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GIDEON:  A JUDGE & A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR

 

The Proof Given to Gideon

Judges 6:17-21

Lesson 5

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon in our previous section and called him to deliver Israel out of the oppression of the Midianites.

 

B.      The call was ended with two promises (Judg. 6:16).

 

And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

 

1.       The first promise involves the Lord’s presence.  “Surely I will be with thee.”

2.       The second promise involves guaranteed victory.  “…thou shalt smite the Midianites…”

 

C.     With this in mind, we might be shocked that Gideon desired proof regarding this call.  “The Proof Given to Gideon” is the title of this section (Judg. 6:17-21).

 

I.                    THE REQUEST BY GIDEON (Judg. 6:17-18a)

 

And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou hast talked with me.  Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee.

 

A.     Two possibilities:

1.       Dreams and visions can seem very real at times, but may not be true.

a.       QUESTION:  Have you ever awoke from a dream and were glad that it was just a dream?  It was so real that you are relieved to know it was not.

b.      Although God communicated to men in many ways in Old Testament times (See Heb. 1:1), they were not regular occurrences. 

2.       If this were a real appearance by an angel, that, too, would be an extremely unique experience.  When the messenger departed, Gideon might have doubted the reality of the experience. 

3.       In order to confirm the truthfulness of this call, Gideon requested a sign.  “…then show me a sign that thou hast talked with me.”

 

B.      A Sign (Judg. 6:17).

1.       The preface:  “If now I have found grace in thy sight…”

a.       Gideon seems to understand that he is stepping out on a limb with this request.

b.      He hopes that he will find grace in sight of the messenger.

1)      Grace

a)      Strong (2580):  graciousness, kindness

b)      BDB:  favor, grace, acceptance

2)      We are reminded of Abraham as he pled for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Twice when reducing the number of righteous that might be found in the city, Abraham said:  “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak…” (Gen. 18;30, 32). 

3)      LESSON:  Man’s requests of the Lord can only be granted by the grace of God.

2.       The proof:  “…then show me a sign…”

a.       Sign:

1)      Strong (226):  a signal, evidence   The word is translated “miracle” in some places in the Old Testament

2)      BDB:  signal, token, proof, miraculous sign

b.      Gideon wanted some form of confirmation that this commission really did come from God.  The Scripture does not reveal exactly what Gideon was expecting as a form of proof.

c.       QUESTION:  Was this a lack of faith on the part of Gideon? 

1)      Other great leaders and followers of God desired or needed signs.

2)      Moses was given a sign (Exo. 4:1-9).

3)      Thomas required proof regarding the Lord’s resurrection (John 20:24-25).

 

C.     The Promise:  “Depart not hence…until I come unto thee…”

1.       Gideon had a plan in his mind.

2.       However, he needed time to make some preparations.

3.       Thus, he asked the messenger from God to remain until he returned.

 

D.     The Present:  “…and bring forth my present, and set it before thee.”

1.       Present

a.       Strong (4503):  a donation, tribute, sacrificial offering

b.      BDB:  gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering

2.       This present could have been intended in one of two ways:

a.       If Gideon believed this was the Lord, this would be presented as a meal or grain offering unto the Lord.

b.      If he believed this was just a man, it would be given as entertainment in order to refresh a respectable stranger.

c.       NOTE:  One commentator noted that if the guest actually ate the food it would confirm to Gideon that what was happening was something that was real.

 

II.                 THE RECOGNITION OF THE REQUEST (Judg. 6:18b)

 

…And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

 

A.     The angel agreed to remain until Gideon returned.

 

B.      NOTE:  Anytime there was no written revelation about a matter, the Lord was never upset with a person asking for some type of confirmation.  If there was written revelation, then no sign or miracle was needed by the individual (See the request of the rich man who was in torment, Luke 16:27-31).

 

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:  for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham:  but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

 

III.              THE READYING OF THE MEAL (Judg. 6:19)

 

And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour:  the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him, under the oak, and presented it unto him.

 

A.     Those who had flocks in Bible times were masters when it came to killing and preparing a fresh meal for their guests.

 

B.      There was not enough time to put yeast into the bread and allow it to rise, so unleavened cakes were prepared. 

 

C.     The broth would make a good sauce in which to dip either the meat or the bread.  Thus, it was brought in a pot.

 

D.     He “presented” it unto him.

1.       The word “presented” can be used in two ways.

a.       It can refer to an offering as in worship (Amos 5:25).

b.      It can refer to simply setting it before someone when it is ready to eat.

 

IV.              THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ANGEL (Judg. 6:20a)

 

And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth…

 

A.     Flat rocks were good places upon which to make a sacrifice.

1.       The flesh and unleavened cakes would make a good offering.

2.       The broth might have been poured out as a libation on the flesh and unleavened cakes.  (NOTE:  There were drink offerings under the Old Covenant, see Leviticus 23:13). 

 

V.                 THE RESIGNATION BY GIDEON (Judg. 6:20b)

 

…And he did so.

 

A.     QUESTION:  Is this what Gideon had anticipated?  Was this the purpose for which he had prepared this food? 

 

B.      Whether it was or it wasn’t, Gideon obeyed the messenger.  If this were a messenger from God, he could not afford to be disobedient.

 

C.     LESSON:  “Just do it” is good advice when it comes to the commands of God.

 

VI.              THE RAVENING OF THE FOOD (Judg. 6:21a)

 

Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of his staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes…

 

A.     The angel simply touched the flesh and the cakes and a flame miraculously came out of the rock and consumed the flesh and unleavened bread.

 

B.      This definitely served as the sign Gideon needed to prove all that he was experiencing was real. 

 

C.     LESSONS

1.       God never leaves Himself without witness (Rom. 1:18-20)

2.       When man needs proof, God is willing to provide the proof he needs (John 20:27).

3.       Sometimes the proof God offers is still not enough for men to believe (John 10:25-26).

 

Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed me not:  the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

 

VII.           THE RETREAT OF THE ANGEL (Judg. 6:21b)

 

…Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

 

A.     Once the miracle was performed, the angel departed from Gideon’s presence.

 

B.      The angel did everything necessary to complete his mission.

1.       He told Gideon that he had been chosen to be the next judge of Israel.

2.       He confirmed his words with a miraculous sign.

 

C.     When his work was done, he departed and returned into the heavenly realm.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Gideon was left alone.

 

B.      The mission was set before him.  The words were confirmed. 

 

C.     How would Gideon respond to all of the information that he had received that day?  Truly, it must have been almost overwhelming.