The Bible is full of examples of individuals called by God, raised by Him for a time of need to deliver His people. The Book of Judges reflects a cycle of rebellion against God and a plea for deliverance. Each time, the plea was responded by a ‘judge’ who rescues the Israelites from their enemies. Each of the stories prefigures the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and hints at the presence of the Son since the beginning. An important reminder in all these is that it is all God’s battle. It is God who declares the war, God who equips us, God who transforms us in the process. Up till today, God invites us to partner with Him, He calls us, uses us, He will escort our work. One should not be surprised that He uses sinners like us with all our weaknesses. In fact, that is the best we can be, humble vessels to be transformed by His grace. He calls sinners to Him and responds to the cry of His people, everyone who calls upon His Name shall be saved. (Joel 2:32)
In the Book of Judges, it is written that the Israelites were in the hands of their enemies. God Himself delivered the Israelites into the hands of their enemies, and God Himself raised a savior for His people and declares war against their enemies. All in all, it is God’s judgment and He is the ultimate judge as He works through a mortal judge like you and me, to deliver His people. In the process, He is judging both the ways of His people and the surrounding nations.
By the time of Gideon, the Israelites were at war both without and within. Without with the Midianites breathing down the neck of the Israelites, suffering under the heavy yoke of oppression. Within in the spiritual sense, that the Israelites were steeped in idol worship. The Midianites were too, idol-worshippers, which makes the children of Israel surrounded by idolatry, bringing great suffering.
Gideon, a man like us, was chosen by God to deliver His people and turn them back to Him. In both Gideon’s background and journey, we see God’s hand of deliverance and the salvation through Yeshua the Messiah foretold. God uses the names of places and people, of events to represent His Son. Much like Abraham, Gideon went against the idols of his father’s household, and later, against the idolatrous Midianites encamped around Israel. In Hebrew, Gideon’s name is derived from (ג.ד.ע) meaning ‘he who cuts down trees/idols.’ Commissioned by God, Gideon’s first task was to cut down the idols of Baal and was aptly named Jerubaal by his people. Jerubaal means ‘yariv Baal,’ the one who contends against Baal, or the rival of Baal. Sure enough, Gideon went as far as to pit against the Baal and idols of the Midianites. In the same way, Yeshua the Messiah pit against all demonic forces by going to the pit Himself for us.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:15
The God who declares the war against His enemies promises victory to His oanointed ones. From the words of the LORD Himself to Gideon,
Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.
Judges 6:16
We see a declaration of victory, a figure of speech for Gideon to single-handedly defeat the enemies and also to defeat the enemies as though they were but one individual. Clearly it is God Himself who declares the war and accomplishes it in victory. Just as the LORD Himself said to Gideon, ‘Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?’ (Judges 6:14) Gideon achieved these feats not by his own might but by the empowerment of God, as evident in his name – Gideon son of Joash, the Abiezrite, which means in Hebrew – He who cuts down idols, the son of whom YHWH establishes, with the help of the Father.