God’s patient prodding (Judg 6:28-32)

I wonder how Gideon spent the night after he had pulled down his father’s altar for Baal and Asherah. Did he sleep at all or was he worried about what might happen next? Would he be found out? Very likely. Was this his last night in his own bed? Would he lose his home, his family, his friends, inheritance, all that defined him? Would he survive at all? Yet did not God say that He was for Gideon’s well-being or peace (Judg 6:23)? Surely, if he was meant to deliver Israel from the Midianites, he could not die, but there was no guarantee that he would not lose everything else. Then the morning comes, and the outraged citizens quickly discover who destroyed the community’s worship site and are baying for blood (Judg 6:28-29). Whenever I read of Gideon’s near escape from death, I am reminded of the verse, ‘When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him’ (Prov 16:7). As so often when God acts, deliverance comes from unexpected quarters.

What is astonishing in the sequence of events here is the way God brings to a head the question that is even more important than deliverance from Midianite oppression, namely, whom will Israel serve? When God commands Gideon, he has to make a choice, but his radical actions also force his family and community to take sides. I am reminded of Jesus who so strongly divided opinion because, as the Light of the world, He shone His light into the dark corners of the human heart and enraged those whose evil was revealed (John 3:19-20). Increasingly, as the Western world becomes more hostile to the Christian faith, our stand for truth will elicit anger, even rage and it should not surprise us. Some Christians thrive on conflict and deliberately provoke it even when this is not necessary, but we must not aim for peace at any price either and thereby compromise the truth. It is always sad to see Christian leaders give wishy-washy replies to the media when challenged on some controversial issue. We need the wisdom of Jesus whose answers of trick questions avoided falling into the trap set for Him while showing the kind of integrity that silenced His opponents.

Returning to Gideon’s father, what motivated him to defend his son? Was it simply a love for his flesh-and-blood or has Joash been reflecting on whom to worship before? Did God inspire him to say what he did and then cause him to wonder about the truth of his own statement? Although the passage does not explain, his retort is undoubtedly shrewd because it strikes at the heart of what constitutes a god’s power. Surely, if Baal is mighty, then he can defend himself and does not need human help to save him; he will act against Gideon (Judg 6:31). Joash’s response disarms the mob by moving the responsibility from them to Baal and simultaneously raising doubts about his might. The fact that no further action is taken suggests that the argument convinced the leaders of the city and Gideon’s continued existence reinforced the point that Baal had no power. The confident naming of Gideon as Jerubbaal (‘let Baal contend with him’) suggests Joash’s implicit confidence in God; he does not seem to fear retribution from Baal. Thus, he too lands firmly in the Lord’s camp.

Despite Israel’s obstinate attitudes and idolatry, God in his amazing patience and kindness keeps prodding and pushing His people to face up to the truth. They may fear repercussions from abandoning other gods, but they need not because the Lord is powerful and He is for their peace and well-being, as Gideon has discovered for himself. In our modern context, God is also prodding us to let go of our idols, the things that we pin our hopes on to give us fulfilment and happiness and to trust Him fully instead. While well-being from God is not about a pain-free or necessarily affluent life materially, it does express that deep peace and fulfilment that comes to those who commit themselves to the Lord.

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