Judges 6:24-29: a reflection

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.”

When God commands Gideon to tear down his father's altar to Baal and build an altar to the LORD, Gideon obeys, but the text notes something honest about 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. Gideon was afraid; the command was dangerous, and he feared the reaction. Yet, though afraid, he obeyed. He did not let his fear keep him from obeying; he did the hard thing, under cover of night, but he did it. His obedience was real, though mixed with fear.

Notice that Gideon obeyed even though he was afraid. The command was dangerous, and Gideon feared the reaction of his family and the townsmen; his fear was real, and it shaped how he obeyed, by night rather than by day. But it did not stop him from obeying. He obeyed despite his fear, doing the hard, dangerous thing God had commanded, even while afraid. His obedience was not fearless, but it was real; he did not let his fear keep him from obeying, though it made him do it under cover of night.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too may be called to obey God while afraid, and can obey even so. We can think that obedience requires the absence of fear, that we cannot obey until we are unafraid; but Gideon obeyed while still afraid, doing the hard thing even as he feared. Courage is not the absence of fear, but obeying despite it. When God calls you to something hard or dangerous, and you are afraid, do not wait to be unafraid before obeying; obey even while afraid, as Gideon tore down the altar though he feared, doing it by night but doing it. Do not let your fear keep you from obeying God; obey even while afraid, as Gideon obeyed the hard command though fearful; for real obedience is possible even in the presence of fear, and God asks us to obey him even when we are afraid, as Gideon did the hard thing though he feared.

Lord, when you command Gideon to tear down his father's altar to Baal and build an altar to you, Gideon obeys, but the text notes something honest about 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. Gideon was afraid; the command was dangerous. Yet, though afraid, he obeyed. He did not let his fear keep him from obeying; he did the hard thing, under cover of night, but he did it. Show me that Gideon obeyed even though he was afraid. The command was dangerous, and Gideon feared the reaction; his fear was real, and it shaped how he obeyed. But it did not stop him from obeying. He obeyed despite his fear, doing the hard, dangerous thing even while afraid. His obedience was not fearless, but it was real. Take that to my heart, for I too may be called to obey you while afraid, and can obey even so. I can think that obedience requires the absence of fear, that I cannot obey until I am unafraid; but Gideon obeyed while still afraid. Courage is not the absence of fear, but obeying despite it. When you call me to something hard or dangerous, and I am afraid, keep me from waiting to be unafraid before obeying; help me obey even while afraid, Lord, as Gideon tore down the altar though he feared. Keep me from letting my fear keep me from obeying you; help me obey even while afraid.