How does Gideon's obedience in Judges 6:25 inspire us to follow God's commands? Setting the Scene Judges 6 opens with Israel oppressed by Midian because of idolatry. The angel of the LORD meets Gideon, calls him “mighty warrior,” and commissions him to deliver Israel (6:12-14). Before Gideon can confront Midian, God commands him to confront the false worship in his own backyard. The Exact Assignment “ ‘Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.’ ” (Judges 6:25) Key features: • Two bulls—one for pulling down, one for sacrifice (vv. 26-28). • Target—his own father’s shrine, situated in the family compound. • Timing—“that very night”; no delay permitted. • Purpose—replace idolatry with true worship by building “a proper altar to the LORD” (v. 26). A Costly, Risky Obedience • Relational cost: Gideon would offend his own family and village (vv. 28-30). • Cultural cost: He would publicly reject the dominant religious practice. • Physical risk: Destruction of sacred objects was punishable by death (v. 30). • Spiritual gain: Purity of worship clears the way for God’s deliverance (cf. Exodus 20:3; 2 Chronicles 7:14). Gideon’s Response • “So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had told him” (v. 27). • Immediate obedience—even though “he was too afraid … to do it by day, he did it at night.” Fear did not cancel obedience. • Complete obedience—he tore down, cut down, built up, and sacrificed exactly as instructed (vv. 27-28). How Gideon Inspires Us to Follow God’s Commands • God’s Word outranks human opinion. Like Gideon, we live under the authority of divine command, not cultural consensus (Acts 5:29). • Obedience is often the first step toward larger victories. Gideon’s private faithfulness precedes public deliverance (Judges 7). • Fear is not a disqualifier. Acting while afraid is still obedience (Isaiah 41:10). • We must root out idols before we can expect God’s fullest blessing (1 John 5:21; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16). • God uses ordinary people who simply say yes. Gideon was “least” in his family (6:15), yet his yes re-aligned a nation. Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Joshua 24:14-15 — choose whom you will serve; break with idols. • 1 Kings 18:21 — Elijah’s call to forsake Baal parallels Gideon’s stand. • John 14:15 — “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • James 1:22 — be doers, not hearers only. • Luke 11:28 — blessed are those who hear God’s word and obey. Putting It into Practice • Identify today’s “altars to Baal” in your life—anything competing for your first love. • Act promptly; delayed obedience often becomes disobedience. • Involve trusted allies (Gideon enlisted ten servants) for accountability. • Replace what you remove with wholehearted worship—time in Scripture, fellowship, service. • Expect opposition, but also expect God to vindicate faithful obedience (Psalm 34:19). Gideon’s midnight demolition teaches that brave, immediate, and thorough obedience positions us to experience God’s power and advance His purposes. |
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