Judges 6:25-40

     The Central Idea of the Text is that Gideon obeyed God and tore down the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole that stood beside it.

     Israel was suffering oppression from the Midianites because of their spiritual infidelity (Judg. 6:1).  God’s deliverance necessitated that Israel obey Him by destroying their idols and return to worshipping Him.  God called Gideon to judge and lead Israel back to Him, and this meant that Gideon had to deal with the idolatry within his own family.  By destroying the altar of Baal and the Asherah pole, Gideon was committing himself to God and preparing himself to do His will.  Gideon was obedient to God, but he was also fearful of the reaction of his father and the men of the city.  In many cases fear is neither unreasonable nor sinful, unless it impedes us from doing God’s will.  Courage is not the absence of fear, but the overcoming of fear to do the right thing.

     Gideon’s actions were met with hostility by the men of the city who sought his death.  Those who pronounced death upon Gideon for tearing down the altar of Baal, were in fact guilty of death because they supported idolatry in Israel and led others away from God (Deut. 13:6-10).  Gideon’s father was encouraged by Gideon’s act of faith and supported his son against his detractors who sought to kill him.  Sometimes it takes the faith of only one person to bring a family and others back to a walk with God.  Once Gideon had committed himself to the Lord, the Spirit of Yahweh empowered him to do His will. 

     The fleece-test reveals a lack of faith on the part of Gideon who already knew God’s will for Him (Judg. 6:14, 16), and had already received a sign from the Lord (Judg. 6:17, 21).  Operation “fleece” revealed Gideon’s internal struggle to accept God’s call upon His life as a judge and leader in Israel.  Gideon felt he needed God’s assurance that He was with him.  Gideon had weak faith, but he was open about it before the Lord, and God graciously accommodated him.  At times, God graciously responds to our weaknesses as well. 

     Our walk with God should be our highest priority and all else should support that endeavor.  Walking with God means we learn His word and seek to live His will (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18).  It sometimes means we make choices contrary to family values (when they are worldly), as well as choices that go against cultural values and practices.  We live in a world that is heavily influenced by demonic forces which are hostile to God (Acts 26:17-18; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2-3; 6:12; Col. 1:13) and our daily actions either help or hinder the spiritual lives of others.  All we think, say and do (i.e. a move, new job, financial pursuit, etc.) should be weighed against the impact it will have upon the spiritual lives of others with whom we interact.  God sustains those who walk with Him.