Gideon, Called

To escape the oppression of Midian, the people of Israel hid in the mountains. Gideon was threshing wheat in secret in a winepress, as though he were stealing it, when the angel of Yahweh came to him and called out, “Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Yet even after hearing those words, Gideon argues back that all this has happened because God has abandoned them.

This is the picture of turning away from God to serve idols in times of peace, and then, when hardship comes, blaming God for not helping. God does not rebuke Gideon. He bears patiently with Gideon as he tries to excuse himself by saying he is not up to it, and promises again and again to raise him up as a judge. Even when Gideon insolently demanded a sign, the angel did not leave but waited for him, and only after the offering was accepted did Gideon realize that the one he had met was Yahweh.

At the place where the angel of Yahweh had left him, Gideon built an altar and called it ‘Yahweh Shalom.’ Gideon said he had neither resources nor wisdom, but a mighty man of valor is not someone who is strong. He is someone God is with. The faith with which one lives each day adds up to God’s reward or rebuke, so one must always keep oneself clean and ready.