Devotional Thoughts about Judges Chapters 6 and 7
The book of Judges describes a period in Israel’s history marked by idolatry, God’s punishment through enemy oppression, and then repentance followed by God’s deliverance through a judge. Then this cycle repeats itself over and over again.
Read the summary of the book in Judges 21:25. Because of the corrupting power of sin, doing what’s right in one’s own eyes—which is anarchy mildly stated—leads to awful excesses of sin and isn’t sufficient for keeping society on an even keel, much less for pleasing God.
Gideon, soon to be the judge leading the fifth deliverance, was suffering with the rest of Israel the devastating consequences of a Midianite invasion when God appeared to him one day. He countered God’s stated intention of using him to deliver Israel by citing his unimpressive background.
Gideon’s weaknesses come tumbling out throughout the rest of the story. He asked for signs again and again (6;17,36-40). He was afraid of people’s reaction to his obedience (6,27), but carried out God’s command anyway.
When the 22000 men were excused from military duty because of their fear (7:3), I’m sure he wished he could have gone home with them, but God graciously created a special situation to reassure his fears (7:9-14).
Lord, help me remember that You’re able to use anyone, even me.
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