Gideon: How To Know The Presence of God

Gideon: How To Know the Presence of God

Judges 6:

• In Judges 6, Israel again falls into evil. The Lord sells them into the hands of Midian for 7 years.
• Midian was the son of Abraham through his wife Keturah. (He married her after Sarah’s death.)
• Judges 6:5 says they were like “locusts.” Interesting analogy, since the Lord told them in Deuteronomy 28:38 that if they ever turned to idolatry he would send locusts. Like locusts, the Midianites strip the land bare of its harvest. They come down in swarms.
• When the people call out for help, instead of raising up a judge, God first raises upa prophet. (Judges 6:8-9)
• When we are introduced to Gideon, he is beating wheat in a wine press. You beat wheat on top of a hill, so the chaff can be carried away. But if Gideon goes on top of a hill, the enemy will come and steal his grain.
• Judges 6:12, God himself comes down and sits under a tree to watch Gideon.
• That God sits under a tree is interesting. God doesn’t need to rest. But I think God is showing the purpose of a tree. Pagans worship a tree; but God made a tree to be enjoyed. So God comes down and sits in the shade of the tree.
• Gideon means, “One who cuts down” or “Great warrior.” This explains God’s greeting to him, “Mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12)
• Throughout his calling, God promises to be with Gideon. (Judges 6:14-16)

I. Don’t Look For:

1. (Gideon was standing right before the Lord, yet was unaware he was in God’s presence until the fire flamed up and the Lord disappeared.)

2. (Sometimes life feels like God is far away.)

3. (Judges 6:13, like Gideon, we can want supernatural evidence of the Lord’s presence.)

II. How do I know God’s Presence?

1. His Unscripted (Judges 6:12-22)

2. His Unusual (Judges 6:23-24)

• He builds an altar. What’s the sacrifice? He already offered a Goat to the Lord (Judges 6:19.) The sacrifice was himself. He gave himself to the Lord.
• The name of the altar is “Yahweh Shalom.” The Lord is Peace.
• John 14:27

3. His Unnerving (Judges 6:25-32)

• God will press you to do things you don’t want to do.
• Our flesh takes the easy route; the Holy Spirit goes uphill.

4. His Unexpected (Judges 6:34-35)

• God will do in you and through you what you could never do in or through yourself. God is more than a coach, he is the great transformer.
• “Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any tie but the tie that binds me to thyself.” – David Livingstone

5. His Universal (Judges 6:36-40)

• What is a fleece? Just a rag of lambs wool. Notice he squeezed a bucked of water out of that wool!
• Everyone wants a sign. We’re hard on Gideon, but even the people who saw Jesus raise the dead asked for a sign. Jesus said the sign the world would have (our fleece) is not a spot of lambs wool, but the Resurrection of the Lamb of God.
• Is it wrong to ask for a sign? It’s immature.