Opening:

As we continue our sermon series through Judges, we see the Israelites falling once again into their cycle of disobedience and idolatry, turning away from God. In response, the Midianites—a ruthless enemy—swept over the land like locusts, devastating crops, stealing livestock, and forcing the Israelites into hiding. In their distress, the people cried out to God, turning back to Him in their suffering. Sadly, this pattern of rebellion, suffering, repentance, and deliverance is one that repeats itself throughout the book of Judges.

Yet it is during this time of fear that  we meet Gideon. He wasn’t a mighty warrior when we first see him. Instead, he was hiding, threshing wheat in a winepress to avoid the Midianites. Like many of us, Gideon struggled with fear and doubt. He didn’t begin as a bold leader, but as a man afraid of his circumstances. Yet, it was through this very man—timid and unsure—that God would deliver Israel.

Let us read from Gods Word: 

Scripture Reading: 

Judges 6:11-7:22 ESV

Opening Prayer:

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we come before You today, grateful for Your presence in our lives. As we reflect on the story of Gideon, we are reminded that You see beyond our weaknesses, our fears, and our doubts. You call us not for our strength but for our willingness to trust in Your power. Lord, help us to hear Your voice clearly, even when we feel inadequate, and give us the courage to step out in faith, knowing that You are with us. May Your Spirit guide our hearts and minds today as we open Your Word. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

“O Mighty Man of Valor”

Imagine Gideon, the son of Joash, crouching low in a winepress. The Midianites have invaded the land. For seven long years, they have ravaged the people of Israel. Like locusts, they swarm in and devour everything—crops, livestock, and livelihoods. The Israelites are now hiding in caves and mountain clefts, struggling to survive. Hope seems distant, and fear hangs over the land like a dark cloud.

Here is Gideon hiding in a winepress. Why? Because he is afraid—afraid of the Midianites, afraid of losing what little he has, and afraid the enemy will find him and destroy the meager grains he is trying to thresh. Wheat was usually threshed in the open, so the wind could separate the grain from the chaff. Yet here is Gideon, driven by fear, retreating into the safety of a winepress. His actions speak of a man already defeated before the battle begins.

Can you feel his fear? Can you sense the desperation? He’s threshing wheat in secret, hoping the Midianites won’t notice him or steal what little he’s managed to gather. This is not a scene of victory. This is survival. Gideon is not a warrior; he’s simply a man trying to make it through the day without losing everything.

Gideon’s fear wasn’t irrational. It was based on real threats. He lived in a time when every step outside could mean danger, bringing the Midianites down on him. The Midianites were relentless and powerful. Scripture tells us they would come up "like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted" (Judges 6:5, ESV). Each time the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites would swoop in and destroy everything, leaving no sustenance, "no sheep or ox or donkey" (Judges 6:4, ESV) 

But this is where God steps in. In the very place of Gideon’s fear, in the midst of his hiding, the angel of the Lord appears with these startling words: "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor!" (Judges 6:12, ESV). How shocking this must have sounded to Gideon! He is hiding in fear, yet called a mighty warrior. 

Still, like many of us, Gideon wasn’t convinced right away. He questioned God. He doubted. He asked, "Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" (Judges 6:13, ESV). Don’t we ask the same question? Gideon, like so many of us, couldn’t reconcile the oppression around him with the idea of God’s presence. How could God be with us, he wondered, when everything was going so wrong? When life gets hard, when we face challenges that seem insurmountable, we wonder, "Where is God? If He is with me, why am I suffering? Why am I struggling?" Gideon couldn’t see beyond his present pain to the greater plan God had for him and for Israel.

But God’s response to Gideon’s doubt is full of grace and power. He doesn’t scold or belittle him. Instead, God says, "But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man" (Judges 6:16, ESV). Notice God’s promise isn’t based on Gideon’s strength or abilities—it’s based on God’s presence in Gideon’s life. "I will be with you." That’s all that matters. God’s presence is enough to overcome every obstacle, every enemy, and every fear.

Just as God was with Gideon, He is with you. In moments when you feel like hiding when fear keeps you small, remember that God is calling you out of the winepress. He calls you to be the mighty warrior He created you to be. He calls you to step out in faith, trusting that His presence will go with you and His power will work through you.

The Testing of Gideon’s Faith 

Notice that God’s first command to Gideon wasn’t to lead Israel into battle but to begin with a personal act of obedience—right in his own backyard. God told him to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and build an altar to the Lord in its place. Although Gideon obeyed, he did so under the cover of night, afraid of what might happen (Judges 6:27, ESV). This small, quiet act was an important first step for Gideon. Often, the most important battles aren’t fought in public but in the private corners of our lives—within our hearts, homes, and private decisions. God often tests us with small acts of obedience to prepare us for the larger tasks ahead. 

Like Gideon, we are also called to tear down “altars” in our own lives that don’t align with God’s will. Like Gideon, we may feel fear, but true faith is trusting God enough to obey, even when we’re scared. What matters isn’t how bold we feel but that we act in obedience. God isn’t looking for perfection; He desires hearts willing to follow Him, even in small, uncertain steps. Growing in faith comes from our willingness to obey the little things. As Jesus teaches, “One who is faithful in little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10, ESV).

When the townsmen discovered what Gideon had done, they were furious and demanded his death. In a surprising turn, Gideon’s father, Joash, defended him, saying, “Will you contend for Baal, or will you save him?... If he is a god, let him contend for himself” (Judges 6:31, ESV). As a result, Gideon earned the name Jerubbaal, meaning “Let Baal contend against him.” 

Notice how Gideon’s faith began to grow with each step of obedience. Initially, Gideon was a man filled with fear. But with each act of trust in God, his faith deepened. This transformation wasn’t immediate, but Scripture tells us that “the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon” (Judges 6:34, ESV). The man who had once hidden in fear was now beginning to step into his God-given leadership role. 

Sometimes, we make the mistake of thinking that faith is a one-time decision. The truth is that faith is something that grows over time. Just as Gideon’s faith grew through the trials he faced, our own faith is shaped by the obstacles and uncertainties we encounter. As we lean on the Lord, He equips us for the tasks ahead, preparing us for the greater challenges He has in store. Gideon didn’t become a mighty warrior overnight. It was a gradual process of learning to trust God, one step at a time. 

Even as Gideon’s faith matured, he still sought reassurance from God before leading Israel into battle against the Midianites. Recognizing the enormity of the task ahead, he asked God for a sign, “If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand” (Judges 6:37, ESV). When God graciously fulfilled this request, Gideon asked for another sign, this time reversing the conditions: “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more... let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew” (Judges 6:39, ESV). Though Scripture warns against putting God to the test (Matthew 4:7), we see here a God who is patient and understanding, meeting Gideon in his uncertainty.

God understands our human frailty and doubts. He doesn’t rebuke Gideon for seeking reassurance. While we shouldn’t make a habit of testing God, there are times when we may, like Gideon, need extra encouragement or clarity. Like the man in Mark 9:24 who cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (ESV), we too can bring our doubts and fears to God. We don’t need to have all the answers or possess unshakable faith—what matters is that we trust God enough to take the next step. o, even in moments of doubt, remember that God is faithful. He equips us for the challenges ahead, and His presence is the source of our confidence. Just as He assured Gideon, “I will be with you” (Judges 6:16, ESV), God offers the same promise to us. 

The Victory of God Through Human Weakness (Judges 7:1-22)

Now imagine Gideon standing with 32,000 men, ready to face the Midianites. Though he might have felt somewhat confident with such a sizable force, God had other plans: "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast...‘My own hand has saved me’" (Judges 7:2, ESV). 

Gideon was already up against an army described as vast as "the sand on the seashore." Yet, God was saying, "You have too many men." 

God’s goal was to ensure that His power, not Israel's strength, was on display. So, God instructed Gideon to send home anyone who was afraid. As a result, 22,000 men left, leaving Gideon with just 10,000. Imagine his reaction as he watched two-thirds of his army walk away. But God wasn’t done. Even 10,000 was too many. God had Gideon take the men to a stream and told him to separate them by how they drank water. Only 300 men lapped water like dogs, and these were the ones God chose. Gideon’s army was reduced from 32,000 to 300, ensuring that no one could boast of their strength when the victory came. And that’s the point. God deliberately set up an impossible situation so that when the victory came, everyone would know it was His doing. 

How often do we feel we need more resources, strength, or help to face life’s battles? Yet God’s message to Gideon, and to us, is clear: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV). When we are weak, God is strong. When we feel we have nothing left, God steps in to show He is all we need.

God, knowing Gideon’s fear, reassured him. He told Gideon to sneak into the enemy camp and listen. There, Gideon overheard two soldiers discussing a dream in which a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp, collapsing a tent. The other soldier interpreted it, saying, "This is no other than the sword of Gideon... God has given the Midianites into his hand" (Judges 7:14, ESV).

Imagine Gideon’s relief as he realized even the enemy feared him. This confirmation gave him the courage to lead his 300 men into battle. Gideon armed his men not with swords but with trumpets, empty jars, and torches. They surrounded the Midianite camp in the darkness, and at Gideon’s signal, they broke their jars, blew their trumpets, and shouted, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" (Judges 7:20, ESV).

The Midianite camp then descended into chaos. In their panic, the soldiers turned their swords on each other. Gideon’s men didn’t need to lift a weapon. In an ironic twist, God orchestrated events so that the mighty Midianites defeated themselves. Likewise, our battles aren’t ours alone—they belong to Him. Even when the odds seem impossible, we serve the God who makes the impossible possible. The victory always was, and always will be, the Lord’s.

Conclusion:

As we reflect on Gideon’s story, we witness a powerful truth. Just as God worked through Gideon’s weakness to bring victory, the gospel reveals the ultimate display of divine strength in the apparent weakness of the cross. Through Christ’s sacrificial love, God accomplished what no human effort ever could—He defeated sin and death. 

Like Gideon, we are called in our weakness. God is not looking for self-sufficient people; He desires those who will humbly say, "I am weak, but you art mighty." It’s in our reliance on Him, not ourselves, that we find strength. Christ, our Deliverer, like Gideon, rescues His people—not from Midian, but from the power of sin. Let us look to Him in faith, knowing that God uses the weak to fulfill His purposes for His glory alone. May we go forth in the confidence of the Lord, trusting that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. 

Closing Prayer:

Lord God, we thank You for the powerful lessons You’ve taught us through the story of Gideon. Like him, we are often weak and afraid, but You are strong. As we go forth from here, remind us that the battles we face are not ours alone—they belong to You. Strengthen our faith, O Lord, and let us walk in the confidence that Your grace is sufficient and Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Help us to trust You in every situation and rely not on our own strength but on the victory You promise. We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.