Bible Verse: “So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.” (Judges 6:27)
Scripture Reading: Judges 6:21–9:57
Gideon’s fleece is perhaps the most famous part of his story. It’s not the best part of his story, but, like all the judges to come, the best part of these stories isn’t really connected to the judge. It’s God who stands above the muck and mire of even His chosen instruments.
With the rise of Gideon, we truly begin to see that it is not just the people of God who are sliding into ever worse behavior; it is the leaders as well. In fact, we only see the leaders in most of the book. We are treated to an inside view of the state of Israel.
Gideon’s story starts low, literally, and doesn’t really get better. We find him hiding in a winepress threshing wheat—a task usually done at a higher point so that the wind can help separate the wheat and the chaff. His cowardliness is the first thing we know about him, and it is confirmed throughout the story.
Though he is finally convinced that God will indeed deliver Israel through him (and in spectacular fashion at that; see chapter 7), that is the minor part of his story. The character of this deliverer is the focus of his time on the pages of Scripture.
Gideon was a man prone to anger and violence despite his cowardly nature. In chapter 8, we read of his vengeful retribution upon towns that would not help him. Sukkoth and Peniel suffered the wrath of a deeply flawed man. It is a mistake to read his actions as reflecting the will of God. He is a paradigm of the point of Judges: God delivers, even through broken and sinful people. And Gideon’s faults were not limited to his violence.
The man who delivered Israel ended up leading them right back into idolatry and apostasy. Taking some of the spoils of war, Gideon created an ephod (a priestly garment) and hung it in his town…and the people worshipped it!
This is the state to which Israel is plummeting. Their own deliverers, God’s instruments, are leading them back into the very sinful cycle they have broken.
Prayer: God, it is hard to read of the repeated failures and shortcomings of people. These dark and disturbing stories capture the true darkness that can live in the hearts of humanity. Yet our brokenness does not surprise or hinder You. Thank You that You continue to be faithful even when we are not. Amen.
Reflection: How do you grapple with the reality of broken people? Does it give you hope that the stories of people in Scripture are of brokenness and sin as well?
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