Have you ever been afraid or hesitant to do what the Lord has told you? It’s one thing to believe in God’s promises but another to act on them. Frankly, it’s easy to believe you have eternal life and the forgiveness of your sins because if you’re wrong, you won’t find out until you die.

Still, the difference between believing in salvation and God’s promises and demonstrating your belief is what we call “faith.” Hebrews 11:6 gives us this insight about faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

Hebrews 11, commonly called “The Faith Chapter,” has what some call the “Faith Hall of Fame.” Here, we have a list of people renowned for their faith in God. One of those people is Gideon. 

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets.

Hebrews 11:32 (NIV)

Gideon is a curious choice because he doesn’t look like the picture of faith I’d imagine when we read about him. After all, consider Abraham, who got up and did what God told him to do without asking for any signs. Then, when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, what did Abraham do? He went to sacrifice Isaac. Now, that’s faith! 

What did Gideon do when first approached by the Lord?

Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me.

Judges 6:17 (NIV)

Gideon asked for a sign. We could excuse this request since the land was full of false prophets and idol worship. Yet, after being given this sign, before setting out to attack Israel’s enemies, Gideon asked for another sign.

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”

Judges 6:36-37 (NIV)

Surely, after being given a second sign by God, Gideon would go off and do what God told him to do, right? Wrong.

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.”

Judges 6:39 (NIV)

After this third of asking God for a sign, Gideon will now seize the day, just as the Lord told him he would. Right? No. 

After 32,000 men responded to Gideon’s call to attack their enemies, the Lord told Gideon there were too many. After speaking to them, 22,000 went home because they were afraid. Still, with 10,000 men left, the Lord said that was too many, so he sorted them out again. Now, there are 300 men. 

When Gideon and his 300 men prepare to attack the camp that night, the Lord gives Gideon another chance to do what he says. 

During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.

Judges 7:9-11 (NIV)

The Lord told Gideon to go because Gideon would be victorious, but if he was afraid, he could confirm what the Lord said. What does Gideon do? He’s afraid, so he goes down into the camp with his servant Purah and hears that their enemies are terrified of them and that God has given them into Gideon’s hands, just as the Lord said. 

After confirming victory, Gideon rallies his men, and they attack the enemy camp. What happens? They win, of course. Why? Because God paved the way for their victory. 

After everything we’ve read so far about Gideon, how could he, of all people, be considered worthy of entering into the Faith Hall of Fame? 

I’ll tell you why. It’s because of something the Lord told him when he first appeared to him.

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (emphasis added)

Judges 6:14 (NIV)

“Go in the strength you have,” the Lord told Gideon. 

God doesn’t ask us to perform any supernatural feats. Indeed, God doesn’t expect us to do anything but go forth in faith. Sometimes, as we see with Gideon, we have what Jesus called “little faith,” we focus more on our circumstances and who we are than on who God is. 

However, when God called us, he knew who we were. He knew how we would respond and how we’d drag our feet, wondering if we could do it. The truth is, we cannot do it, and we don’t do it. God does it, but that’s the point. God knew Gideon would ask for all those signs, and God still did what he said he would do without ever getting angry about it. 

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, go forth in the strength you have and let God fight for you.