For seven years, the Midianites devastated Israel, destroying crops and livestock, forcing people to hide in caves. Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine vat when the Angel of the Lord appeared, calling him a mighty warrior and commissioning him to deliver Israel.

Doubtful, Gideon asked for a sign. He prepared a sacrifice, and the Angel touched it with his staff, igniting fire from a rock. God reassured Gideon he would not die and instructed him to destroy his father’s altar to Baal and build an altar to the Lord instead.

Gideon obeyed at night, fearing his family. The next day, the people demanded he be killed, but his father defended him, challenging Baal to defend himself.

When the Midianites returned, the Spirit of the Lord filled Gideon. He called for fighters and asked God for a sign using a fleece: first, for dew on the fleece but dry ground, then the opposite. Both signs confirmed God’s promise to deliver Israel.

Gideon gathered 32,000 men to fight the Midianites. God told him the army was too large and instructed him to send home anyone afraid. 22,000 left, leaving 10,000.

God said there were still too many and told Gideon to watch how men drank water. He kept only the 300 who drank with their hands, sending the rest home.

That night, Gideon and his servant sneaked into the Midianite camp and overheard a dream predicting their defeat by Gideon.

Gideon divided his 300 men into three groups, each armed with trumpets and torches hidden in jars. At his signal, they blew trumpets, broke jars, and shouted, “The sword of the Lord and Gideon!” The Midianites panicked, turned on each other, and fled.

Gideon’s men pursued and won a great victory. The people wanted Gideon to be king, but he refused and lived quietly. Israel enjoyed peace for forty years.