Judges 6:16 – 24 “Surely I will be with you,” the LORD replied, “and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man.” Gideon answered, “If I have found favor in Your sight, give me a sign that it is You speaking with me. Please do not depart from this place until I return to You. Let me bring my offering and set it before You.” And the LORD said, “I will stay until you return.”
So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak. And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. Then the angel of the LORD extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. And fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he said, “Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” But the LORD said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.” So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”
Gideon might not know much about God, but he knows enough to realize that God is to be worshiped. Gideon quickly prepares an offering very similar to those offered by the Levitical priests. The angel of God touches the offering with his staff and poof! The offering goes up in a puff of smoke. This miracle is the first one God does to convince Gideon that He, God, is really calling Gideon to annihilate the Midianites.
The interesting thing is that after the angel disappears, Gideon is still conversing with God. The most significant statement in this whole passage is when God speaks peace to Gideon. Why would this statement be so important?
Consider the situation: Gideon is already threshing wheat in a secret location for fear of marauders. The angel of the Lord makes a sudden shocking appearance and then foretells things that are almost impossible for Gideon to believe. When Gideon brings a sacrifice, holy fire from the angel’s staff consumes it instantly and then the angel vanishes. Gideon might be excused if he’s shaking in his sandals at this point.
APPLICATION: Later on, Gideon will do exploits but right now, Gideon needs God’s peace in his heart. Gideon’s mind is in turmoil as he considers what God is calling him to do. Gideon is probably calculating how he can possibly accomplish all this, not knowing that God has a totally crazy plan.
All of us need peace. As the COVID pandemic ramps up again, the controversy over vaccines and other measures has also heated up. Statistics are confusing and it’s difficult to tell which authorities are actually giving correct information. Businesses that have cautiously reopened are now face with further dilemmas. Right now, peace is in short supply throughout the world. Calculating our next steps may throw us into a panic as we weigh options.
Throughout the Bible, God promises to give us peace if we will only turn to Him. In the 4th chapter of Mark, Jesus and His disciples are in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee when a ferocious storm blows up. While the disciples are panicking, Jesus is asleep. The disciples wake up Jesus, shouting to Him that they are about to die. Mark tells us: 39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.”
We are all facing trying times and we all need a peace that won’t disappear. Just as Gideon needed God’s peace to go forward with God’s plan, so we also need God’s peace for our lives. The wonderful thing about God is that He is all – knowing; He already knows more about your problems than you do. And God has perfect solutions – not easy ones, but perfect ones.
PRAYER; Father God, thank you that You are a God of peace and that one of Your names is Jehovah Shalom. Help us to trust You and to follow Your leading, even when the way seems difficult. And please give us Your peace. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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