18 GIDEON
Courageous and Cautious
GENUINE courage requires caution. Without caution, courage may become mere recklessness. Gideon was both courageous and cautious. He lived at a time when Israel had once again strayed from Jehovah. So Jehovah allowed the Midianites to flood into the land, oppress his people, and prevent them from reaping their crops. Undaunted, Gideon threshed grain to help feed his people. But he did so cautiously, partially concealed in a winepress, likely a large, sheltered vat that was carved out of a rock.
The Israelites repentantly called on Jehovah for help. So he sent a prophet to remind them of why he had abandoned them; then he sent an angel to commission Gideon to rescue His people. Gideon asked for a sign. The angel obliged, miraculously using fire to consume a sacrifice that Gideon prepared. After this, the angel vanished. That night, Jehovah spoke to Gideon, telling him to tear down an altar to Baal and a sacred pole and then to build an altar to Jehovah and sacrifice to Him. Gideon obeyed, but fear of his father and the men of the city moved him to do so at night, when he was sure he would not be seen.
After Gideon’s courageous acts, the Midianites amassed a huge army with the Amalekites and the Easterners and came against Israel, filling the valley of Jezreel like a vast swarm of locusts. With Jehovah’s spirit upon him, Gideon sent messengers to summon the men of several tribes of Israel to rise up and fight. Then, cautious Gideon asked Jehovah for two miraculous signs to reassure him of divine backing. Jehovah patiently complied. That night, when Gideon laid a fleece out on the threshing floor, Jehovah caused it to be soaked with dew though the ground around it remained dry. The next night, He caused the fleece to stay dry though the ground was soaked with dew.
Gideon and his men were vastly outnumbered, but Jehovah told them to reduce their ranks further
Thus, strengthened by God’s response, Gideon led his relatively small army of 32,000 men toward the enemy, who numbered some 135,000. While the Israelites were encamped at the Spring of Harod, Jehovah told Gideon that his army was too large! Gideon had to excuse from battle all the soldiers who were stricken with fear. Only 10,000 men were left. But Jehovah said that this was still too many. He told Gideon to observe his men as they drank from the water. Those who knelt and bent low, facedown, to drink were dismissed. Others, though, drank with caution, crouching down and scooping up water with their hands while still looking around them. These alert soldiers were selected to fight. Now Gideon had only 300 men!
Gideon bravely went ahead, preparing to attack. Jehovah then gave him further assurance. He told Gideon to sneak into the enemy encampment at night. Gideon did so. He overheard a soldier relating a dream that showed that Israel would win the battle. Brimming with God-given confidence, Gideon returned to his men and told them to follow him carefully in a clever battle strategy. In the dark of night, they spread out. When Gideon gave the signal, they used large jars, torches, and horns to create a sudden burst of noise and light. “The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon!” they shouted. The tactic convinced the enemy soldiers that they were surrounded and under attack. They panicked and were thrown into confusion! Jehovah caused them to turn on one another. Only some 15,000 survived and fled.
Gideon pursued them. Finally, he defeated the enemy, executed their leaders, and punished those who had been disloyal and refused to support Gideon in this divinely directed battle. Then the people tried to make Gideon their king. He modestly refused, saying: “Jehovah is the one who will rule over you.” God rewarded that brave and cautious man. Gideon enjoyed peace as a judge over Israel and lived to a good old age. He was even mentioned by the apostle Paul when he listed men and women of great faith.—Heb. 11:32.
Read the Bible account:
For discussion:
In what ways did Gideon show courage?
Dig Deeper
1. Why might the “round loaf of barley” in the soldier’s dream have been a fitting symbol of Gideon’s army? (Judg. 7:13; it “Barley” ¶7)
2. Why did the sound of 300 horns confuse and frighten the Midianites? (it “Horn” ¶3) A
Picture A: Rams’ horns were used as signaling instruments
3. What did Gideon and his army have to do to defeat the Midianites? (w04 10/15 16 ¶9-10) B
Picture B: Gideon chased the Midianites about 80 kilometers (50 mi) to Jogbehah (exact route unknown)
4. What details confirm the accuracy of this Bible account? (w05 4/15 32)
Reflect on the Lessons
Gideon led God’s people to a victory. But he remained humble and spoke peaceably to others. (Judg. 8:1-3) How can family heads and elders imitate Gideon when someone is upset by something they do?
In what situations might we need to be both courageous and cautious? C
Picture C
How might you imitate Gideon’s courage in your life?
Meditate on the Bigger Picture
What does this account teach me about Jehovah?
How does the account tie in with Jehovah’s purposes?
What would I like to ask Gideon in the resurrection?
Learn More
If you receive a privilege of service, how can you imitate Gideon?
Use this illustrated Bible story to help your children to put their trust in God.