Gideon was hiding from the Midianites in a winepress when an angel of the Lord came to him, saying, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” And Gideon… just wasn’t buying it. 

 

He questioned how the Lord could be with him when his community was under the thumb of the Midianites, and they had never experienced the wonders and miracles their ancestors spoke of in the past. He felt abandoned by God.

 

Then the Lord Himself spoke to Gideon, saying, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

 

And how did Gideon respond? Basically, he told God to prove it. 

 

Judges 6:15–16 says, “‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.’”

 

Gideon asked for not one, not two, but three signs to prove it was really the Lord speaking to him. God accomplished His plans with Gideon’s participation, but his lack of self-confidence continually limited his potential. 

 

From an outsider’s perspective, we may shake our heads at Gideon’s decision to question God again and again, but if we’re honest, most of us have had times in our own lives when our confidence as Christians was on shaky ground. That’s when the Lord requires us to seek firm footing in our faith. 

 

Let’s pray. 

 

God, when we are unsure of your calling and don’t fully understand your plans, please remind us you are our strength, and you will give us everything we need. We can do what you ask, because you say so. Thank you that we can depend on you. In Jesus’ name, amen.