The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Gideon) and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” (v.12)
This was a strange greeting to Gideon. It didn’t seem like the LORD was with him and it didn’t seem that he was a mighty man of valor. For he was threshing wheat at the time, which was both difficult and humiliating. Gideon may have turned around to see if there was another person to whom the angel was speaking too.
Yet, here we see God Himself came down to call Gideon into His service. The visit by "the angel of the LORD," was another Old Testament appearance of Christ. Gideon realized who his Guest was when the Lord burned up his meal in answer to his request for a sign (v.21). As soon as the meal went up in flames, the angel of the Lord disappeared.
Gideon's first reaction was fear because the common belief at the time was, to see God was to die. But God spoke an all-important word of peace, or shalom, to Gideon (v.23). So like Moses before him, Gideon built an altar to the Lord and gave it a name: "The LORD is peace" (v.24). God's message of peace to Gideon was a guarantee that His plans for Israel's deliverer would be carried out.
However Gideon needed assurance, because as far as he was concerned the nation's enemies were too powerful to be conquered. God had already given Gideon a sign (Judges 6:17-21), but now Gideon asked God to do a second miracle to confirm His word – and then a third miracle to confirm it again - the sign of the fleece (vv.36-40).
We too may doubt our own abilities and potential. But let us never doubt what God can do with us when we trust and obey Him. Gideon’s God is the same God who will help us accomplish all that He asks us to do.
The Truth: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
