And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a command; it's God entrusting Gideon with Israel's salvation because of his existing strength ("Go in this might of yours"). It's a profound affirmation of Gideon's capabilities before he even fully believes it himself, revealing that God equips and calls us based on the very strengths He’s already given us.
And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Gideon, a fearful man hiding from the Midianites while threshing wheat, is visited by an angelic figure. After Gideon expresses his doubts about God's presence due to Israel's suffering, the divine messenger directly commissions him to save Israel, assuring him that God is sending him. This encounter marks the beginning of Gideon's journey from fear to faith as God calls him to action.
Gideon was hiding, threshing wheat in secret, a far cry from a mighty warrior. Yet, God calls him 'mighty man of valor.' How can this be?
God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called. When God speaks to Gideon, He says, 'Go in this your might.' This isn't just about Gideon's physical strength. It's about the strength God imparts and mobilizes through him. The original language emphasizes using the strength already given and currently being received. God sees the potential and the capacity He has already placed within Gideon, and His command is to use it. This is a reminder that God equips us for the tasks He sets before us, often using the very abilities and character He's already developed in us.
The oppressors were overwhelming, the situation dire. What does it mean for God to commission someone to 'save Israel'?
Israel's repeated sin led to God delivering them into the hands of the Midianites. This wasn't arbitrary punishment, but a consequence of their infidelity. The Midianites were ruthless, raiding their crops and driving them into hiding. In this context, 'saving Israel' wasn't just about military victory. It was about restoring God's people to faithfulness and freedom. God's command to Gideon is a call to a divine rescue mission, addressing the spiritual and physical bondage Israel was in. It highlights that God's plan for His people always involves liberation from sin and oppression, and He uses human agents to accomplish it.
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Gideon might have doubted his own ability, but the Lord's question cuts to the heart of the matter: Who is behind this mission?
The phrase 'Have not I sent you?' is the ultimate credential and reassurance. It signifies that the authority, power, and ultimate success of the mission belong to God. It's not Gideon's idea, his plan, or his strength alone. God is the sender, the initiator, and the sustainer of the work. This question isn't just for Gideon; it's a reminder to us that when God calls us to a task, He Himself stands behind it. He provides the commission, the authority, and the assurance that the mission, though challenging, is divinely sanctioned and will ultimately succeed according to His purposes.
Understand the original words
yasha' · Hebrew Verb
The act of delivering, rescuing, or setting free from danger, oppression, or enemies; in Scripture, it is most supremely the work of God to redeem His people.
This verse arises from a period of intense national crisis where recurring idolatry led to devastating oppression by the Midianites. Gideon's call comes as Israel has been driven to desperation, hiding and impoverished, highlighting God's intervention in their darkest hour.
c. 11th-10th centuries BC
Period of the Judges
Israel is governed by a series of charismatic leaders called 'judges' after the conquest of Canaan, often during times of oppression.
Mid-Judges Period
Widespread Idolatry
The Israelites repeatedly fall into worshipping Canaanite gods like Baal and Asherah, leading to spiritual decline and divine displeasure.
Mid-Judges Period
Midianite Raids Begin
Nomadic tribes from the east, particularly the Midianites, begin launching devastating annual raids on Israelite farmlands.
Mid-Judges Period
Seven Years of Oppression
The Midianite raids escalate over seven years, forcing Israelites into hiding in caves and mountains and leaving them destitute.
Mid-Judges Period— this verse
Gideon Threshes Wheat
Gideon, a farmer from Ophrah, secretly threshes wheat by a winepress to hide it from the Midianites, symbolizing the desperate state of Israel.
Mid-Judges Period
Angel Appears to Gideon
An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon, calling him a 'mighty man of valor' and commissioning him to save Israel.
This passage shows God commissioning Moses, emphasizing that God's sending is the source of authority and power for the task, just as it is for Gideon.
Isaiah 43:1-2God assures His people that even in their distress and through difficult times ('through the fire' and 'through the water'), He will be with them and protect them, mirroring the assurance given to Gideon that God is with him in his daunting mission.
1 Samuel 10:6-7This passage describes the Spirit of God coming upon Saul, transforming him and giving him a new heart and power to accomplish God's will, paralleling how God equips and empowers Gideon for his mission.
2 Corinthians 12:9Paul reflects on God's grace being sufficient and His power being made perfect in weakness, a truth directly applicable to Gideon, who is called to act in his 'might' but ultimately relies on God's strength.
Joshua 1:9God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous because He is with him, a foundational assurance that God gives to leaders facing immense challenges, just as He does to Gideon.
jfbJudges 6:11-16: "And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites."
Jud 6:11-16. An Angel Sends Gideon to Deliver Them.11. there came an angel of the Lord—He appeared in the character and equipments of a traveller (Jud 6:21), who sat down in the shade to enjoy a little refreshment and repose. Entering into conversation on the engrossing topic…
gillJudges 6:14: "And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?"
And the Lord looked upon him,.... The same before called the angel of the Lord, and who was no other than Jehovah himself; who looked upon him with great earnestness, and with great delight and pleasure smiled upon him, and thereby showing he had a kindness for him, and meant well to him: and said unto him, go in this thy might; both of b…
This isn't just a command; it's God entrusting Gideon with Israel's salvation because of his existing strength ("Go in this might of yours"). It's a profound affirmation of Gideon's capabilities before he even fully believes it himself, revealing that God equips and calls us based on the very strengths He’s already given us.
Gideon, a fearful man hiding from the Midianites while threshing wheat, is visited by an angelic figure. After Gideon expresses his doubts about God's presence due to Israel's suffering, the divine messenger directly commissions him to save Israel, assuring him that God is sending him. This encounter marks the beginning of Gideon's journey from fear to faith as God calls him to action.
Gideon, a fearful man hiding from the Midianites while threshing wheat, is visited by an angelic figure. After Gideon expresses his doubts about God's presence due to Israel's suffering, the divine messenger directly commissions him to save Israel, assuring him that God is sending him. This encounter marks the beginning of Gideon's journey from fear to faith as God calls him to action.
"And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”" — This isn't just a command; it's God entrusting Gideon with Israel's salvation because of his existing strength ("Go in this might of yours"). It's a profound affirmation of Gideon's capabilities be…
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Last reviewed October 2026