Obstacles Gideon Overcame
by Kerry Duke
Gideon was one of the greatest judges of Israel. He brought victory to Israel by leading them to battle the Midianites. But Gideon did not earn this position by earthly advantages and favorable circumstances. In fact, he had what the world would consider a number of disadvantages.
Gideon was from a poor family. "My family is poor," he told the angel (Judges 6:15). But wealth, though it obtains certain advantages, cannot make a good leader. It can pay tuition at a prestigious school, but it cannot build character. All the money in the world cannot form the qualities needed for leadership. Those qualities are usually formed by struggles beginning in childhood, one of which is poverty. The apostles were not chosen by Jesus because of the family they were from or the money they had; they were chosen because of their teachable hearts and their potential.
Gideon was a young man. "I am the least in my father’s house" (Judges 6:15), that is, the youngest. Young men commonly feel unsure of their abilities; older people sometimes are doubtful of the judgment and stability of young people. Jeremiah hesitated at God’s command to preach because he was young (Jer. 1:6); David was criticized by his older brother when he came to battle Goliath (I Sam. 16:28). But youth need not be a hindrance – Jesus Himself was thirty years old when He began His preaching (Luke 3:23). Paul told Timothy, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (I Tim. 4:12).
Gideon’s father was in a false religion. The angel told Gideon to "throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath" (Judges 6:25). But Gideon went against his father’s belief. Though going against one’s family may be hard, it can and must be done if righteousness is at stake. The Bible speaks of a son who "seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like" (Ezek. 18:14). Even Abraham’s father was an idolater (Josh. 24:2). But God has always demanded that His people love Him more than even family (Psa. 27:10; Matt. 10:34-37; Luke 14:26).
Gideon was greatly outnumbered. With three hundred men he conquered the Midianites who filled the valley "like grasshoppers for multitude" (Judges 6:7,12). But God does not need large numbers to accomplish His will. The faithful have always been in the minority. Noah was one of eight people to be delivered from the flood (I Pet. 3:20); Joshua and Caleb were the only two of their age group to enter Canaan. Most people will be lost; only few will be saved (Mat. 7:13-14).
Gideon overcame these obstacles and entered glory (Heb. 11:32). May our faith be like his.