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The sign is recorded for us in verses 18-21, where we read that fire rose up out of the
rock and consumed the provisions brought by Gideon for the angel. Gideon placed great
emphasis on the power of God to perform `miracles', as we see also from verses 36-40
where the signs of the fleece are recounted. It would be nothing less than a miracle if
Gideon, even with a large band of his compatriots, could save Israel from the Midianites,
and Gideon sought proof of the power of God, which had not recently been exercised on
behalf of Israel.
Like others we have considered in these studies, Gideon also was aware of the
holiness of God:
"And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O
Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face. And the Lord said
unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not, thou shalt not die" (6: 22, 23).
If on perception of an angel Gideon reacted in this way, he clearly recognized that the
holiness of God was much greater. The response of Gideon to this was worship:
"Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom" (6: 24).
The one called of God is `worshipful': he worships, and worships with gratitude in
his heart. Today so many lack the sense of the holiness of God, and hence they lack the
spirit of worship and reverence.
The first of the exploits performed by this man called of God, was the destruction of
the altar of Baal. The background to this incident is curious: Gideon's father was named
Joash. A name that means `Jehovah gave". It thus seems likely that Joash had been
brought up in a godly home, where Jehovah was reverenced and worshipped. Yet the
altar that Gideon destroyed was `the altar of Baal that thy father hath', and he was also
bidden to destroy the `grove' or asherah that was by it. An altar to Baal with all the
pagan symbols attaching to it, owned by the one "Jehovah gave". Moreover Joash says
after the altar has been destroyed "If Baal be a god, let him plead for himself" (31). In
which God did Joash believe? In Jehovah or Baal? Or is the confusion revealed in the
incident symptomatic of an attitude current today: "It's the same God, under a different
name"? This would provide a further reason for Gideon's insistence on signs, and
Jehovah's ability and power: he wanted to be quite certain it was Jehovah and not Baal
Who was addressing him.
This incident also shows Gideon as indeed a man of courage. He was prepared to
destroy his father's altar to Baal, and,
"He feared his father's household, and the men of the city" (6: 27).
Perhaps there is here a hint that Joash, in his heart worshipped Jehovah, but because of
popular opinion was prepared to compromise. Gideon was not prepared to compromise.
Though `the men of the city' were against him, and his own kith and kin, he had to make
a clear and clean break with Baal. Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal, and built an altar
to Jehovah. Once again we are reminded that service must be preceded by worship.