The story of Gideon is a tale of courage and faith, found in the Bible in the Book of Judges, chapters 6 to 8. Gideon was an unlikely hero chosen by God to save the Israelites from their enemies.
Israelites’ Trouble and Gideon’s Call
Bible Verse: Judges 6:6
“Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.”
The Israelites were in trouble because the Midianites were taking their food and animals. They prayed to God for help.
Bible Verse: Judges 6:12
“When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.'”
An angel appeared to Gideon while he was hiding wheat from the Midianites. The angel called him a mighty warrior and told him that he would save Israel.
Gideon’s Doubt and God’s Reassurance
Bible Verse: Judges 6:15
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
Gideon doubted that he could be a leader because he came from a small family. But God promised to be with him.
The Sign of the Fleece
Bible Verse: Judges 6:37-38
“‘Look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.’ And that is what happened.”
To be sure that God was with him, Gideon asked for a sign. He put a fleece on the ground and asked that it be wet with dew while the ground was dry. God did this to show Gideon that He was with him.
The Battle Against the Midianites
Bible Verse: Judges 7:7
“The Lord said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.'”
God told Gideon to reduce his army to only 300 men. This was to show that their victory would be because of God, not because they had a big army.
Gideon’s Victory
Bible Verse: Judges 7:20-22
“The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’ While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.”
Gideon and his 300 men surprised the Midianites at night. They blew trumpets and broke jars with torches inside. The Midianites were scared and confused, and they ran away. This was how Gideon won the battle with God’s help.