Observation: The Lord has appeared to Gideon and given him instructions to lead Israel against the Midianites. However, his first task isn't to call an army, or announce his intentions, or to rally a small group of supporters. Instead, his first task is to turn his entire hometown against himself by tearing down the items of worship to other gods.
Gideon is a hesitant leader. He already doubted why the Lord would call him, the least member of the least family of the least clan. He required a sign to prove that the angel of the Lord was really speaking to him, and will do so again before he fully engages. Therefore, the fact that the first task is to tear down the alter and idols likely has four purposes.
First, this task is physically doable. Gideon is afraid of others so he does it at night, but the point is he does it knowing people will react in the morning. He has to do three things, and Gideon is able to do all three in the course of that night, and do them exactly as the Lord prescribes. For a man who is fearful and worried that he just spoke to the angel of the Lord face-to-face, this is a 'quick win' and early taste of success.
Second, this act calls into sharp relief exactly how far Israel has fallen and thus is in need of a judge. The people are actively worshipping the fertility goddess and the false gods of Canaan. They respond with anger when the items of these false gods are removed and replaced with an alter to Yahweh. By this, it is made even clearer to Gideon that the people of Israel are on the wrong path, as they aren't just worshiping false gods in addition to Yahweh, but have swung into a mindset of elevating those false gods above Yahweh.
Third, the fact that even in their anger the entire village is dissuaded from attacking Gideon would give him courage that his actions were supported by the Lord. They do respond with anger, but are persuaded that, if Gideon has acted against baal, and if baal is real, then baal should have the ability to strike Gideon down. In this manner, Gideon is protected from retribution, and thus gains confidence that his task and mission is truly from the Lord.
Fourth, Gideon receives a new name, Jerub-Baal, which means 'let baal contend with him'. Names - and especially adults who receive a new name - give strong identity to Jews. Gideon now knows that Yahweh himself has spoken to him, has given him instructions, and is protecting him. He also knows baal is a false god who doesn't exist. By giving him a name that such a false and powerless god is the one who will 'deal with' Gideon, he must feel invulnerable. Imagine if everyone said the only being that could harm you is non-existent, and meanwhile the being that protects you is the almighty creator of the universe!
Gideon will now go fight an entire nation with only 300 men. His courage and journey to do so began when he simply obeyed the Lord and dealt with the root-cause issue in his own family, and succeeding at that task equipped him for the rest of his work.
Application: I don't know what large mission I have in my future, and therefore I don't really know on a daily basis what small task I should be doing to prepare my heart. I do know this ... all the stuff my family and I are currently going through - big and small - boils down to a test of faith and prayer. I have been praying more, especially in small bursts, though also mostly in the form of questions. In those questions, I have faith there is an answer even when I don't know it.
Are there baal alters and ashera poles I need to destroy ... small tasks the Lord wants me to do to prepare my heart for other activities? Probably. Certainly some basic faith around career is part of that.
Prayer: Lord, you know the challenges that lie before my family, from physical ailments to significant career instability to daily work issues. I look to you, knowing that the one God and creator of the universe is here with me, and so none of these issues can really contend with and destroy me. May your hand be upon me and my family, today and every day. Amen.
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