In this story, God chooses a strange person to be the vehicle of salvation for the people of Israel: Gideon. He’s described as a “mighty warrior”, but he’s hiding from his oppressors when we first meet him. He’s not all that intimidating, but God selects him to deliver the Israelites from oppression. Through what the text tells us about Gideon’s actions, demeanor, and questions, it’s obvious that Gideon is a person blinded by fear. His fear blinds him to the fact that salvation is not dependent on the proficiency of humans but instead, the power of God.
