August 22 2023

Then the Lord turned to him (Gideon) and said, ‘Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.’ He responded, ‘But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’ The Lord said to him, ‘But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.’ 

From Judges 6:11-24, NRSV

At the time of this reading, the people of Israel were going through a period of punishment due to their disobedience and rebellious behaviour. They were oppressed by the might of the Midianites and in their anguish had finally called out to the Lord for help. Help was given, not in the way expected, but from a very unlikely source. A farmer called Gideon was threshing his wheat indoors. It would have been far easier to thresh his wheat outside but presumably Gideon needed to keep his produce hidden from his enemies. Whilst he was carrying out this task he was visited by an angel of the Lord who addressed him as a “mighty warrior” and told him that the Lord was with him. Gideon was taken aback by this – he was not known as a warrior at that time. He questioned the angel about the Lord being with him when he  and his people were suffering as they did. Even after the angel’s assurance that the Lord would be with him and would support him in rescuing his people, Gideon was still doubtful and asked the Lord for a sign. Gideon prepared a sacrifice of meat, bread and broth which he presented to the angel. When the angel touched the food with the tip of his staff, fire came from the rock and consumed the food. Gideon was now prepared to believe that this was indeed the angel of the Lord.

• • Was Gideon justified in asking for a sign from the Lord?
  • How can we know whether God is calling us to some task or if it is just in our imagination?

As you go about your daily tasks, try to do so with the awareness that God is with you.