Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God is notorious for using people who are of weaker statue, weaker faith, weaker morale, weaker intelligence… weaker everything! Why is that? In 2nd Corinthians 12:9, Jesus says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The Greek for “made perfect” in this verse is teleo which means to conclude or complete, end, finish, or fulfill (there is much more to the Greek context of this that would have to result in an entire post just for this). In this context, Jesus is saying His power is completely fulfilled in our weakness. To add, we are also completely fulfilled in Him.
In Judges 6, Israel is oppressed (again, cue eye roll) by Midian so God calls Gideon to bring Israel out of this 7 year oppression. Gideon was a military leader and prophet, and, as it turns out later, the greatest judge who reigned. However, what we read throughout his story, is that he was very timid and weak in faith. In verses 11 through 24, Jesus appears face to face with Gideon to tell him He is sending him to defeat the Midianites. Like Moses before him, he objects by saying his “clan is the weakest” and “I am the least in my father’s house.” The entire time this exchange is happening, Gideon gave no inkling until the end of the story in verse 22 that he knew he was with Jesus, despite Jesus saying that famous I AM statement in verse 16, “But I will be with you…”
Later that night, the LORD gives Gideon instructions on destroying the alter of Baal and the Asherah that the Midianites have built. Gideon complies, but because he is so afraid of the men in the town (and weak in faith), he opts to following God’s command in the nighttime instead of daytime, again, despite the LORD saying He is with him.
In 6:36–40, Gideon tests God by asking for a sign that He will, in fact, save Israel by his hand. After God gives him a sign once, Gideon asks again for another sign. Not only is he violating the Mosaic law of testing God, he is STILL so weak in faith. He saw Jesus face to face, he was told the LORD will be with him, he spared his life from the men of Midian after he destroyed the false gods, and he performed two signs. What more does he need?! God must have been saying those same words in the New Testament, “you have no faith! How much longer must I do this for you?” (I am paraphrasing from Mark 9:19). After this, God tells Gideon to listen to the men of Midian at their camp so he will have more proof that God will hand them over to Israel through him. To add, the LORD says in verse 10, “but if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant.” Not only did God offer more proof without Gideon asking (because God knows his weak faith), He told him to bring someone so he will not melt with fear which mirrors his fear when he was instructed to destroy the false gods (God is so nice!).
Despite his ridiculous antics and shaking kneecaps, God was extremely gracious to Gideon, giving him all he asked for and more (not to mention, the Midianites were defeated by only 300 men to their thousands). He could have very well moved on and chosen someone who would not be so whiny about everything!
Gideon reminds me of how we tend to handle things with God. Unfortunate to say, there are many of us who, seeing Jesus face to face, would still ask for more proof. Sometimes, we try to conform God to our likeness, our desires, needs, and wants, that we completely overlook how much He already accommodates us in our weak faith.
Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You provide for us. Help us to be content and comforted in the truth that Your Power is completely fulfilled in us and we are completely fulfilled in You. Amen!
