When one hears the word judge, one probably thinks of someone in a black robe that is listening to lawyers arguing a case in a courtroom. This image can become very misleading when reading the Book of Judges. The biblical judges were not legal professionals, but were prophets and warriors. Each Judge must be specially called, and qualified by the influence of the Holy Spirit. (Gordon). My main focus is Gideon, who was called by God to do a wonderful thing.
             Gideon is a Hebrew name meaning "Hewer", or "Feller". Gideon lived in the 13th Century BC. He is the youngest son of Joash, the great warrior of Abiezrite. Gideon had seventy sons and was a farmer who lived with his family in the small town of Ophrah and worked the family lands outside of the town. Although Gideon is portrayed as being small in stature, he was a man who didn't give up easily.
             Gideon is the 6th Judge of Israel. Before saving Israel from the Midianites, God told Gideon to put his family's house in order and to destroy Baal to establish the Lord God of Israel as Lord over his home. Gideon then secretly cut down the Baal altar at night. It was Gideon's father who kept the townspeople from lynching him when they discovered what he had done. Gideon was then given the name Jerubbaal, which means 'let Baal himself contend with him.' Afterwards, Gideon built the Lord an altar. At this point Gideon was still unsure of what God wanted him to do and needed assurance.
             Gideon needed to believe in order to lead his people in faith. Gideon doesn't feel like the courageous warrior that the Lord says he is. He feels more like a weakling than someone who is courageous. Gideon still asked God for signs that it was really He. God had displayed His power to Gideon in a number of ways. Through theses chain of events, the Lord had strengthened the weak faith of Gideon, giving him signs of His existence. This w...