The questioner part 5

After all this time, I'm finally going to finish the story of Gideon. Initially, Gideon had shown himself to be quite fearful, questioning God and asking for signs.  But God says from the beginning that Gideon is a mighty warrior, and is incredibly patient with him as Gideon's faith grows and we see in Gideon the mighty warrior that God saw all along.  

We left off with Gideon leading 300 men against a vast Midianite army and defeating them.  In Judges 8:4-13, we see Gideon and his 300 men chasing the 15,000 Midianites that they didn't kill in battle.  Gideon stops in the town of Sukkoth and asks for supplies.  They ask if he had the hands of the Midianite kings, and refuse to help.  He goes on to Peniel, another Israelite city, and gets the same response.  Why do these towns refuse to help Gideon?  They are still afraid of the Midianites and they think Gideon will lose.  Then they would have deal with the Midianites.  If they had helped Gideon, that would go badly.  Without their help, Gideon defeats the rest of the Midianites.

Here is what I get from this story.  Gideon was changed man.  He was no longer afraid, but more importantly he was not going to allow the fear and faithlessness of others change his faith. 

Tom