I am not like the child who keeps asking. I am like the one who asks once, receives a “no,” and leaves dejected. Persistence is not a particularly strong skill of mine, and it takes a great deal of attention for me to know what I desire most of the time. This may be rare. I know many women whose desires are potent, present, and always before them. They posture themselves before God asking and asking and asking again for Him to meet their desires. We have all been given different measures of faith (Romans 12:3).
In this passage, Gideon is an asker who won’t take “yes” for an answer. He wants reassurance even after God responds to his request: “‘Don’t be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me to make one more test with the fleece. Let it remain dry, and the dew be all over the ground’” (Judges 6:39). In the end, God gives him the reassurance he’s asked for: God’s presence goes with Gideon in battle.
I sometimes wonder why God entertained Gideon’s request. Was God bolstering Gideon’s faith, bit by bit, before leading Gideon into battle? After all, God had already answered Gideon. But God met Gideon right where he was, giving him what he needed in the moment, progressing Gideon’s faith—growing it, bolstering it, and filling it to overflowing.
When we ask God for something again and again, it doesn’t always mean we’re petulant children, whining about how unfair life is. Sometimes it means we’re inching closer and closer to seeing the enormity of God’s overwhelming help, love, and presence, which seem almost too good to be true.
When we ask God for what we don’t think is humanly possible, we acknowledge our utter inability to bring it to pass. We submit to the truth of His absolute sovereignty over all things. This is what Gideon shows us about God and man: the beautiful practice of God’s children seeking and asking, and the spectacular gift of God’s presence with us.
Leave a Reply
37 thoughts on "Gideon"
You love me as I am. Help me to know that. In Jesus name. Amen
Love!!
I’m confused as to where God didn’t give Gideon the answer he was looking for. God did as Gideon asked every time…
I love that God answered Gideon three times, even though Gideon should have believed God the first time. This gives me peace that I can ask God a question multiple times.
The part where you mentioned about Gideon’s faith growing and growing really spoke to me because I could identify with that. I’ve been praying to God about something and just when I thought I had it, he made me wait for it, increasing my faith in his answer through the wait.
Gideon isn’t perfect and neither are we. If anything, the characters in the Bible are there for us to identify with and to show us how in every step of the way humanity needs God. We are also able to see God’s characteristics through the relationships he holds with everyone we encounter in the Bible.
@Ashley – same…I take this passage to mean that God was demonstrating signs to prove that a doubtful Gideon could trust Him. I don’t see in the passage that God originally wasn’t going to help Gideon. God actually says from the beginning, “I will be with you.” (Judges 6:16)
How patient god is with me!
This past Sunday the sermon was about all of the times God says “I am with you”. God says that a lot! He reminds us that He is with us. How easy it is for me to forget that and believe that it all depends on me. No wonder I get so overwhelmed. Even in this story of Gideon, God chose one of the smallest and weakest to go into battle. I’m pretty sure I would be looking around behind me if an angel said that to me. Who me???? Really??? I”m often timid to make specific requests of God, such as the fleece, but maybe that is okay to do. I’ve been trying to be more specific with my prayer requests instead of just asking God to ‘bless everyone’. God understands us better than we do ourselves. I trust Him to show me the way in His way, knowing He is with me.
Over the last couple of days, Faith has played a very different role in my life and this hit on something huge for me. There are time where we do not feel like we are enough to deal with something and that we need God to essentially fix it for us, but instead God gives us the strength to handle those situations ourselves, and then it is up to us to use that strength (or not) and honestly, that is comforting because it let’s me know that I still have the power to make my own decisions (God’s plan for us is something I’ve struggled with for years) and He still supporting us though our lives by giving us the tools. I think a lot of times in life, God sets up things for us but those situations have unexpected outcomes, but it gives us a chance to learn and grow as people
I’m having a difficult time finding where God changed his mind after re-reading the Judges passages. Any input?
Kayla, as I read what you wrote I could identify with each sentence. So many times my questions are seeking that I’m responding to what God wants and not me or satan. Thanks.
I value your insights, Churchmouse! Thank you!
I am bowed over by God’s sweet, sweet kindness & allowance for Gideon’s persistent doubt. He had “legit” reasons for his doubt: being from meager background & puzzled about where the God of Israel’s history was. And yet he had just recognized h was in God’s presence, had seen the fire consume the food & broth. Yet he needed & sought repeated assurances which the Lord graciously provided: the flee e, & sending him the overhear the Midianite’s dream & its interpretation. He also spoke such encouraging & envisionary words: the LORD is with you; go in the strength you have; I will be with you; peace to you, you will not die; if you are [still] afraid, go down to the camp…
What an amazing God who has dealt similarly with my pathetic doubts & unbelief.
Things I appreciate about today’s reading:
1)When the angel appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, valiant warrior.” His first thought wasn’t about being called a valiant warrior, it was about the LORD being with him. All his life he heard about how the LORD brought them out of Egypt, of His power and might, and yet, at this place and time he felt abandoned by the LORD. He was hungry to see the LORD, he wanted the LORD to be with him, but didn’t understand how that could be. (He didn’t realize the deliverer of the message of the LORD until the food he offered became a sacrifice and the angel disappeared. )
2)I also adore God’s grace towards him. After he realizes it was the LORD bringing the message he panics, but the LORD offered him peace and told him not to be afraid. God also graciously gives the sign of the fleece. I wondered if that sign helped Gideon later when he took his army from 32,000 to 300? I also see grace when God told him it was time to go, but…if he was feeling afraid to take Purah and go listen to the enemies conversation.
LORD, when you call me, I long for my heart to recognize that what matters is that You are with me. And, when I am in the depths of discouragement-when I lean towards unbelief…thank you for loving me even there and allowing me to ask the questions of my heart. Thank you for your mercy and grace in situations where you lead and guide me step by step into Your will and Your call. Thank you Jesus for coming to this earth and understanding my human frailties and yet conquering them yourself. You know me and still love me, and I am thankful. Amen, Selah.
This story for me is about accepting God’s help. I think Gideon wasn’t really testing his faith every time he asked God for a sign but it was more of “ ok I need to know you are there so I can accept your help”. I don’t think I always allow God to fight my battles with me because I don’t feel worthy of Him. I am glad that God is merciful enough to stay with Gideon to truly show him that He would be by his side no matter what.
I was encouraged this morning by these passages about Gideon and by the devotion. My son is in a lifestyle that is humanly impossible for me to change his heart about. I am encouraged in God’s sovereignty this morning and to be persistent in prayer.
10Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, Lord.
This really spoke to me this morning. ❤️
I’m with Emily and Carrie on this one — I don’t think Gideon was full of faith. Gideon was hiding, threshing wheat in secret so the enemy wouldn’t find his grain, when he was visited supernaturally by an angel (or maybe Jesus, I think some theologians believe this could have been a theophany) and yet he had to ask for several miraculous signs before he actually took steps of faith. He was honest, though, admitting that he didn’t have the faith to do what God had chosen him for — God was patient and kind to bear with Gideon in his faltering faith, bolstering it with supernatural signs.
Becky, I agree that he was hiding. But I sometimes find myself in prayer saying, Ok God, I’m oblivious here. I almost need that supernatural ,so to speak, sign to know that it is God I am hearing, and not the devil pushing me to take matters into my own hands and getting in God’s way. There have been times that I think I hear God clearly, know I have, and other times I’ve had to ask, God is that you? Am I messing things up? My doubt is not in God, he always has me, but my doubt comes in knowing for certain I am doing what he is asking/calling me to do.
Here is the link to the song I mentioned above: https://youtu.be/OqjGT9BSyJA
Hillary, my pastor just gave a message about the answer to our prayers being no or not yet. Of course we don’t like that, but His plan is always better. I wouldn’t have chosen so many of the heartbreaking things that I’ve walked through, but God used even these things. That song called, Scars, talks about being thankful for the scars of life, because he saw God’s heart and that his brokenness brought him to God. The song says that his scars are a story he will use! That’s so true. My pastor was saying to keep pursuing God, Praising Him, and Praying even when the answer is no. We may not understand everything on this side of Heaven, but we can see God’s character through His Word. He sent Jesus and He is the image of God. Think of how helped those in need, the outcasts and the lonely. He had compassion on the people. That’s God, and He is Love, and He is faithful and trustworthy.
“I sometimes wonder if God changed his mind because of Gideon’s request.” I need some help in understanding this part of the commentary. After reading the Judges passages several times through, I am still missing where God changed his mind—it looks to me like God assigned him his task and then said I will be with you. God makes the fleece wet when Gideon asks him to make the fleece wet, and He makes the fleece dry when Gideon asks him to make the fleece dry. I interpreted this as Gideon asking twice because he needed to hear it twice that God was indeed going to be with him in the huge feat of going into battle. Where is it that God changed his mind from “no” to “yes”?
Agreed – I was confused about this as well. I had to go back and read it again because I never saw that as God changing his answer, but as Gideon asking for confirmation.
I agree with you, I don’t see God changing His mind, just confirming what He is telling Gideon to do and trust Him for.
I’m with y’all. I saw it as Gideon needing reassurance each time that God would be there for him.
This first paragraph really spoke to me this morning: “I am not like the child who keeps asking. I am like the one who asks once, receives a “no,” and leaves dejected. Persistence is not a particularly strong skill of mine, and it takes a great deal of attention for me to know what I desire most of the time. This may be rare. I know many women whose desires are potent, present, and always before them. They posture themselves before God asking and asking and asking again for Him to meet their desires. We have all been given different measures of faith (Romans 12:3).” I feel the same way, Lore. I lack persistence– or, more accurately, I so often forget to be persistent. Thanks for this reminder to keep the channels open, to keep asking, to pay attention.
I don’t know… I’m pretty sure Gideon is a big cynical coward, and his only shining moment in the story is verse 7:15 – when it says “Gideon worshipped.”
In the greater context of Judges (a trainwreck of a story about the downward spiral of inadequate leadership in Israel), I’d say this story is another one about the LORD and his standout character, power and loyalty — in stark contrast to the false gods of Canaan and all people, including his own!
My husband and I recently saw God do what we knew was not humanly possible…the salvation of his 91 year old father! We had prayed for, witnessed to and all but given up on him…BUT GOD! Seeing the Lord answer that prayer we had been praying for over 30 years was almost unbelievable and all the sweeter because God’s hand in it was so obvious. Gideon’s story takes on new meaning for me since my father in law’s conversion. I understand his approach to God and his need to confirm what God was doing/saying. And God’s patience and willingness to address Gideon’s requests each step of the way…so beautiful. I am so loving this study and the insights everyone has shared. Thank you, ladies. God bless you all!
How wonderful @Melissa !! Praise be to God for your father in law !
Thank you, @Amanda! We are so grateful for His amazing grace!!!
We come to God with “but now.” We have faith but now our circumstances seem overwhelming. We go to the Lord in prayer with our confusion, our questions and yes, our doubts. We thought we were in His will but now we’re not so sure. We thought we had made the right decision but now things aren’t working out like we thought they would. We take our “but now” to our “but God” for clarity. We sometimes pray once. Sometimes we pray continually. Perhaps the point is not how often we pray but simply that we turn to our Father. Gideon was threshing wheat. When the angel of the Lord speaks to Gideon, he calls him “valiant warrior” and tells him to “go in the strength you have.” In our praying perhaps God doesn’t see us as questioning or fearful but as a valiant warrior doing battle in the heavenlies. Even though we may not see ourselves as such, in praying we have taken up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. Whether we pray once or many times, we are praying /going in the strength we have. The more time we spend with our God, the more we realize that He is with us. Gideon asked “how can I?“ God said “but I will be with you.” Whatever the “but now” we are in, we are to stay faithful to seek His face, to go out in the strength we have. The day will come when we will say “but God” saw us through.
I like your thoughts. We all need more persistence to keep praying, keep asking, and keep fighting our battles.
Yes. Absolutely!
Appreciate your words so much. I often forget just how powerful prayer is and that it’s the most dangerous weapons we have! Thinking of it as taking up the shield of faith and sword in spirit is such a good reminder of that.
The verse Psalm 9:10 really spoke to me this morning. “Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, Lord”. My biggest prayer today is that as women of faith we continue to seek him even when the answer is “no” or “not right now”.
Amen, sister!
Gideon was brave, bold and tenacious. He was able to test God to make sure it was really Him. I am still learning how to pray, so I just keep asking the same thing. Please teach me to pray, show me Your way, forgive me of my sins and other prayers for other people. This reading helps me feel that it is okay to ask God over and over again for His will and other things that glorify Him. The other side of me still says that I should ask one time and wait until I receive peace or an answer. God will always be our Protector, Saviour, Friend, Father and so many other roles but one thing is for sure, no matter how we ask or how many time we ask, we know that He is always listening.