Joshua 6 Commentary

Judges 6 Commentary

It’s Midian’s turn. Another enslavement – the severe kind. Another cry for help and yet another prophet.

Prophets deliver God’s word. Predicting the future isn’t one of the specs! Unless, of course, it’s part of God’s word.

The prophet works but all in vain. The angel of the LORD comes into the picture, and so does Gideon.

Weak, fearful, and faithless Gideon represents Israel. Israel feels God has abandoned them. But it’s a genuinely stupid accusation in view of an idol right in Gideon’s yard! Who has abandoned whom? Who has breached the terms of the covenant?

The appearance of the angel of the LORD to Gideon is nothing but undeniable evidence of God’s unrivalled and impossible generosity!

Under the circumstances, pain and suffering are expected and fully deserved.

God’s contract with Abraham hasn’t performed well. We know the culprit. Israel has not kept the faith. It’s a fact that the prophet of the LORD underlines. And we are able to see it right here in this chapter. Gideon’s father is a worshipper of Baal, as evidenced by the presence of Baal’s altar in his backyard.

These are hard times for the faithful. The worship of the LORD is no longer an open activity. You risk your life if you go up against Baal. Fearful Gideon defies Baal’s altar in the night.

Midian’s rule over Israel is ruthless. Midian’s strategy may interest the saint today. The enemy still ruins saints’ blessings: Incomes and investments. An impoverished saint is a mission accomplished in the dark camp. Some losses are not natural.

Gideon is the chosen instrument of salvation. Yes, the same doubting and fearful Gideon. It is a fact of redemption that the saved are picked not from a pile of gems but from the ash heap.

The LORD must introduce himself to Israel again. There is hope that Israel can begin to see the worthlessness of Baal’s altar. The LORD instructs Gideon to pull it down and instead erect the altar of the LORD.

There is a chance that the miracle of salvation can be associated with this new altar. In the next chapter, Gideon would defeat a huge army with only 300 men. Will the miracle help Israel turn back to the LORD?

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