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Gideon's Profile
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Most of us want to know God's plan for our
lives, but we're not always sure how to find it. One common misunderstanding is
the idea that God's guidance will come to us out of the blue, that it has
nothing to do with what we're doing now. But if we're always looking around for
God's next assignment, we run the risk of ruining whatever we're working on
right now. Fortunately, the Bible points to a kind of guidance that does not put
our current projects in jeopardy. In the Bible's descriptions of how God guided
many people, we can see that often God's call came while people were completely
immersed in the challenge of the moment. A good example of this kind of guidance
is seen in Gideon's life.
Gideon had a limited vision, but he was committed to it. His challenge was to
obtain food for his family even though hostile invaders were making the growing,
gathering, and preparation of the food almost impossible. Gideon was
resourceful. He put a winepress to double duty by turning it into a sunken
threshing floor. It lacked ventilation to blow the chaff away, but at least it
was hidden from the Midianites. Gideon was working in his threshing floor when
God sent him a messenger with a challenge.
Gideon was surprised by what God told him to do. He did not want to jump into
a task for which he was ill prepared. The angel had to overcome three objections
before Gideon was convinced: (1) Gideon's feeling of responsibility for his
family's welfare, (2) his doubts about the call itself, and (3) his feelings of
inadequacy for the job. Once Gideon was convinced, however, he obeyed with zest,
resourcefulness, and speed. He dedicated those personality traits to God, with
whom he was now personally acquainted.
Gideon had his weak moments and failures, but he was still God's servant. If
you can easily see yourself in Gideon's weakness, can you also see yourself in
being willing to serve? Remember Gideon was a man who obeyed God by giving his
attention to the task at hand. Then give your full attention to believing God
will prepare you for tomorrow when it comes.
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Strengths and Accomplishments
* Israel's fifth judge. A military strategist who
was expert at surprise
* A member of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11
* Defeated the Midianite army
* Was offered a hereditary kingship by the men of Israel
* Though slow to be convinced, acted on his convictions
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Weaknesses and Mistakes
* Feared that his own limitations would prevent
God from working
* Collected Midianite gold and made a symbol that became an evil object of
worship
* Through a concubine, fathered a son who would bring great grief and tragedy to
both Gideon's family and the nation of Israel
* Failed to established the nation in God's ways; after he died they all went
back to idol worship
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Lessons from His Life
* God calls in the middle of our present
obedience. As we are faithful, he gives us more responsibility
* God expands and uses the abilities he has already built into us
* God uses us in spite of our limitations and failures
* Even those who make great spiritual progress can easily fall into sin if they
don't consistently follow God
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Vital Statistics
* Where: Ophrah, Valley of Jezreel, spring of
Harod
* Occupations: Farmer, warrior, and judge
* Relatives: Father: Joash, Son: Abimelech
* Contemporaries: Zebah, Zalmunna
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Key Verses
" 'But Lord,' Gideon asked, 'how can I save
Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.'
The Lord answered, 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the
Midianites together' " (Judges 6:15, 16).
His story is told in Judges 6-8. He is also
mentioned in Hebrews 11:32.
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