Midian Oppresses Israel

1Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, 2and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.

3Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them, 4encamping against them as far as Gaza and destroying the produce of the land. They left Israel with no sustenance, neither sheep nor oxen nor donkeys. 5For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it.

6Israel was greatly impoverished by Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the LORD.

7Now when the Israelites cried out to the LORD because of Midian, 8He sent them a prophet, who told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 9I delivered you out of the hands of Egypt and all your oppressors. I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10And I said to you: ‘I am the LORD your God. You must not feara the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you did not obey Me.”

The Call of Gideon

11Then the angelb of the LORD came and sat down under the oakc in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

13“Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”

14The LORDd turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”

15“Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”

16“Surely I will be with you,” the LORD replied, “and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man.”

17Gideon answered, “If I have found favor in Your sight, give me a sign that it is You speaking with me. 18Please do not depart from this place until I return to You. Let me bring my offering and set it before You.”

And the LORD said, “I will stay until you return.”

19So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour.e He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.

20And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.

21Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.

22When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”

23But the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.”

24So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace.f To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Gideon Destroys Baal’s Altar

25On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, “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. 26Then build a proper altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold. And with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down, take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering.”

27So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city, he did it by night rather than in the daytime.

28When the men of the city got up in the morning, there was Baal’s altar torn down, with the Asherah pole cut down beside it and the second bull offered up on the newly built altar. 29“Who did this?” they said to one another.

And after they had investigated thoroughly, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

30Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has torn down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

31But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Are you contending for Baal? Are you trying to save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself with the one who has torn down his altar.”

32So on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal,g that is to say, “Let Baal contend with him,” because he had torn down Baal’s altar.

The Sign of the Fleece

33Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him. 35Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.

36Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, 37then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.”

38And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time let it be dry, and the ground covered with dew.”

40And that night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground.

1. God Sees Potential in the Humble
In Judges 6, we meet Gideon, a man who considers himself the least in his family and from the weakest clan in Manasseh. Yet, God calls him a "mighty warrior" (Judges 6:12). This teaches us that God sees beyond our limitations and insecurities. He knows our potential and calls us to rise above our circumstances. Remember, "God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27).

2. Divine Encounters Can Happen Anywhere
Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress when the angel of the Lord appeared to him. This unexpected encounter reminds us that God can meet us in the most ordinary places. Whether you're at work, home, or even running errands, be open to divine moments. "The eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

3. Questioning God is Part of Growth
Gideon questions God about the suffering of Israel, asking, "If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?" (Judges 6:13). It's okay to bring your doubts and questions to God. He is patient and understanding, and these questions can lead to deeper faith and understanding.

4. God Equips the Called
When God calls Gideon to save Israel, Gideon doubts his ability. But God reassures him, "I will be with you" (Judges 6:16). This is a powerful reminder that God equips those He calls. You are never alone in your mission; His presence is your strength.

5. Small Steps of Faith Lead to Big Victories
Gideon starts his journey by tearing down his father's altar to Baal. This small act of obedience sets the stage for greater victories. "Whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with much" (Luke 16:10). Start with small steps of faith, and watch how God uses them for His glory.

6. God Confirms His Word
Gideon asks for signs to confirm God's word, and God graciously provides them. This shows us that God understands our need for assurance and is willing to confirm His promises. "Test everything; hold fast to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

7. God's Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness
Gideon's army is reduced to just 300 men, yet they defeat the Midianites. This demonstrates that God's power is perfected in our weakness. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Trust in His strength, not your own.

8. Obedience Requires Courage
Gideon had to overcome fear to obey God's command to destroy the altar of Baal. Obedience often requires courage, especially when it goes against the norm. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid" (Joshua 1:9). Stand firm in your convictions.

9. God Uses Unlikely Leaders
Gideon was an unlikely leader, yet God used him to deliver Israel. This reminds us that God often chooses the least likely candidates to accomplish His purposes. "The LORD does not look at the things people look at" (1 Samuel 16:7). Be open to His calling, no matter how unlikely it seems.

10. Worship is a Response to God's Faithfulness
After witnessing God's deliverance, Gideon builds an altar and worships the Lord. Worship is our response to God's faithfulness and goodness. "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever" (Psalm 136:1). Let gratitude and worship be your response to His work in your life.

Ask for a heart of obedience, willing to take small steps of faith in response to God's call.

Seek God's assurance and guidance in areas of doubt or uncertainty in your life.

Pray for boldness to act in faith, knowing that God equips and empowers those He calls.

2. Judges 6:13: Why would Gideon still question God’s presence and past miracles if they were well-known and documented among the Israelites?

3. Judges 6:25–27: Is there any archaeological evidence supporting the destruction of Baal’s altar in Gideon’s hometown?

4. Judges 6:36–40: How can the miracle of the fleece being wet while the ground stayed dry (and vice versa) be explained or verified?

5. Judges 6:14–15: If Gideon was the least in his family, do other biblical records or genealogical data contradict or confirm his lowly status?

1. How does the Israelites' suffering in the hands of the Midianites reflect the consequences of their disobedience?

2. Why do you think God chose Gideon, a seemingly ordinary man, to lead the Israelites?

3. How does Gideon's doubt reflect his human nature? How does God respond to this doubt?

4. How might Gideon's act of destroying the altar of Baal reflect his newfound faith and courage?

5. What does the episode of the fleece reveal about Gideon's relationship with God?

6. How can Gideon's story inspire us to trust in God's plan, even when it seems improbable?

7. How does the chapter highlight the importance of repentance in restoring our relationship with God?

8. Why do you think God patiently accommodated Gideon's request for signs?

9. How can we apply the lessons from Gideon's call to our modern day lives?

10. How can Gideon's transformation inspire us in overcoming our own doubts and fears?

11. In what ways can we see ourselves in the figure of Gideon when dealing with the challenges in our lives?

12. Can you think of a time when you felt unqualified for a task God was calling you to do? How did you respond?

13. What steps can we take to stand up against idolatry in today's world, just like Gideon stood against Baal worship?

14. How can we discern when God is calling us to do something outside of our comfort zone?

15. What is your 'fleece' moment when you sought a sign from God? How did God respond?

16. How does the story of Gideon's call challenge our understanding of who is capable of serving God's purpose?

17. In what ways does Judges 6 show that faith in God can lead to the impossible being achieved?

18. How can Gideon's initial hesitation and ultimate obedience inspire us to deal with doubt in our spiritual journey?

19. What does Gideon's story teach us about the power of God working through ordinary people?

20. What steps can we take to ensure we remain faithful to God's word, learning from the Israelites' cycle of disobedience and oppression?