(6:2) The Midianites - The Midianites were desert people descended from Abraham's second wife, Keturah, with whom he had six sons (Genesis 25:1-6). From this relationship came a nation that was always in conflict with Israel. Years earlier, while still wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites had battled the Midianites and almost totally destroyed them (Numbers 31:1-20). Because of Israel's failure to completely destroy them, however, the tribe had repopulated. Here they were once again oppressing Israel.

(6:6) Israel's Last Resort - Again the Israelites hit rock bottom before turning back to God. They could have avoided a lot of suffering if they had trusted him. Turning to God shouldn't be a last resort; we should look to him for help each day. Obviously, life will not always be easy. We will have struggles, but God will give us the strength to live through them. Don't wait until you run out of options. Call on God first in every situation.

(6:10) The Old Testament records several appearances of the angel of the Lord, including in Genesis 16.7; 22:11; 31:: Exodus 3:2; 1419; Judges 2:1; 13:3; and Zechariah 3:1-6. Whether it was the same angel appearing in each case is not known. The angel mentioned here appears to be separate from God in one place (Judges 6-12) and yet the same as God in another place (634). This has led some to believe that the angel was a special appearance of Jesus Christ prior to his mission on earth as recorded in the New Testament. It is also possible that as a special messenger from God, the angel had authority to speak for God. In any case, a special messenger delivered an important message to Gideon.

(6:11) The Threshing Floor - Threshing was the process of separating the grains of wheat from the useless outer shell called chaff. This was normally done in a large area, often on a hill, where the wind could blow away the lighter chaff when the farmer tossed the beaten wheat into the air. If Gideon had done this, however, he would have been an easy target for the bands of raiders who were overrunning the land. Therefore, he was forced to thresh his wheat in a winepress, a pit that was probably hidden from view and that would not be suspected as a place to find a farmer's crops.

(6:13) Gideon Questions God - Gideon questioned the angel of the Lord about the problems he and his nation faced and about God's apparent lack of help. What he didn't acknowledge was the fact that the people had brought calamity upon themselves when they decided to disobey and neglect God. How easy it is to overlook personal accountability and blame our problems on God and others. Unfortunately, this does not solve our problems. It brings us no closer to God, and it escorts us to the very edge of rebellion and backsliding. When problems come, the first place to look is within ourselves. Our immediate response should be confession to God of sins that may have created our problems.

(6:14-16) Gideon Fails to Trust the Lord -   "Surely I will be with thee," God told Gideon, and God promised to give him the strength he needed to overcome the opposition. Despite this clear promise for strength, Gideon made excuses. Seeing only his limitations and weaknesses, he failed to see how God could work through him. Like Gideon, we are called to serve God in specific ways. Although God promises us the tools and strength we need, we often make excuses. But reminding God of our limitations only implies that he does not know all about us or that he has made a mistake in evaluating our character. Don't spend time making excuses. Instead, be honest about your feelings and then do what God wants.

(6:22-23) Gideon is Afraid - Why was Gideon afraid of seeing an angel? The Israelites believed that no one could see God and live (see God's words to Moses in Exodus 33:20). Evidently, Gideon thought this also applied to this special messenger from God.

(6:25-30) Gideon Obey the Lord - After God called Gideon to be Israel's deliverer, he immediately asked him to tear down the altar of the pagan god Baal -an act that would test Gideon's faith and commitment. Religion was understood politically in the ancient world, so an attack on a god was often seen as an attack on the local government supporting that god. If caught, Gideon would face serious social problems and probably physical attack. Gideon took a great risk by following God's higher law, which specifically forbids idol worship (Exodus 20:1-5). After learning what Gideon had done, the townspeople wanted to kill him. Many of those people were fellow Israelites. This shows how immoral God's people had become. God said in Deuteronomy 13:6-l that idolaters must be stoned to death, but ironically, these Israelites wanted to stone Gideon for tearing down an idol and worshiping God. When you begin to accomplish something for God, you may be criticized by the very people who should support you.

(6:33) Gideon Attacks Midian - The armies of Midian and Amalek camped in the valley of Jezzeel, the agricultural center for the area. Whoever controlled the valley's rich and fertile land controlled the people who lived in and around it Because of the valley's vast resources, many major trade routes conversed at the pass that led into it. This made it the site of many great battles. Gideon's men attacked the enemy armies from the hills, and the only escape route was through the pass toward the Jordan River. That is why Gideon urged some of his troops to take control of the river's crossing points (7:24).

(6:36-39) Did Gideon Test God? Was Gideon testing God, or was he simply asking God for more encouragement? In either case, though his motive was right (to obey God and defeat the enemy), his method was less than ideal. Gideon seems to have known that his requests might displease God (6:39), and yet he demanded two miracles (6:37=39), even after witnessing the miraculous fire from the rock (6:21). It is true that to make good decisions we need facts. Gideon had all the facts, but still he hesitated. He delayed obeying God because he wanted even more proof. Demanding extra signs can be an indication of unbelief. Fear often makes us want more confirmation when we should be taking action. Visible signs are unnecessary if they only confirm what we already know is true. Today, the greatest means of God's guidance is his Word, the Bible. Unlike Gideon, we have God's complete, revealed Word. If you want to have more of God's guidance, don't ask for signs; study the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

(6:39) Gideon Asks for a Second Miracle -  After seeing the miracle of the wet fleece, why did Gideon ask for another miracle? Perhaps he thought the results of the first test could have happened naturally. A thick fleece could retain moisture long after the sun had dried the surrounding ground. "Putting out fleeces" is a poor decision-making method. Those who do this put limitations on God by asking him to fit their expectations. The results of such experiments are usually inconclusive and thus fail to make us any more confident about our choices. Don't let a "fleece" become a substitute for God's wisdom that comes through Bible study, prayer, and wise counsel.