Gideon: The Reluctant Saviour

Judges 6

– As we begin to study the ‘Gideon cycle’ this morning we are going to meet one of Israel’s most reluctant heroes!

– In this passage Gideon raises three objections that many of God’s people continue to struggle with:

I. Objection 1: God, You Don’t Care (vv. 1-13)

1)    Israel’s Dire Situation

a.      Midianites:  Friends turned foes!

b.      Extreme poverty and famine due to theft

2)    God’s Response to Israel’s Sin

a.   A Sermon instead of a Saviour!

• Sudden alteration in the ‘cycle apostasy’ grabs our attention
• The prophet repeats the message of the Angel from 2:1-2

Application:  God desires true repentance, not superficial remorse!  (2 Cor 7:10)

b.   God chooses a Deliverer

• God’s sovereign initiative in salvation begins even before His people repent!
• God’s election of Gideon

1.      An idol-worshipper

2.      A fearful coward (note the irony when the angel calls him a ‘mighty man of valour’)

3)    Gideon’s Response to God’s Call

a.   God doesn’t care! (vv. 12-13)

b.   Gideon wrongly sees ‘trouble’ as evidence that God has abandoned Israel

Application:  Don’t assume that difficulties in your life are a sign of God’s absence!

–   God’s fatherly discipline?

–   Effects of life in a fallen world?

–   God’s purposes are always being worked out through our pain!

II. Objection 2: God, You Can’t Use Me (vv. 15-16)

1)    Gideon’s self-effacing excuse

a.      He’s right in the sense that we can do nothing for God in and of ourselves

b.      He’s wrong in the sense that God can’t use ordinary people to accomplish His purposes

c.      Gideon’s excuse is mirrored in Scripture by both Moses (Ex 4:10-13) & Saul (1 Sam 9:21)

2)    God’s response:  “I’m with you!”  (cf. Ex 3:12)

Application:  God does not need us, but He uses us anyway, and promises us His presence and power to accomplish the mission

III. Objection 3:  God, I Don’t Trust You (vv. 17-40)

1)    Gideon’s First Request for a Sign (vv. 17-24)

2)    A Trembling Step of Obedience (vv. 25-27)

a.      The ‘syncretism’ of Israelite religion

b.      God’s demand for exclusive allegiance

c.      Gideon’s struggle with faith – “Surely, while we teach that faith ought to be certain and assured, we cannot imagine any certainty that is not tinged with doubt, or any assurance that is not assailed by some anxiety.” – John Calvin

d.      God’s supernatural empowerment (v. 34)

3)    Gideon and his ‘fleece’

a.      Gideon’s request for further evidence of God’s will is a sign of unbelief

b.      The ‘fleece incident’ is a dark blot on Gideon, not a model that Christian should follow today.

c.      What’s more remarkable than the miracle of the fleece is God’s patience with Gideon!

Application:  When God’s will is clearly revealed in His Word, the appropriate response is to obey.