Gideon is recalled in Scripture as a hero of faith (Heb 11: 32), but when he’s introduced to us in the Bible, it’s as a coward. Gideon’s courage wasn’t a natural ability that God used, but a supernatural gifting by grace to accomplish His service. That’s what a spiritual gift is! A spiritual gift is God the Holy Spirit accomplishing a task and using you to do it.

I. Gideon’s Call (Judg 6:12). The Angel of the Lord, after watching Gideon threshing in the winepress, announced that God was with the young man. In the greeting, The Lord is with you, the pronoun is singular. Gideon immediately snorted back in disbelief, If the Lord is with us …. God was with Gideon, not with Israel. Israel’s sin separated the nation from Him. Yes, God would keep His covenant promises, but there was no fellowship with the nation. The word fellowship in the Bible is variously translated as communion and partnership, describing a friendly, sharing relationship between parties with the same goals and purposes. Sin breaks a believer’s fellowship with God; confession restores it (1 Jn 1:5-10).

II. Gideon’s Question (Judg 6:13). Gideon’s family were followers and priests of Baal (Judg 6:25-32). Aware of the prophet’s message, Gideon wanted to know why if God was with Israel, there were no miracles like in the good old days of Moses. Why was God was making His people suffer?
Gideon didn’t understand God’s chastisement of Israel. God hadn’t abandoned His people. His chastisement was proof of His jealous love for the nation (Heb 12:5, 10-11). God’s concern wasn’t the same as Gideon’s. Gideon wanted to be politically and economically free, while God wanted spiritual fidelity. Our desires are seldom the same as God’s, and thus learning to pray like Jesus, Not My will but Thine be done (Lk 22:42), is often difficult.
Gideon blamed God never thinking of Israel’s sin. He ignored God’s promised presence with him, and asked about his nation instead. This weak, cowardly, un-trusting youth questioned God’s promise.
God didn’t call Gideon because of who he was, what he’d done, what he asked for, or what he deserved. God called him by grace, and God alone would receive the glory for what He was going to do in and through His servant. Whom God calls, He equips with the necessary gifts for His service. This is why no one can ever call himself into the pastorate, for example. Pastors must have the gift of teaching (1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:9). The pastor may have other spiritual gifts, but without the gift of teaching, God hasn’t called or qualified for the work.

III. Gideon’s Charge (Judg 6:14). Note God’s response: The Lord turned to him and said. The title LORD, shown in all capital letters in the KJV and NKJV, is the Hebrew name YHWH, Jehovah, or I AM (Ex 3:14). The Angel of the Lord is Jehovah Jesus, appearing in human form or theophany only to later be born in human flesh to reveal the Father and take man’s sin upon Himself (Jn 6:35; 8:12, 58; 10:9, 11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1)! Jesus, fully God and fully Man is the perfect bridge between sinful creatures and the holy Creator (1 Tim 2:5) making full salvation for God’s elect.
Jesus told Gideon to Go in this might of yours. But Gideon was a coward! In the midst of Gideon’s weakness, God was powerful (1 Cor 1:26-31; 2 Cor 12:9-10). Our weakness is the doorway for God’s power; only the sovereign God can do what He commands us to obey (Jn 1:12-13; Eph 2:8-10; Phil 2:12-13).
God wouldn’t debate, but commanded Gideon again. Answers can at time be helpful, but answers don’t make us obedient. Sometimes answers make us resistant. Obedience is mandatory. You don’t have to understand to obey, you just need to trust. Gideon’s strength was not through effort (Phil 4:10-13), but in Emmanuel, God with us (Mt 1:23). Jesus is enough!