I’m currently camping out in the book of Judges for some of my studies. Judges is replete with larger-than-life characters. Many folks have at least some familiarity with Samson, Delilah, and Gideon. I was not blessed with the genetics of a Samson or the manipulative nature of a Delilah, but I certainly see things in Gideon’s character that are instructive.

Gideon was called by God. God was going to use Gideon mightily. But Gideon was oftentimes a reluctant man. He was prone to question God and trust people. That’s folly, of course. But it’s folly we often learn the hard way. Just a few of the times God dealt with Gideon’s reluctance follow:

• After the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and even spoke to him in Judges 6:12, it’s striking what Gideon’s response was: “Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has this happened to us?” (Judges 6:12, ESV)
• And in verse 15 of the same chapter, we again see Gideon’s reluctance: “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel?” (Judges 6:15, ESV).
• And then there’s the infamous incident of Gideon and the fleece. And what do we see therein? Gideon’s reluctance:

Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. (Judges 6:36-40, ESV)

Encouragement/takeaway: God did indeed use Gideon mightily. But what Gideon had to learn again and again was that it was God’s own faithfulness to his promises that was the bedrock. It was not Gideon’s talent, Gideon’s wherewithal, or wisdom. It was God’s word, God’s fidelity, and God’s work. When I meditate upon Gideon’s life and ministry, so often I have to repent because I see Gideon’s weaknesses in myself. He tended to overestimate man and underestimate God, and that is both arrogance and folly. God does his work his way. And that way invariably crushes our human pride so that any boast is to be in the Lord alone.