Gideon’s Legacy

Gideon’s world of thorns and briers, carrying through on threats to destroy towers and cities, and decapitation and warfare all make me want to ask the question, “What’s the point? Why these hostile power statements?”

The towns called Succoth and Penuel were caught between two fierce armies, and their attempt to remain out of it went seriously awry. Israel has already seen a mere three hundred victorious soldiers free them from the Midian army, and even their rallying cry “a sword for the LORD and for Gideon” (Judges 7:20) shows that it was indeed the Lord who won the battle. Somewhere along the line, however, it seems the victors got off-course. Was it the rumbling of resentment (Judges 8:1–3) that prompted these reactions? Is this another case of the Lord’s triumph turning into human pride? And as if these unsavory events weren’t enough, yet another idol in the form of a gold ephod was constructed, and the people fell into the trap; they worshiped a man-made idol instead of the LORD.

In despair over our human condition, we could miss verse 28 altogether; it’s remarkably understated. The land had peace for forty years—a generation. What a reversal! Despite the grievous weaknesses manifested by Gideon, God used him to accomplish His perfect purposes.

That was Gideon’s broken world. What about ours? Do we reduce people with the thorns and briers of our words? Do we destroy other people to preserve our own personal security? Have we subtly created idols that trap people into false worship? These questions pierce our mask of self-satisfaction. And still, the author of Hebrews declares that the weakness of God’s servants was turned to strength of faith; among those noted is Gideon (Hebrews 11:32–34). That heartens the most broken of us all.