Some personalities in the Old Testament loom larger than life because of their exploits for God. One of such figures is Gideon, the son of Joash. He did not start his journey as a warrior; in fact, he was not bashful about his assumed cowardice. God saw him differently anyway and as they say, the rest is history.
Shepherd Heart: Thank you very much Sir for honouring our invitation.
Gideon: The pleasure is mine.
Shepherd Heart: Would you do us the honour of introducing yourself to our readers?
Gideon: Sure. I was born in Ephra also known as Ophrah, of the clan of Abiezerite in the tribe of Manasseh. I was a farmer like my forebears.
Shepherd Heart: Were you a very religious person when you encountered the angel of God?
Gideon: Most Israelites are religious and I was not an exception. It was actually hard to believe in His intervention at the time we were under bondage to the Midianites.
Shepherd Heart: I can relate. It is difficult to love God or truly have confidence in His intervention when things are upside down in a nasty way. Most often than not, we fail to admit that our disobedience caused the estrangement. I have read the history of Israel at the time of the Judges and it did not look like you guys had much respect for Him.
Gideon: You are right. We were a sorry lot. Even when God did intervene to restore our nationhood, some of us returned to our idols.
Shepherd Heart: Many people in our generation admire the fact that you were able to put God to test three good times. Why did you do it?
Gideon: I know some people view my action as a sign of lack of faith. It was not. At the time the angel appeared to me, Israel was living under God’s displeasure because of idolatry. Moreover, I did not see myself as someone that could attract that kind of attention from Jehovah. I put Him to test for assurance purposes. I wanted to be sure that God indeed chose me for the mission.
Shepherd Heart: Would you have gone on the mission if God refused to honour your requests?
Gideon: That is a tough question. I can assure you that nothing would have made me to disobey God intentionally. He knew that I had huge respect for Him. I am sure that He obliged me because of that.
Shepherd Heart: There was another interesting moment at the river, where God put your troops to the test. What was your initial reaction when He left you with only 300 soldiers to confront thousands of Midianites?
Gideon: At that point, I knew that I would win the war if I had but ten men. God does not need a crowd to save His people. You must also remember that He is the LORD God of Hosts. I knew that angels were fighting alongside us; because victory is won in the spirit realm before it manifests in reality.
Shepherd Heart: If you were given an opportunity to advise Israeli troops of the modern era, would you have recommended similar strategy in their several wars with their Arab neighbours?
Gideon: God operates in dispensations. He hardly replicates His strategies. Joshua made that mistake in his first campaign against Ai. This cost the lives of some of his troops. The worse thing a person can do is to think for God. That is an expensive blunder. He is wisdom and the source of all productive knowledge. It is better to allow the Spirit of God to take the lead always. This makes for sweat less victory.
Shepherd Heart: How were you able to allay the fears of your men after God pruned your troops down to 300?
Gideon: When a commander exudes confidence, his troops win the battle even before they engage with the enemy. My soldiers knew that I had met the God of Israel. They were confident of victory because the battle was the LORD’s.
Shepherd Heart: Many people in our generation do not associate military commanders with spirituality. What was your personal relationship with God like?
Gideon: (Laughs). People who reason that way have never heard of David. King David fought more wars than all ancient Israeli commanders combined, except Joshua, the son of Nun. That did not stop him from being a man after God’s heart and receiving revelations about the Messiah, as recorded in some of his Psalms.
Shepherd Heart: So, did you follow a particular routine in your relationship with God in terms of fasting and prayer?
Gideon: God is not a hard taskmaster. He desires the relationship with man to be free from any form of compulsion. God wants to be loved for who He is and to be the number one in our hearts and affections. Man can actually do that without putting on religious airs. You can pray in the battle trench as much as you can do in the privacy of your home by lifting your heart heavenward. It is okay to have a set time to pray; that is a luxury a soldier may not have while in the trench.
Shepherd Heart: From heaven’s perspective, are we in our generation doing more for God’s Kingdom than ancient Israel?
Gideon: Hmm. That is another tough question. I would say that God was more visible in His engagement with ancient Israel than with your generation. That also accounted for the severity of His judgment against them because to whom much is given much is expected.
Shepherd Heart: Why do you think God is more lenient with us, apart from the fact that He is less visible?
Gideon: I am not sure that He is less severe with you. Remember that God does not change. I am trying to be more circumspect with my response. There is a Scripture in Hebrews that says that God disciplines everyone He receives; and that those who are spared such discipline are considered illegitimates or bastards. I would worry if God ignored me.
Shepherd Heart: You are correct. This reminds me of one of the most fearful Scriptures in the Bible. It is Romans 1:28, “Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done”. This line of thought is also captured in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness”. Indeed, I would be petrified if God ignored me.
Gideon: God’s statement in Genesis 6:3 that His Spirit shall not always strive with man was not a sign of resignation. It symbolised the coming judgment that would usher in His Kingdom on earth. What this means is that men would choose where to spend eternity and He would not force Himself on anyone. He sealed the fate of sinners with that declaration.
Shepherd Heart: Thank you very much Sir for that revelation. What do you think needs to be done to stop more people from choosing the wrong destination?
Gideon: Nothing can save anyone except the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a gift from God. Everyone accesses the Kingdom of heaven by choosing God’s ways. He would not water down the requirements for anybody. It is the same for the Jews and the Gentiles. Repent and accept God’s mercy in Christ.
Shepherd Heart: We appreciate your wise counsel Sir. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Gideon: Thanks for having me.