I don’t know any Christians who can say they’ve got life sorted, so it’s good to know that you can actually strengthen your weak faith. It’s sometimes said that faith is like a muscle. It needs exercise to become stronger.
Gideon was not a strong man. And yet God used him to do amazing things.
Most of us don’t expect to be asked to do amazing things. Truth be told, we usually feel inadequate for the most basic things. But if you really knew what it means to rest in Jesus, and to trust him to work through you, you would strengthen your weak faith beyond anything you think possible today.
These notes accompany a sermon on YouTube delivered at Bromborough Evangelical Church, Wirral in September 2025. You can find more in the series in our sermon index.
First things first:
See things as they really are (1-10)
The ongoing cycle of activity in Judges carries on, always starting in the same place: “The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (v1). So the Lord handed them over to an enemy, the Midianites It was rough: Every animal raised or crop planted would just be stolen by the Midianite raiders – year after year. Israel ended up hiding in caves and strongholds.
So, as ever, they cry out to the Lord in dire need of help. What help does he send? A prophet! Not relief.
The message in response to their complaint is for them to ponder why they are in such distress. God is surely the one who saved them from Egypt, and he is the same saviour now as then. He’s not changed. He was known to them by his personal name, in covenant relationship, but they did not obey him and went after other gods. And guess what? Their idols have not rescued them.
Idols can’t fail to fail. They offer empty hope. Sometimes things seem good for a while. You’re happy, life’s good, you’re doing fine. But everything you can touch will one day be taken from you. You’ll stand before God, accountable to him.
You’re not entitled to a peaceful, easy life. Not when you’ve sinned against God, against his love, in his world. You need to see things as they truly are.
John Calvin began his Institutes of the Christian Religion with these words: “Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists in two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”
You need to know that you are sinful in God’s sight, and that neither you nor your idols can save you. You’re weak. But:
You’re chosen in weakness (11-24)
As we come with the angel of the Lord to Gideon, we find a man who is nothing special. He’s in hiding, like everyone else. So the greeting he’s given feels pretty uncomfortable: Read Judges 6:12.
It’s almost geared to embarrass, to highlight his weakness. “Valiant warrior” indeed!
But Gideon’s reply sounds like he hasn’t listened to the prophet God sent – and in that he’s very much like the rest of Israel. Read Judges 6:13. Is he blaming the Midianite oppression on God? In a sense, he’s right. But only because of Israel’s sin. Read Judges 6:14.
Notice it doesn’t say “the angel of the Lord” but “the Lord.” The Old Testament often does that. It doesn’t distinguish between the angel of the Lord and the Lord himself. The angel of the Lord is his physical appearance to humanity before he was incarnated as the son of Mary. God presented himself to humanity with veiled glory (because it would kill you). Very much present there.
And it was that God who sought out Gideon, this weak nobody from a nothing clan, hiding from the enemy, hiding from truth.
And it’s just such people he seeks today too. Yes, you are sinful in God’s sight. And no, you can’t save yourself. But Jesus is God, come in the flesh.
Seeking to save
He said that he had come to seek and to save the lost – and that’s you. You could no more save yourself than Gideon could, but God came to save you. In all your weakness. In fact, admitting your weakness and inability to please God is the best first step. See yourself as you really are before God, because he’s chosen you in your weakness, not your strength.
Turn to God in prayer yourself. Ask him for forgiveness. He stands open-armed to accept you, to forgive you, and to bring you into eternal bliss.
But of course he saves us and calls us to serve him.
Saved with purpose
Read Judges 6:14. Gideon was given a massive task! It was way beyond his ability. And he knew it was way beyond his ability.
As a Christian, the Lord in his wisdom has give you tasks that are beyond your ability too. You’re to go into the world and make disciples. You’re to love one another and encourage one another. And forgive, and pray, and worship, and serve, and… it doesn’t feel a lot like rest.
What was God’s reply to Gideon? Read Judges 6:16.
That’s where your strength in weakness comes from: “But I will be with you.”
When Jesus gave his great commission to his disciples that we’re to go in to all the world making disciples of all nations, he said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Not as a well-wisher, or cheer-leader, or spectator. It is his work in his power and authority. When you step forward in obedient faith, he works through you. His Spirit strengthens you.
And of course you’re weak.
Sufficient grace
But he said to the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Jesus’ grace is his powerful enabling working through the Holy Spirit in you. His powerful enabling is glorified and amplified the weaker you are! That why Paul actually went on to say, “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
In v17-24, Gideon realises that he’s met with the LORD God and lived. He’s been chosen. His response is fear because God is holy, but Gideon lived because God had come to him, to bring salvation. He had work to do for the Lord, as do you.
But it can be daunting: So grow your weak faith in trials…
Trials strengthen faith (25-32)
That very night God gave Gideon a task. It was nowhere near as big as going to war against Midian, but it would take faith to complete. It was a training exercise, a faith-muscle-builder.
Remember that idolatry was the root of Israel’s sin. Worse, there was an altar of Baal and a pole to the goddess Asherah right there in Gideon’s dad’s back yard. Gideon’s work for the LORD mustn’t be tarnished with idolatry. Cleansing from sin is required if you’re to serve the Lord whole-heartedly. You must cast off the sin that entangles you.
Gideon was not a strong man. He was afraid of his family and neighbours, so he acted at night. That’s not a problem. He did what was asked of him in a way he could (v27).
The next morning all the neighbours are very cross! They want Gideon killed. But look at the response from Gideon’s dad: Read Judges 6:31.
False gods can’t even save themselves, so how can they save you?
Idols everywhere
And don’t think you don’t have any idols. Don’t be blind.
We’re so comfortable in our culture, with food in our fridges, cars to drive, toilets to flush, cat videos to watch on our phones. If you strip all that away, a Christian still has all that really matters.
But even Christians struggle to grasp that in all its fullness. And here’s the problem with that: Your witness and your love will be damaged by your worldliness, your selfishness, and your prayerlessness. You kid yourself that you’re not actually as weak as you are. But as you mature as a Christian, you should feel your dependence on the Lord more and more, more and more.
The outcome for Gideon that morning was good. So he’d learned a lot in that 24 hours.
- God will come to his people, and when he gives a command he promises simply to be with you until it’s done.
- And the destruction of the idols had demonstrated God’s faithfulness to his promise.
When God says, “I will be with you,” this is what it looks like. It’s not all supernatural events and stars falling from the sky. But it is in the smashing of idols, and the vindication of the obedience of your faith – for God’s honour.
Again: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” And so it goes on:
The Lord is gentle with your weakness (33-40)
The Lord has given Gideon a test of his faith in preparation for the really big task ahead: Read Judges 6:33. Here come the Midianites again. But it’s different this time. Read Judges 6:34-35.
The Holy Spirit of God has enveloped (or clothed) Gideon. He’s a changed man; other men are drawn to follow him. And so Gideon stands, with his untrained and ill-equipped army around him, and he has a faith wobble. He knew what God had told him to do, but would God really help?
Gideon’s fleece
So we come to Gideon’s fleece: Read Judges 6:36-40.
You need to be very careful with this text. It is not a method for seeking guidance, something for you to try. Notice:
- Gideon didn’t need guidance, he knew God’s command (“as you said” in both v36 and v37).
- He was asking for a supernatural confirmation (the dew on the ground and the fleece).
- And he knew that he was wrong to test the Lord in this way (“Don’t be angry with me… one more test…” in v39).
16 years ago I was earning a good salary in the corporate world, but felt increasingly drawn to ministry. So I prayed openly, “Lord, I don’t know what you want me to do. But I’ll start a ministry trainee course and see what happens.” Within a month I was being made redundant. Just me. It was one of many small circumstances that made the Lord’s will utterly clear in my life.
It became so clear at that point that entering ministry became not a matter of faith, but obedience.
The obedience of faith
And that was Gideon’s problem: He knew what God wanted him to do, and the fleece episode was questioning God’s command. You also know the Lord’s commands: Go and make disciples. Love one another. Encourage one another. Forgive.
You have his written commands; you can read his words. So don’t test him. “I’ll know if he wants me to witness to my neighbour if I see rain falling upwards…” You might not be that blunt, but you will find all sorts of ways not to be obedient. No, step forward in the obedience of faith. Your heart will deceive you, but you can’t deceive the Lord.
For all that, even though Gideon’s motives were wrong, he was at least very right to take his weak faith to the Lord in prayer.
Gentle and lowly
Jesus is the one who won’t break a bruised reed; he won’t snuff out a dying flame.
We always book holiday places with a log burner. Last week the fire was down to embers, almost gone out. But it was still there. So I blew, gently nudging the thing back to life. And it suddenly burst into life! That is what the Lord does for you, however dim you feel. And be breathes his breath, his Spirit, into you.
The Lord knew how weak Gideon was, and how big the task was, just as he knows your weakness and your fears. But guess what:
- He chose Gideon anyway, and he’s chosen you.
- Jesus nudged Gideon along ever so gently, and is equally gentle to you.
- Gideon didn’t get out of it, and in fact the powerful presence of God negates any excuse of weakness in you.
You’ve been chosen in weakness. Trials strengthen your faith; they’re spiritual gym equipment.
And the Lord knows your weakness, and will work through you to accomplish his will.
So as you face this week, with whatever challenge might come along, remember his words: “I am with you.”