Gideon - Life Lessons in Identity and Calling
An Unlikely Hero
The story of Gideon found in Judges chapters 6 through 8 provides some interesting lessons in identity and calling. We are introduced to Gideon as he is threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding from the enemy, just trying to survive. I suspect Gideon is a lot like many of us - just trying to get by and wondering where God is in the midst of our crisis.
It is often in the midst of crisis and trouble that we discover our true identity and calling (Judges 6.11-12). Gideon was busy just trying to survive, living in fear and doubt with no concept of his true identity or calling. Gideon was hiding in fear, afraid for his life, when God revealed Gideon’s true identity and calling to him.
Why Are We In This Mess Anyway
Don’t blame God when we are still in a mess because we refuse to accept our identity and calling (Judges 6.13-14). Israel was in bondage because they sold themselves into bondage when they forgot God. The people of Israel forgot their identity and calling as people of God and chose to act like their pagan neighbors. God did not forget or abandon Israel - quite the opposite was true. Israel was still in bondage because God’s chosen leader was hiding in fear and making excuses for why he could not do the job. Gideon was reluctant to believe and embrace his identity and calling.
When we see only our failings and weakness God sees our identity and calling (Judges 6.15). Our best excuses sound hollow when compared to the strength of our God. Gideon came from a no-account family in Israel - His family would never be chosen to do anything great. Worse yet, he was the youngest child - If someone from his family were to do something great it should be his oldest brother and not Gideon. Gideon had been wounded by life and he believed all the lies he had been told. That wound and those lies communicated a message - Gideon was nobody special and would never accomplish anything significant. Fortunately, God looks on our heart - not on our circumstances or our history.
You Want Me To Do What
Unbelief can not stand in the face of God’s holiness (Judges 6.17-24). When confronted with God’s holiness and power Gideon immediately trembled and repented of not believing God. Unbelief cannot accompany a genuine meeting with God.
The sin of unbelief paralyzes us from pursuing our identity and calling (Judges 6.33-40). Unbelief is a sin and it paralyzes us from pursuing who we are and what we are called to do. Unfortunately, this story of Gideon “putting out a fleece” has been taken out of context and misapplied so often we now think it is a good thing. Gideon twice asked God for additional supernatural miracles because of his unbelief. Gideon knew what God had called him to do - he just did not trust God. Gideon was paralyzed from going forward because of his unbelief. It is not a spiritual act to “put out a fleece” - it is an act of unbelief. Jesus rebuked people for being hard of heart and always wanting a miraculous sign from God as proof.
Making The Impossible Possible
God likes to create impossible circumstances so that we remember to give him the glory for the victory (Judges 7.2). Gideon was already afraid of going to battle against the enemy and now God decides to reduce the size of the army. God wanted to make sure that his people remembered who won the battle that day. God often gives us battles that we can not win by our own power - to remind us who really delivered us.
Remember that when God calls us into something, he is calling us into his story (Judges 7.3-9). Gideon was afraid with 32,000 men but God reduced the troops to 300 men. God could just as easily have won the battle for Israel with 3 men, or with 3 children, or with no help at all! This is God’s story and Gideon was invited into the story to be a part of it. The outcome rested with God for it was his story to begin with.
Remember that when God calls us to do something He also prepares the way before us (Judges 7.10-14). God prepares the way ahead of us when we are following his lead in our lives. God was already preparing the enemy for defeat before Gideon even showed up with his ragtag army. If we are on God’s side we know that God will fight for us; If God is for us who can stand against us?
Victory is certain when we embrace and follow God’s leading (Judges 7.19-25). God caused this massive army of experienced soldiers to fall into chaos, confusion and fear. The enemy soldiers actually began attacking and killing one another in their attempt to escape from Gideon’s little army. The Israelites enjoyed an overwhelming victory that day because Gideon decided to embrace his identity and calling and to follow God.
People - Just Like You And Me
The Bible is full of remarkable stories like the story of Gideon. As we read them we see a recurring theme that God does not look at outward appearances when choosing people. God looks at the heart and usually chooses people the world or the experts would never pick. God chooses people like you and me and invites us into a much larger story that he is weaving. Our choice in the matter is whether we will recognize and embrace our identity and calling or choose to live in fear and unbelief. As Gideon’s forefather Joshua, son of Nun, said, “As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”
This list is certainly not complete. What other life lessons can we learn from Gideon?
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