PODCAST

Shaky Obedience

November 2nd, 2022

Judges 6:23-29

The source of Israel’s plight is their drift towards the worship of the Canaanite gods Baal and Asherah. Israel needs to trust only the Lord. So Gideon is called to lead the removal and replacement of these idols that their worship and trust may be rightly directed. Gideon knows what the Lord desires and he obeys, but he is panicked enough that he tears down the idols under the cover of night. Avoiding the daylight, Gideon hopes that no one will trace this action to him. Gideon takes a long stride of trust, but he does it shaking in fear. Surprisingly, it is the beginning of Gideon’s story, when he is most hesitant, that Gideon is also most faithful, while at the end, when he is most confident in his own military skill, that his faithfulness falters into failure.

Perhaps Gideon’s faith and doubt can help illuminate the same hesitation, frights, and obedience in us? It can remind us that even a shaky obedience is a good step as we’re challenged to a deeper trust.

Author: Christa Klosterman