Gideon was a judge of Israel, chosen by God to deliver His people from the oppression of the Midianites. His name means “Hewer” or “One Who Cuts Down,” fitting because he cut down the altar of Baal. His account is recorded in Judges 6-8. He was from the tribe of Manasseh, the son of Joash, and lived in Ophrah. At the time, Israel had been suffering under Midianite rule for seven years because of their disobedience to God (Judges 6:1-6). The Midianites, along with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, would invade Israel during harvest time, plundering their crops and leaving them in extreme poverty.
When we first meet Gideon, he is threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites (Judges 6:11). This shows his fear and the desperate situation Israel was in. But despite his lowly status and fear, God had a different perspective on him. The Angel of the Lord appears and says:
“The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12)
At this point, Gideon doesn’t look like a mighty man of valor. He is hiding. He is questioning. He is uncertain. But God saw who he would become—a leader of faith.
Gideon’s Doubt and the Testing of the Lord
Gideon struggles with doubt and insecurity. He questions the Angel of the Lord, asking why Israel is suffering if God is with them (Judges 6:13). Then, even after being told that he will deliver Israel, he protests:
“O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:15)
God reassures him, saying:
“Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6:16)
Still, Gideon wants a sign to confirm that it is really God speaking to him. He prepares an offering, and when the Angel of the Lord touches it, fire consumes it (Judges 6:17-21).
Even after this, Gideon continues to test the Lord. The most well-known example is the sign of the fleece:
First Test – He places a fleece on the ground and asks that in the morning, the fleece be wet with dew while the ground remains dry.
Second Test – He reverses it, asking that the fleece be dry while the ground is wet.
God answers both times, but this shows Gideon’s weak faith. Testing God is not something we are commanded to do. Scripture warns against it:
“You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 6:16, Matthew 4:7)
Yet, God was patient with Gideon, knowing his fear and doubts.
The Reduction of Gideon’s Army
Once Gideon finally obeys, he gathers 32,000 men to fight against the Midianites (Judges 7:1-3). But God tells him the army is too large. If Israel won with so many men, they would take the glory for themselves instead of giving it to God. So, God reduces the army through two tests:
Fear Test – Any man who was afraid was allowed to leave. 22,000 men left, leaving only 10,000 (Judges 7:3).
Water Test – God further reduces the army by observing how they drank water from a river
“Everyone who lapped from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” (Judges 7:5)
Only 300 men drank by cupping the water and bringing it to their mouths. The rest kneeled to drink directly from the river and were sent home.
Why Did God Choose the 300?
Some scholars believe that the way the men drank indicated their level of alertness and maturity. Those who lapped the water from their hands were likely older, experienced soldiers, still watching their surroundings. Those who kneeled down to drink may have been younger, less experienced men who were not as cautious.
This would mean that Gideon’s final army was made up of seasoned warriors, not reckless fighters. But more importantly, God chose them to ensure that victory would be His alone, not Israel’s.
The Battle Strategy: Victory Through Weakness
Gideon’s army of 300 was up against an enemy described as “numerous as locusts” with camels without number (Judges 7:12). Humanly speaking, they had no chance. But God gave Gideon an unconventional strategy:
Each man was given a trumpet, a clay jar, and a torch (Judges 7:16). They surrounded the Midianite camp in the middle of the night. On Gideon’s signal, they blew the trumpets, smashed the jars, and shouted, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” (Judges 7:20). The Midianites, confused and terrified, turned on each other in the darkness and fled.
This victory was supernatural. No swords were needed—just obedience, faith, and the power of God.
Gideon’s Later Years and His Failures
After his victory, Gideon became a leader in Israel, but he made several mistakes:
He Made an Ephod – He collected gold from the plunder and made an ephod (a priestly garment), which became an idol and led Israel into sin (Judges 8:24-27).
He Had Many Wives and a Son Named Abimelech – His son Abimelech later murdered his brothers and declared himself king (Judges 9), showing the consequences of Gideon’s polygamy.
He Did Not Establish Lasting Spiritual Reform – After his death, Israel fell back into idolatry (Judges 8:33-35).
My Final Thoughts
Gideon’s life is one of fear, faith, and the power of God working through weakness. He started as a hesitant, fearful man, but through God’s guidance, he became a mighty warrior. His victory with only 300 men is a powerful reminder that God does not need numbers or strength to win battles—He only needs faith and obedience.
However, Gideon’s later mistakes remind us that spiritual success must be followed by faithfulness. We must not let victories make us complacent. Instead, we must continue in obedience, humility, and worship of the Lord alone. Gideon teaches us that even the weakest person, when fully surrendered to God, can be used for great and mighty things.
