提要
犯罪──懲罰──拯救的循環一再上演。我們的上帝多麼有耐心、憐憫和恩典。祂愛祂的百姓，雖然祂不願見他們在壓迫者的手下受苦，但祂容許以色列人吃苦，藉以懲罰他們，好叫他們能從罪中悔改歸回上帝。
來自米甸人（亞伯拉罕從基土拉所生的後裔，創25：2）、亞瑪力人、和東方遊牧民的壓迫是最厲害的一次。以色列人被洗劫一空，許多人躲藏在山洞裡，害怕沙漠的遊牧民會帶著他們所有的牲畜大舉進犯，毀滅或耗盡迦南地所有的出產。
以色列人在這樣悽慘的光景中受了七年的苦，終於開口呼求上帝的拯救。上帝派遣一位不知名的先知去責備以色列人忘記上主。先知說以色列人不聽從上帝的話，事實上就是說他們一點也不配得救。不過，在此同時，上帝出於憐憫，已經預備了基甸作以色列人的下一位士師和拯救者。先知的信息是要使以色列人知罪，並預備他們的心接納基甸的領導。
當主的使者向基甸顯現時，他正在酒醡打他埋藏的麥子。他不像其他人在烈日下偷懶打盹，而是積極的想法子供應家人的需要。從上帝而來，授命給基甸的使者一定就是主自己的顯現。基甸當時似乎很痛苦，因他以為上帝已經離棄了祂的百姓。他很誠實，沒有隱藏自己的懷疑和感受，上帝也尊重那些開誠佈公，不矯飾的人。
基甸對上帝呼召的反應類似摩西，他們都以自己不配為藉口（15節；出3：11）。上帝總是使用那些謙虛、卑微的人，而不用驕傲、自以為有能力的人。基甸求一個記號，上帝就用火焚燒了他所獻的平安祭。基甸於是千真萬確的曉得他面對面所見的是主的使者（22節）。他經歷了與上帝同在的平安，於是將該地命名為「耶和華沙龍」（24節)。
基甸的第一件工作是要拆毀他父親為巴力所築的壇，並照上帝指定的方式為祂築一座新壇。基甸所拆毀的壇大概是公共的祭拜場所，因為整個社區的人都因基甸之舉大為光火，欲置其於死地。這件事也讓我們看出以色列人拜偶像的程度有多麼可怕：他們甚至願意為巴力的緣故殺死一個親族。基甸的父親約阿施可能是一位巴力的祭司，不過他似乎已知罪，並被基甸的勇敢之舉所感動，而起來為基甸辯護。約阿施所說的話真正的含意是：「如果巴力連自己都救不了，你們又如何能救他呢﹖如果他是神，就讓他為自己辯護吧。」（31節）約阿施護航成功，因為後來我們看到，當基甸藉著聖靈的能力吹起羊角，勇敢的登高一呼時，他的亞比以謝族人也都群起響應（34節）。
基甸仍需要更多的信心，及從上帝而來的憑據，進一步確定他就是上帝所揀選的拯救者。上帝很清楚的用羊毛的記號來鼓勵基甸完全信賴上帝的應許。上帝對基甸很仁慈，但祂不總是答應祂兒女的這種要求。祂知道人祈求的動機，也要我們全心相信祂，憑信心而行。
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Overview
Once again, the same typical cycle of sin, punishment, and deliverance is repeated. It is amazing to see how patient, long-suffering, merciful, and gracious our Lord is. He loved His people and, though He did not like to see them suffering at the hands of oppressors, He allowed it to chastise them so they might turn from their wickedness back to Him.
The oppression under the Medianites (descendants of Abraham through Keturah, Gen. 25:2), the Amalekites, who always took pleasure in joining forces against Israel (3:13), and the desert people of the East was the worst yet. Israel was impoverished, and many had fled from their homes to hide in caves from hear of the nomadic desert people who would sweep into Canaan in great numbers with all their livestock, consuming or destroying all the produce of the land.
After suffering under these severe conditions for seven years, Israel finally cried out to the Lord. An unnamed prophet was sent to rebuke Israel for forgetting the Lord. In saying they had not obeyed His voice, He was in effect telling them they did not deserve to be delivered; yet, at that very time, God, in His mercy, was preparing Gideon to be their next judge and deliverer. The message of the prophet would have served to bring conviction and prepare the people for Gideon’s coming.
When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he was hiding his wheat in the winepress so the enemy would not seize it. He was not lazy like others who were having a nap in the heat of the day; rather he was actively dividing ways to provide for his family. The Angel sent from God to commission Gideon must have been an appearance of our Lord Himself. It seems Gideon was bitter, believing God had forsaken His people. He was honest, not hiding his skepticism and feelings, and God honors those who express themselves openly and truthfully without any hypocrisy.
Gideon’s response to the call of God was similar to that of Moses who tried to make excuses and expressed his unworthiness (v.15; Ex.3:11). The Lord always uses those who are humble and lowly, not the proud and mighty. Gideon asked for a sign, and the Lord caused fire to consume His peace offering. Then Gideon knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that it was indeed the Angel of the Lord whom he had seen face to face (v.22). He experienced peace with God, thus naming the site “Jehovah Shalom” (v.24).
Gideon’s first task was to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and build one to the Lord in the prescribed manner. There he sacrificed a burnt offering, expressing his dedication to God. Probably this was the communal place of false worship, since the whole community was enraged and wanted Gidion’s death. This incident shows how terribly Israel had sunken into idolatry: They were willing to kill one of their own clansmen for the sake of Baal. Gideon’s father, Josh, was probably a priest of Baal, yet it seems he was convicted and challenged by Gideon’s act of bravery and came to his defense. The real implications of Joash’s words were, “If Baal cannot save himself, how do you expect to save him? If he is a god let him plead for himself” (v.31). Joash’s defense was successful, for we later read that Gideon’s fellow villagers of Abiezrite in south Manasseh rallied behind him when he, by the power of the Holy Spirit, stood courageously and blew the ram’s horn (v.34).
Gideon still needed more confidence and further confirmation by a sign from the Lord to know without a doubt that he was to be the deliverer. The sign from the fleece of wool made it clear and encouraged him to fully trust God’s promise. God was gracious in answering Gideon, but He does not always honor such requests from His children. He knows the motivation of the heart and wants us to believe wholly in Him and act in faith.
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