He Day 10 Yahweh Shalom: Digging Deeper

1) What events precipitated this visit from the angel of the Lord?
Israel’s rebellion and the consequences of that rebellion had brought them to a place of extreme poverty and destitution. Verses 1-2 sets the scene with stark clarity, “The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord handed them over to Midian seven years, and they oppressed Israel.” This was not a one-time screw up by Israel, or even a second, third, or twenty-third. Neither had God randomly decided to deliver them to their enemies because He was bored and wanted entertainment. Israel had entered into a covenant relationship with Yahweh, the One True God, and was therefore bound by the agreed upon, binding rules of the covenant (ie: the Ten Commandments and all other Levitical laws found in Leviticus). Yahweh had delivered Israel from slavery and set His love upon them even before He formed a covenant relationship with them. God was not a dictator, but a loving and compassionate Father seeking restoration with His people, not because God had caused the distance, but because His people had turned from Him. He loved them and longed for their return, but Israel would rather chase along after false gods their hands had made than repent. Despite God’s many calls for their true heart-felt repentance, they still chose their sinful ways, and finally, God sent a severe consequence, oppression at the hand of Midian. Hope vanished like smoke. They were left with nothing as Midianites ravaged their land and their people. Israel hid in caves from the Midians in their own land. (verse 2) When Israel managed to plant crops, Midianites attacked them for their produce. (verses 3-4) “(The Midianites) left nothing for Israel to eat, as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey” (verse 4). Though devastation affected every aspect of life for Israel, it was not their utter lack that precipitated a visit from the angel of the Lord, it was their heart cry of desperation. “So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord.” (verse 6)

2) What do Gideon’s questions reveal about his internal status of peace? (verse 13)
When the angel of the Lord speaks to Gideon, he is doing what has become commonplace for all Israelites, hiding. He was hiding himself and his grain away from Midian eyes. What’s more interesting, his fear of his enemy, had also made him blind to the Lord standing before Him. Judges records, “The angel of the Lord came, and He sat under the oak…” (verse 11). During His time of sitting, Gideon kept on hiding and working, cloaked in fear, oblivious to the Lord’s presence until the angel of the Lord makes His presence undeniable and speaks aloud to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.” (verse 12) Gideon, still missing exactly WHO was speaking to Him, responds with the normal human emotion we might expect from someone in his position. Exasperation. Frustration. Anger. Doubting God. “Why has all of this happened? Where are the wonders of the Lord? The Lord has abandoned us!” (verse 13) Also, note that Gideon entirely ignored the Lord’s truth spoken over him? The Lord God Himself had said, with all clarity, to Gideon’s face, “The LORD (Yahweh) is with you, valiant warrior.” (verse 12) This was not simply one of God’s many, mighty angelic warriors sent to mankind with a specific message, this was the Lord in human flesh. Woah, wait. Mind. Blown. But I thought, Jesus came as a baby…. Thousands of years past this event… you know, Christmas songs, wise men, shepherds, little manger, Bethlehem. Yes, He certainly did, but because Jesus is God, He is not bound by time and space as we are. He is infinite, always existing, and on a few, precious occasions within the pages of Scripture, we gain access to “see” Jesus, God in the flesh, before (at least by our time line) He came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem.

3) How does God reveal His character name of Yahweh Shalom as He speaks with Gideon?
The Hebrew language is so revealing in the following exchange between the Lord God, who is called Yahweh, and Gideon. His faith is evidenced in the language he chooses. “The LORD (Yahweh in Hebrew) turned to him (Gideon) and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!” (verse 14) Yahweh, the One True God, is patiently standing before Gideon, has listened to his frustrations and complaints, and still calls Gideon out into His work, promising to be present, strengthen, and deliver Israel. Victory is certain! Gideon’s response floors me, “He (Gideon) replied to Him (Yahweh), “Please, Lord (adonai), how can I deliver Israel?” (verse 15) Gideon won’t even acknowledge God as God even as he speaks to Him! He calls Yahweh, adonai, the same title of respect given to a lord of a castle. Perhaps even more stunning, is Yahweh’s response to Gideon’s self-pity party, patience. He does not smite Gideon. He doesn’t leave angry. He doesn’t abandon Gideon because of his lack of faith. He continues to sit, to engage, drawing Gideon deeper until at long last, Gideon, horrified, in shock of realization fearfully proclaims, “Oh no, Lord GOD (Yahweh)! I have seen the angel of the LORD (Yahweh) face to face!” (verse 22) Gazing at the face of deity meant only one thing, certain death. But again, Yahweh, compassionately spares Gideon speaking life over him once more, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.” (verse 23) Gideon’s encounter with Yahweh redefined him, motivated him to bold action, and recalibrated his faith to anchor soundly in Yahweh Shalom, the God of all Peace. (verse 24)