God’s Response to Gideon’s Fear

In our last post we talked about an emotional fear, the fear of rejection, and the implications when too many people operate in that realm. Namely, no one is brave enough to risk rejection, so no one reaches out to others who are also afraid, because everyone assumes the other person has it all together and just doesn’t value them.

Gideon faced a different kind of fear – fear of  physical harm, both lack of food and bodily injury. The Midianites ruled Israel for seven years with power so oppressive that the people prepared shelter in mountain clefts, caves, and strongholds. (Judges 6:2) They ravaged the land during harvest leaving no crops, no sheep, or other animals.

Gideon himself threshed wheat hiding in a wine press. Yet God told him to save Israel out of Midian’s hand. (Yes, like go to war and fight.)

I love how God dealt with Gideon’s fear. (Who me, God? I am the least of the least.) God didn’t just zap him with courage. He dealt with the fear step by step with great compassion and understanding. You can read about it in Judges 6 and 7.

Why God was so compassionate?

I believe God saw Gideon had a heart that desired to believe and to obey. And isn’t that what God is always looking at? When God had Samuel anoint David as king of Israel He said, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)

Let’s let that reminder soak in. God cares more about our heart than all our expectations for ourselves. If we are walking in fear about something right this moment, God is looking at our heart. Is our desire to love God no matter what? Is our desire to allow God to give us victory over that fear even though it seems like we keep falling back into it again and again? God is looking at our heart. Not our failure. Our heart.

Maybe our finances are scary right now. Maybe we are facing health issues. Maybe we are moving to a new job or a new town. Maybe we are in an abusive situation. Can we be like Gideon and desire to believe and obey God? Can we say, “God I am still scared, but I choose to trust You. I know You have promised to be my provider. Provide what I need to trust You.”

In our next post I’ll explore the specific steps God took to deal with Gideon’s fear as I see it. Until then let’s be like the father of the boy with seizures who said in Mark 9:24, “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”