Judges 6:1-10 The Background.
In particular v8 where the Lord sent them a prophet.
Had Gideon met that prophet?
Judges 6:11 Gideon caught the LORD's attention.
My mind goes to what must be the saddest verse in the Bible Genesis 6:6
- the Lord's heart was filled with pain.
But there was a man - a theme which comes up a number of times in scripture.
There is also the other theme close to the LORD's heart - recovery, restoration ... not judgement.
Judges 6:11 The LORD was watching Gideon as he threshed the wheat.
I wonder what Gideon's body language was saying?
Are the words of v13 and 14 going through his mind in anger and frustration?
Was he using the pillowcase / bag threshing method?
https://1-acre-farm.blogspot.com/2013/07/threshing-and-winnowing-wheat-by-hand.html
The LORD might have considered the words beating / smacking too mild for describing Gideon's technique!
Part of Gideon's anger and frustration is that he also felt he was in no position to do anything.
Judges 6:17-18 The 1st of three signs Gideon asked for.
Ties back to v13 where Gideon asked "where are all the wonders?".
Gideon did not want a form of godliness without power cf 2 Timothy 3:5.
Judges 6:25 The Lord instructs Gideon to tear down his father's altar to Baal etc.
I wonder if Gideon's heart was already in distress over this - adding to the above anger and frustration.
Judges 6:27 Gideon took 10 of his servants.
He took those close to him, he did not use family servants cf Acts 10:7.
Had they all been impacted in some way by the prophet from v8?
Judges 6:29 The police investigation.
The 10 guys all responded that they had been helping the boss...
What night time job was so big it required a big team?
Judges 6:31 A word of wisdom.
If Baal is so 'big and strong and mighty' let him punish Gideon cf Isaiah 44:6-11
I wonder if Gideon's father had been going along with this Baal stuff because of business connections?
Judges 8:35 A sad ending to the story of Gideon.
A theme which comes up throughout Israel's history (Judges & Kings).
... the LORD sends them a deliverer time and again, but the peoples' hearts are not changed.
John the Baptist made two declarations about the ministry of Jesus
... the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world (not limited to Israel, like the temple sacrifices).
... Jesus will Baptise with the Holy Spirit cf Ezekiel 36:24-27 -- a change of heart.