideon destroys the altar of Baal to replace it with one to God, and is saved from the wrath of the pagan worshippers by his father, who diplomatically suggests Baal can take care of himself. Gideon’s father then renames his son, Jerubbaal. The Hebrew meaning of Jerubbaal is unclear. The name may mean, “Let Baal contend,” or may mean, “Let the Lord take action.” Gideon’s father may have banked on the lack of clarity in the name - letting the people believe it means “Let Baal contend against him,” while the dad knew it indicated the LORD would take action.
Most of us can identify with the “fleece story” found in 6:36-40. God puts up with Gideon’s request for a sign. After getting the first sign, though, Gideon is still uncertain. So he asks for another. How many times have we asked God for some hint, some sign, and when we receive an answer, doubt it? .
Inspired by God, Gideon manages a clever victory over the Midianites. He reduces the size of his army, and has the remaining men surround a Midianite encampment in the dark, smash the coverings over their torches revealing sudden light, blow on trumpets and shout, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” The Midianites, awakened to the roar, are terrified and run for their lives.
One of the great things about the Bible is that it refuses to totally whitewash its accounts of its leaders and people. ALL humans sin and fall short, called or not. Israel’s accommodation, acculturation and idolatry rubbed off a little too much on Gideon, and he fashioned an idol. In words echoing that of the prophets Hosea and Jeremiah, Judges 8:27 describes how the idol became a snare to Gideon, and all Israel “whored” after it. Nevertheless, Midian was subdued. Evidently Gideon managed to avoid total idolatry; however the story reports that after his death, “Israel turned again and whored after the Baals and made Baal-berith their god. And the people of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side, and they did not show steadfast love (hesed) to the family of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done for Israel” (8:33-34). How quickly we forget!
In the Book of Romans, especially Romans 1, the Apostle Paul talks poignantly about idolatry. We forget - at our peril - that the first commandment mandates that we worship GOD alone. So much competes with God. Indeed, today we worship money, our lifestyles, our nation, our opinions, our agendas.. We hold these things in our minds and hearts with far more consistency and regularity than our prayerful worship of the Lord. When you read about the idols in Judges, remember that not every idol is an icon or statue. Think money, think lifestyle, and you will better see the spiritual battle Israel faced...and we as well!
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