Although we know God wants us to say yes to Him, this was a hard concept for the Israelites to grasp. In Judges 6, the Israelites had once again turned from the one true God and sought fulfillment through the worship of false gods. Because of their disobedience, God permitted neighboring countries to overpower Israel. Each time the people attempted to plant crops, the Midianites and Amalekites would sweep in and destroy what had been planted. After years of stubbornness, the Israelites finally cried out to God.
The Lord heard their petitions and sent a judge to lead them to victory over their enemies. Ironically, God chose to use a simple farmer to redeem Israel. A farmer! Gideon was not trained in the military, and yet the angel of the Lord called him “mighty warrior.” The Hebrew translation of the word gibbowr describes the warrior as strong, mighty, and impetuous (aggressive and fast-moving). A warrior is also described as having hunter-like qualities and capabilities.
There are some interesting parallels between the calling of Gideon (Judges 6) and the calling of Moses (Exodus 3). In Exodus 3, Moses protests his fitness to be the deliverer of God’s chosen people. He asks the question, “Who am I?” and highlights for God (as if He is unaware) his weaknesses. Gideon responds in a similar way, pointing out to God that not only is he from the weakest tribe in Israel, but he is the least of the weakest. God’s response to both Moses and Gideon is the same—“I will be with you.”
It was not Gideon’s skill and experience that made him fit to be a warrior; it was the Lord God. A simple farmer became a strategic warrior. Gideon was used by the Lord of Israel to redeem and save her from her enemies when he said yes to God.
God wants us to say yes to Him.
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