Judges Chapter 6 introduces Gideon, one of Israel’s most well-known judges, during a period of severe oppression by the Midianites. Because Israel again turns away from God and practices evil, the Lord allows Midian to dominate the nation for seven years. Israel’s crops and livestock are repeatedly destroyed, leaving the people impoverished and afraid. When Israel finally cries out to God, He begins preparing an unlikely deliverer. Gideon sees himself as weak and insignificant, but God sees what Gideon can become through His power. The chapter emphasizes repentance, calling, obedience, courage, and the truth that God’s presence is greater than human weakness.
Judges Chapter 6 Summary
Judges 6 begins with Israel once again doing evil in the sight of the Lord. As a result, God allows the Midianites to oppress Israel for seven years.
The Midianites, Amalekites, and other eastern peoples repeatedly invade Israel during harvest time. They destroy crops and livestock, leaving the Israelites desperately poor. Many Israelites hide in caves, mountains, and strongholds to escape their enemies.
When Israel cries out to God, He first sends a prophet who reminds them that the Lord delivered their ancestors from Egypt and gave them the Promised Land. Their suffering is connected to their failure to obey God.
The story then shifts to Gideon, who is secretly threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
The angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and declares, “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”
Gideon struggles with this statement. If God is truly with Israel, he asks, why have all these disasters happened? He also questions how he could possibly save Israel because his clan is weak and he considers himself insignificant.
The Lord responds with the promise that changes everything: “Surely I will be with thee.”
Gideon asks for a sign and prepares an offering. When the angel of the Lord touches the offering with his staff, supernatural fire rises from the rock and consumes it. Gideon realizes the extraordinary nature of the encounter and fears for his life, but the Lord reassures him with peace. Gideon then builds an altar and calls it Jehovah-shalom, meaning “The LORD is peace.”
That same night, God gives Gideon his first major test of obedience. He must tear down his father’s altar to Baal, destroy the nearby Asherah pole, build a proper altar to the Lord, and offer a sacrifice.
Gideon obeys, although he carries out the command at night because he fears his family and the townspeople.
The next morning, the people discover what happened and demand Gideon’s death. Gideon’s father, Joash, challenges them, arguing that if Baal is truly a god, Baal should defend himself.
Later, the Midianites and their allies gather for war. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Gideon, and he sounds a trumpet calling Israelites to join him.
The chapter concludes with Gideon asking God for further confirmation through the famous sign of the fleece. First, Gideon asks that dew appear only on the fleece while the ground remains dry. God does so. Gideon then asks for the opposite—the fleece to remain dry while dew covers the ground. God again grants the sign, preparing Gideon for the battle ahead.
Key Lessons – Judges Chapter 6
- Turning away from God has consequences. Israel’s return to idolatry contributed directly to the oppression they experienced under Midian.
- God may confront sin before providing deliverance. Before raising Gideon to defeat Midian, God reminded Israel why they had fallen into oppression.
- God sees potential that people may not see in themselves. Gideon considered himself weak and insignificant, yet God called him a mighty warrior.
- God’s presence is more important than human strength. Gideon’s ability to deliver Israel would come from the Lord being with him, not from Gideon’s natural power.
- Obedience often begins close to home. Before Gideon confronted Midian, God commanded him to destroy the idolatrous altar within his own household.
- Courage can grow through obedience. Gideon was initially afraid, but he obeyed God and gradually became prepared for a much greater challenge.
- God is patient with human weakness. Gideon repeatedly sought reassurance, and God graciously strengthened his faith for the mission ahead.
Important Verses
- Judges 6:12
- “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”
- Judges 6:14
- “And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.”
- Judges 6:16
- “And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”
- Judges 6:23
- “And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.”
- Judges 6:24
- “Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom.”
- Judges 6:34
- “But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet.”
- Judges 6:40
- “And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.”
