The call of Gideon is a process as well as an event, a journey as well as a crisis.
Important steps of development can be seen through Gideon's call to judge / deliverer of Isreal . . .
Gideon's ministry and influence was a gradual thing. He didn't just over night become Super Gideon! The development of faith (Gideon's and ours) is slowley progressive. Gideon didn't go from wine-press coward to nation-saver in one giant leap.
And the same goes for us.
We don't say the 'sinners prayer' on a sunday night and then start our Billy Graham-esq preaching tour on the monday!
This 'call to arms', this battle trumpet is first played to his own family.
Would they respond to the "baal-fighter"?
They did.
So encouraged by his families willingness and support, he took his trumpet "tooting" to the rest of the Manasseh tribe.
They too answered the call. This got Gideon totally buzzing. He went and took his call to the 3 neighbouring tribes [Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali].
These 4 tribes are the ones most hurt by the invading Midianites and would most likely answer Gideon's call.
As blatantly obvious as it sounds, Gideon was a leader because people were willing to follow him and recognized his gift.
He led _ They followed. [in this case into a battle situation where they were heavily out-numbered!]
If someone insists that their calling is in leadership but no one is following them, then they are just walking alone.
Gideon's status as "baal fighter" increased as word - of - mouth (gossip) spread. His popularity grew like a snowball once his family were on board - it made the rest of the Manasseh tribe believe Gideon was from God - once the Manasseh tribe got involved, Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali tribes believed also.
The more people believed and followed Gideon, the more people believed and followed Gideon.
Love you X
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