Fearful to Faithful
Gideon is first introduced in Scripture as hiding from the Midianites in a wine press (Judges 6:11). That is not his only display of weakness, however.
Not fully believing that he would save Israel, Gideon immediately asked God for a sign that what he was witnessing was Him. God was patient and granted that to Gideon, who led 10 men to take down Baal's altar (Judges 6:14-28). Then Gideon did it again; he asked for another sign, this time in the form of the wet and dry fleece. God once again answered Gideon’s request (Judges 6:36-40).
The rest of the Gideon's biblical account demonstrates his bravery and righteousness. He took an army of 300 valiant men to subdue and eventually overthrow Israel's foes. Once he saved Israel from the Midianites, as God told him initially, the people of Israel wanted Gideon to be king.
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.' But Gideon said to them, 'I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you' (Judges 8:22-23).
Gideon insisted that God should be the sole King in Israel, and that resulted in 40 years of no foreign nation oppressing Israel (Judges 8:28). Once a frightened warrior hiding in a winepress, God called Gideon to overcome fear and a lack of faith to be a faithful, mighty commander. Fittingly, Gideon is included as one of several "heroes of faith" mentioned in Hebrews 11:32-34.
Ben Sanders
Taken from crosswalk.com
Not fully believing that he would save Israel, Gideon immediately asked God for a sign that what he was witnessing was Him. God was patient and granted that to Gideon, who led 10 men to take down Baal's altar (Judges 6:14-28). Then Gideon did it again; he asked for another sign, this time in the form of the wet and dry fleece. God once again answered Gideon’s request (Judges 6:36-40).
The rest of the Gideon's biblical account demonstrates his bravery and righteousness. He took an army of 300 valiant men to subdue and eventually overthrow Israel's foes. Once he saved Israel from the Midianites, as God told him initially, the people of Israel wanted Gideon to be king.
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.' But Gideon said to them, 'I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you' (Judges 8:22-23).
Gideon insisted that God should be the sole King in Israel, and that resulted in 40 years of no foreign nation oppressing Israel (Judges 8:28). Once a frightened warrior hiding in a winepress, God called Gideon to overcome fear and a lack of faith to be a faithful, mighty commander. Fittingly, Gideon is included as one of several "heroes of faith" mentioned in Hebrews 11:32-34.
Ben Sanders
Taken from crosswalk.com