Context No. 2509 of 4322 · Judges

Judges 6:24-29: in context

24Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it “The LORD is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 25That same night, the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it. 26Then build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.” 27Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night. 28When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built. 29They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”

The night after God calls him, Gideon is told to tear down his own father's altar to Baal and the Asherah pole beside it, and to build an altar to the LORD in their place. Gideon obeys, but the text is honest about how: because he was afraid of his father's household and the men of the town, he did it by night rather than by day. In the morning the town discovers the wreckage and demands to know who did it.

What stands out is that Gideon obeyed while still afraid. He did not wait to feel brave; he was scared of what people would do, and he tore the idol down anyway, just under cover of darkness. Scripture does not pretend he was fearless, and it does not disqualify his obedience for being nervous. Courage, it turns out, is not the absence of fear but doing the right thing with the fear still present. The altar came down that night by the hands of a frightened man who obeyed regardless.

Is fear keeping me from an obedience I know God is asking, or will I do the thing he said even while still afraid?

Sources

Judges 6:27: Because he feared his father's household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.
Judges 6:25: Take your father's bull... and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.
Joshua 1:9: Don't be afraid, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.