Judges 7:8-12: a reflection

8So the people took food in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the rest of the men of Israel to their own tents, but retained the three hundred men; and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 9That same night, the LORD said to him, “Arise, go down into the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10But if you are afraid to go down, go with Purah your servant down to the camp. 11You will hear what they say; and afterward your hands will be strengthened to go down into the camp.” Then went he down with Purah his servant to the outermost part of the armed men who were in the camp. 12The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is on the seashore for multitude.

God has whittled Gideon's army down to a mere three hundred men, to face a Midianite host that lay in the valley like locusts for multitude, their camels beyond counting. It is a daunting, seemingly hopeless situation. And notice how God deals with Gideon's fear. He tells him to attack, but then adds, tenderly: But if you are afraid to go down, go with your servant Purah down to the camp, and you will hear what they say, and afterward your hands will be strengthened. God does not rebuke Gideon for being afraid; he gently provides a way to strengthen his fearful servant's courage.

Notice God's gentleness with Gideon's fear. Gideon was afraid, understandably, facing such odds with so few. God did not scold him, or demand that he simply conquer his fear. Instead, he accommodated Gideon's weakness, offering him a way to be reassured and encouraged, letting him overhear the enemy so that his courage would be strengthened. God met Gideon's fear not with condemnation, but with tender provision.

That reveals something tender about how God deals with our fears. We might expect God to rebuke us for being afraid, to demand a courage we do not feel. But God, like a gentle father, often meets our fear with tenderness, providing reassurance, encouragement, and strength for our weakness, rather than condemnation. He knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. When you are afraid, do not imagine God is impatient or disappointed with your fear. He is gentle with it, as he was gentle with Gideon's, ready to meet your weakness with reassurance and to strengthen your fearful heart. Bring your fears to the God who deals with them tenderly, and let him strengthen your hands.

Lord, when Gideon was afraid to face the vast Midianite host with only three hundred men, you did not rebuke him, but gently offered him a way to be reassured and to have his courage strengthened. Thank you for your tenderness with our fears. When I am afraid, keep me from imagining that you are impatient or disappointed with me. Like a gentle father, you meet my fear not with condemnation but with reassurance, encouragement, and strength for my weakness. You know my frame; you remember that I am dust. Help me bring my fears to you, the God who deals with them tenderly, and to trust that you will strengthen my fearful heart as you strengthened Gideon's. Meet my weakness with your gentleness, and strengthen my hands for what you call me to.