Judges 6:19-23: a reflection

19Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it. 20The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” He did so. 21Then the LORD’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then the LORD’s angel departed out of his sight. 22Gideon saw that he was the LORD’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Because I have seen the LORD’s angel face to face!” 23The LORD said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”

Gideon, uncertain whether the visitor speaking to him is truly from God, prepares an offering, a young goat and unleavened cakes, and brings it out. The angel of the Lord tells him to lay it on a rock, and then touches it with his staff, and fire springs up and consumes the offering as the angel vanishes. In that moment Gideon realizes he has been speaking with the angel of the Lord face to face, and he is gripped with fear, crying out in alarm, for he believes such a close encounter with the holy will cost him his life.

But God's response is tender. Instead of the death Gideon fears, he hears words of comfort: Peace be to you; do not be afraid; you shall not die. The awesome holiness that terrified Gideon is joined to a gentleness that reassures him. God does not leave him trembling in dread; he speaks peace. The encounter that Gideon thought would destroy him becomes instead a meeting where God calms his fear and grants him peace.

There is comfort here for the fear that can grip us when we sense the holiness and nearness of God. To draw near to a holy God can be a fearful thing, and rightly so. But God's word to Gideon is his word to those who come to him in Christ: Peace be to you; do not be afraid. The holiness that might terrify is joined to a mercy that reassures. When awareness of God's greatness makes you tremble, hear his gentle word of peace, and know that in Christ you may draw near without fear.

Lord, when Gideon feared that a close encounter with your holiness would destroy him, you spoke peace: do not be afraid, you shall not die. When awareness of your greatness and holiness makes me tremble, speak that same word to me. Thank you that in Christ your holiness is joined to mercy, and I may draw near without fear. Calm my dread, and grant me your peace. Amen.