God is an accommodating God. He stoops to our weaknesses, meets us where we are and draws us to His purpose. Gideon was weak and scared, but God gave Him many signs to show that He was with him and strengthen his resolve to fight (Judges 6:18-21, 36-40; 7:10-15).
And still, when Gideon succeeded, he slipped (Judges 8:21-28). Just as Isildur strikes down Sauron, but stumbles over his Ring, so Gideon strikes down the Midianites, but stumbles over their jewels and gods. Gideon says the right words (8:23) but doesn't live them out. He knows the right answers, but doesn't have the moral resolve to live it out.
What a vacillating, mixed-bag of blessings were these judges to Israel!
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