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The story of Gideon is one of the most remarkable and encouraging narratives in the Bible. It shows how God can use a humble, doubtful, and even fearful man to bring about a powerful victory. He was not a mighty warrior by nature, nor was he from a prominent family, but God chose him to deliver Israel from the oppressive rule of the Midianites. His victory over the Midianites was not a result of military strategy or human strength but a demonstration of divine power and faith. His story is told in Judges chapters 6 through 8, and it reveals many spiritual lessons about obedience, courage, trust in God, and divine intervention.
The Oppression of Israel by the Midianites
The backdrop of this story is found in Judges 6:1, which says, “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years.”
Because of Israel’s disobedience and idolatry, God allowed them to fall into the hands of their enemies. The Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, came in like locusts and ruined the land. They would destroy crops, steal livestock, and make life unbearable for the Israelites. The Bible says in Judges 6:5, “For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it.”
This caused the Israelites to live in fear, hiding in caves and mountains. Eventually, they cried out to God for help. God responded, not by immediately sending deliverance, but by sending a prophet to remind them why they were in trouble. The prophet reminded them of God’s deliverance from Egypt and warned them against disobedience (Judges 6:7-10).
The Call of Gideon
Gideon was introduced in Judges 6:11 as a man threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. This was not the usual place to thresh wheat, which was normally done in open spaces. This man was trying to survive in secret, showing his fear and the harsh conditions under Midianite rule.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12). Gideon’s response revealed his doubt and confusion. He questioned why Israel was suffering if the Lord was truly with them. The angel replied, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14).
Gideon protested, saying that his clan was the weakest in Manasseh and that he was the least in his father’s house. But God said, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man” (Judges 6:16).
Gideon asked for a sign and prepared an offering of meat and unleavened bread. The angel touched the offering with his staff, and fire consumed it, confirming the divine call (Judges 6:19-21). He then realized he had seen the angel of the Lord and was afraid he would die. But the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die” (Judges 6:23).
Destroying the Altar of Baal
Before God used Gideon to fight the Midianites, He first required him to deal with idolatry in his own household. God told him to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and cut down the wooden image beside it (Judges 6:25). He obeyed, but because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night.
The next morning, the people discovered what had happened and demanded to kill Gideon. But his father, Joash, defended him, saying, “If he is a god, let him plead for himself” (Judges 6:31). From then on, Gideon was called Jerubbaal, meaning “Let Baal plead against him.”
This step was important. Before leading Israel into battle, he had to make a clear stand for the true God. His obedience, though done in fear, marked the beginning of his transformation into a leader of faith.
Gideon’s Army is Assembled
Soon after, the Midianites and Amalekites gathered in the Valley of Jezreel, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. He blew the trumpet, and people from several tribes joined him: Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali (Judges 6:33-35).
Still, Gideon struggled with fear and doubt. He asked God for another sign, involving a fleece. First, he asked that dew fall only on the fleece and not on the ground. God did it. Then he asked that dew fall only on the ground and not on the fleece. Again, God did it (Judges 6:36-40). Though some may see this as a lack of faith, God was patient and merciful, knowing Gideon needed reassurance.
God Reduces the Army
In Judges 7, Gideon had gathered an army of 32,000 men, but God told him, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands” (Judges 7:2). God wanted Israel to know that the victory was by His hand, not theirs.
First, God told Gideon to send home anyone who was afraid. Twenty-two thousand left, and only ten thousand remained. Then God gave another test. The men were brought to a river, and those who lapped water with their hands were chosen, while those who knelt and drank were sent home. Only 300 men were left (Judges 7:6-7).
This reduction showed that God does not need large numbers to accomplish His will. He often chooses the weak and small to reveal His strength.
The Encouragement from a Dream
That night, God told Gideon to go down to the Midianite camp to hear something that would strengthen his faith. Gideon took his servant Purah and went to the edge of the camp. There he heard a Midianite soldier telling a dream to another. The man said he dreamed of a barley loaf tumbling into the Midianite camp and knocking down a tent. His companion interpreted it, saying, “This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel!” (Judges 7:14).
Hearing this, Gideon worshiped God and returned to his camp, ready to lead his men.
The Strategy: Trumpets, Torches, and Clay Pitchers
Gideon divided the 300 men into three companies. Each man was given a trumpet, a clay pitcher, and a torch inside the pitcher (Judges 7:16). They were instructed to follow Gideon’s lead.
At night, they surrounded the Midianite camp. At Gideon’s signal, they blew the trumpets, broke the pitchers to reveal the torches, and shouted, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” (Judges 7:20).
The sudden noise, lights, and shouting caused panic and confusion among the Midianites. The Bible says, “the Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp” (Judges 7:22). The enemy soldiers turned on each other in the dark and fled.
This unusual strategy was not based on conventional warfare. It was a psychological and divine attack that caused fear and disorder. The victory was clearly from the Lord.
The Pursuit and Final Defeat
After the initial panic, Gideon sent messengers to the tribes of Ephraim and others to help capture the fleeing Midianites. They pursued them across the Jordan River and captured two princes, Oreb and Zeeb (Judges 7:24-25).
In Judges 8, Gideon continued the pursuit with his 300 men, though they were tired and hungry. He asked the people of Succoth and Penuel for food, but they refused. Gideon promised to deal with them after capturing the Midianite kings.
Eventually, Gideon captured the two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, and punished the cities that had refused to help. He then killed the kings, bringing complete victory.
Israel’s Reaction and Gideon’s Response
After the great victory, the Israelites offered to make Gideon their king. But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you” (Judges 8:23).
This response showed humility and a recognition that God alone is King. However, Gideon made a mistake afterward by collecting gold from the people and making an ephod (a priestly garment) that later became an object of idolatry (Judges 8:27). This led Israel into spiritual trouble, showing that even faithful leaders can falter.
Gideon’s Legacy
Gideon ruled for many years and brought peace to the land. Judges 8:28 says, “Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.”
Gideon had seventy sons and lived to an old age. After his death, however, Israel returned to idolatry. Judges 8:33-34 says, “Then it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals… Thus the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.”
Lessons from Gideon’s Victory
- God uses the weak to accomplish great things
Gideon was not a mighty warrior at first. He was afraid, doubtful, and came from a humble background. Yet God chose him, empowered him, and used him for a mighty deliverance. - Faith grows through obedience
Gideon started with fear and hesitation, but with each step of obedience, his faith grew. God patiently reassured him and confirmed His promises. - Victory belongs to the Lord
The defeat of the Midianites was not through strength or numbers. With only 300 men, God brought confusion to the enemy and turned them against one another. The credit for the victory belonged to God alone. - Courage means acting even when afraid
Gideon was afraid many times, but he still moved forward. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is obeying God despite fear. - Spiritual compromise has long-term effects
Though Gideon led a faithful life, his later actions with the ephod contributed to Israel’s decline after his death. Leaders must remain spiritually vigilant even in victory.
Conclusion
Gideon’s defeat of the Midianites is one of the clearest examples in the Bible of how God works through human weakness to display His strength. From a timid man hiding in a winepress to a mighty leader of faith, Gideon’s journey is a testimony of what God can do through those who trust and obey Him. The victory over the Midianites did not come from clever tactics or overwhelming force but through God’s direct intervention and Gideon’s growing faith. It reminds believers that no matter how small or unqualified we may feel, God is able to use anyone who is willing to follow Him.