How does Gideon's offering in Judges 6:19 demonstrate faith and obedience to God? Setting the Scene Gideon is threshing wheat in secret when “the Angel of the LORD appeared to him” (Judges 6:12). The visitor’s request for a meal becomes a divine test—will Gideon trust God enough to surrender precious provisions during a national famine? What Gideon Offered • “A young goat” – prime meat, not a leftover or blemished animal • “Unleavened bread from an ephah of flour” – roughly 35 lbs of flour, an extravagant amount in a season of scarcity • “The meat in a basket and the broth in a pot” – a carefully prepared, complete meal (Judges 6:19) Faith Behind the Offering • Trust in God’s identity: Gideon accepts the Angel’s word as divine, though he has only a few confirming signs (Judges 6:17–18). • Sacrifice despite shortage: Midianites are pillaging Israel (Judges 6:3–6). Giving a young goat and an ephah of flour risks his family’s survival. • Expectation of divine acceptance: Gideon believes God will receive—and respond to—his gift (Hebrews 11:6). Obedience in Action • Immediate compliance—“So Gideon went and prepared” (v. 19). No delay, no negotiation. • Whole-hearted giving mirrors the law’s instruction to offer “the first and best” (Exodus 23:19; Proverbs 3:9). • Pattern of submission continues: Gideon later tears down the Baal altar (Judges 6:25–27) and fields only 300 men at God’s word (Judges 7:2–7). Scriptures Echoing the Principle • 2 Samuel 24:24 – “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” • Malachi 1:6–8 – God rebukes half-hearted sacrifices; Gideon’s costly gift stands in contrast. • Romans 12:1 – Believers are urged to present themselves “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Lessons for Today • Faith expresses itself in tangible acts, not merely feelings. • True obedience often looks unreasonable by human calculations but rests on God’s promises. • God honors wholehearted offerings—whether resources, time, or obedience—given in trust. |
    |