What is the meaning of Judges 6:15? Please, my Lord • Gideon responds respectfully to the Angel of the LORD, acknowledging divine authority while admitting his own smallness (Judges 6:12–14). • Similar reverent beginnings appear when Moses says, “Please, Lord” (Exodus 4:10, 13), and when Joshua meets the Commander of the LORD’s army (Joshua 5:14). • The attitude sets the tone: God’s servants approach Him with humility, yet He still invites them into His plans. how can I save Israel? • Gideon immediately senses the mismatch between God’s call and his perceived ability. • Moses asked, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11). Saul echoed, “Am I not a Benjamite…?” (1 Samuel 9:21). These parallels show a pattern: God often selects hesitant people so His power, not theirs, is highlighted (2 Corinthians 3:5). • Gideon’s question is honest, not rebellious. It opens the door for God to affirm, “I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). my clan is the weakest in Manasseh • Manasseh was already an overlooked tribe; within it, Gideon’s clan felt least significant. • God loves to work through what the world calls “weak” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Likewise, Israel was chosen not because it was “more numerous… but because the LORD loved you” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). • By spotlighting weakness, Scripture underscores that victory comes from the LORD, not from superior numbers or status (Psalm 20:7). I am the youngest in my father’s house • In patriarchal culture the eldest son held privilege; Gideon lacks that advantage. • David faced the same dynamic—ignored until Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” (1 Samuel 16:11-13). Jeremiah protested, “I am only a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6-8), yet God empowered him. • Age or rank never limits divine calling; “Let no one despise your youth” (1 Timothy 4:12). The LORD equips whomever He chooses. summary Judges 6:15 paints a candid portrait of Gideon’s inadequacy: respectful yet unsure, hindered by a weak clan and his own youth. Each confession of weakness becomes an invitation for God’s strength. Throughout Scripture He consistently selects unlikely people so His deliverance is unmistakably His. Gideon’s honest question prepares the stage for the reassuring promise that follows: “Surely I will be with you” (Judges 6:16), turning a hesitant farmer into a mighty warrior by the power of God alone. |
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